Based on a recent Consumer Reports test, we looked at six of the most durable countertop materials.
This durable kitchen countertop has been thoroughly examined, and we're ready to tell you why you should or shouldn't install it.
1: Quartz Kitchen Countertop
As one of the most durable surfaces available, quartz is considered a man-nature combo countertop. Crushed quartz stone is mixed with resin to produce countertop designs that range from solid colors to granite-like appearances, but they're far more durable than natural stone.
Pros
In normal kitchen preparation conditions, quartz is almost impossible to damage. In addition, it is stain- and bacteria-resistant and does not need to be sealed.
Cons
Quartz is more expensive than granite and crushed glass, which are heat-resistant, if you use lighter colors.
There may be better options for traditional-style kitchens than quartz. However, quartz can also look ultra-modern and cold.
2: Granite
A survey of prospective home buyers from Allstone countertops found granite to be the top must-have feature. Granite's natural beauty is often eye-catching and can easily be integrated into any kitchen style.
Pros
You can place a hot pot on granite, which will not crack or chip. In addition, granite is stain resistant if you seal it annually.
Cons
A clunk with a wine bottle can chip the edge, which you'll have to polish down. Also, if you don't seal it religiously, oil can seep into the stone, and you'll have to apply a poultice to remove it.
It can be challenging to hide seams in granite countertops, so be strategic about where you place them. Natural variations produce countertops that are different from the sample.
3: Crushed
This countertop is beautiful and durable, using recycled glass from beer bottles, traffic lights, and windshields.
If set in acrylic, the glass looks like it's floating in a lake; if set in cement, it creates a shimmery mosaic.
Pros
They're nonporous, so they don't need sealing, like granite, and they don't fade over time, like quartz.
Cons
Putting something heavy on a crushed glass countertop may cause it to crack. Likewise, acidic foods, like citrus juice, can eat away at the acrylic.
4:Laminate
Laminate kitchen countertops are a paper-plastic product that tops several layers of Kraft paper with a resin impregnated near infinite colors and patterns.
Pros
A chameleon-like product that mimics everything from wood to granite, it does not require any unique sealers or cleaners, and it is stain-resistant. A chameleon-like product that mimics everything from wood to granite, it does not require any special sealers or cleaners, and it is stain-resistant.
Cons
Laminates crack, scratch, and scorch more quickly than the countertop materials it resembles. It’s also a bear to repair.
More important, many buyers avoid laminate in droves. A study from the National Association of Home Builders says that 40% of prospective home buyers would unlikely buy a house with laminate counters.
5 Tile without installation
Tile countertops can look crafty or contemporary, making them a beautiful and versatile countertop material.
Pros
It can withstand cuts, stains, and heat. And if a tile cracks, it can be easily replaced.
Additionally, tiles come in an unlimited variety of colors and styles, allowing you to create a unique look for your counter.
Cons
An uneven surface can make glasses, plates, and cutting boards wobbly and unstable if skillets or pots are dropped on it accidentally.
Unlike stone surfaces, tile countertops cannot be used to roll out the dough. Grout lines are common catchers of dust and grime; without annual sealing, they can be a breeding ground for bacteria.
6: Solid-Surfacing
It's a solid-surface countertop made from acrylic, polyester resins, and even marble dust that you probably know as Corian.
Pros
It's nonporous and doesn't require unique sealers or cleaners. Scratches are easily sanded out. It can be molded to include a seamless backsplash or integrated sink bowl.
Cons
In addition to being costly and lacking the charm of granite or quartz, it scratches and burns quickly. It is also made of nonrenewable resources, is challenging to recycle, and is energy-intensive to produce.
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