Kitchen Countertops other than granite...

[Dan Halen]

^^

Agreed. I keep telling people from experience that granite is over-rated. It's made for people that don't cook, durable for showrooms.

Corian is man made, it is durable and antibacterial. A lot more designs and colors available and won't break the chinaware.

We cook every day, and the granite in our three year old house is holding up exceptionally. Other than a few chips around the under-mount sink, there's no wear or damage.

My mom's had Corian in her house for over ten years. The kitchen doesn't see heavy use, and it's pitted, etched, scratched, stained- you name it. Perhaps the formulation has changed over the years, but it's not something I'd be willing to try again- especially with the integrated sink. Her white sink is about the most disgusting thing I've ever seen.

A lot has changed in ten years, and there are many more options on the market. For my needs, I'd consider Corian about as much as I'd consider Formica laminate.

What are the chances that we'll use granite several years down the road when we build the next house? Probably slim- but it's not because we don't like it. With all the options out there, we'll probably be drawn to something a bit more "green" by that time.

[Hostile]

Agreed. I keep telling people from experience that granite is over-rated. It's made for people that don't cook, durable for showrooms.

Christ, you talk out of your ass in here too.

[YellowDieselGolf]

We used Caesarstone quartz. Don't have a close-up pic, but the pattern is a lot like terrazo. We love it and would use it again in our next kitchen.


DSC_0678 by robcrawford, on Flickr

I think mine is "Osprey" caeserstone. Hasn't stained and it looks great. I kind of wish I'd optioned 40mm thick, but the 20 still looks nice.

[Vision33r]

Christ, you talk out of your ass in here too.

Troll harder, troll.

[cjmoy]

Another vote for Caesarstone. I used it in my kitchen remodel and love it. Very consistent pattern and no need for sealers.

[phofpower]

Do it yourself kitchen on a tight budget, I used 2" solid Mahogany, have had it for 2 years now and still looks like when I installed it. Not the greatest pictures but gives you an idea.

[dunhamjr]

Do it yourself kitchen on a tight budget, I used 2" solid Mahogany, have had it for 2 years now and still looks like when I installed it. Not the greatest pictures but gives you an idea.

i understand what you wrote... but that stove and frig do not say tight budget to me.

[Dan Halen]

They may be the reason for the tight budget.

[dunhamjr]

They may be the reason for the tight budget.

true.

[Cabby-Blitz]

Update... After hours of reading online last night and talking to people, I have decded to rule out concrete. I was quoted over 150 per square foot!!!!
.

Yes I sure hope he was not quoting you that for a standard grey squared up edge top. That is in the price of a real unique custom piece or a recycled glass top. Do some searching around and I would say you could easily get a quote for half that price or even less.

I do concrete countertops and I like them because of the almost limitless possibilities. Though sealing is the biggest issue.
My 1st cast in place that included a custom edge mold that I also made. This was right after pouring it.


Bar top I made for another kitchen.

[-DWM-]

Bar top I made for another kitchen.

Please tell me the green aggregate is beer bottles.

[Cabby-Blitz]

Well yes but after they have been processed. The glass is all post consumer waste, its hard to see but their is also clear glass in the mix.

[Mk1Racer]

we were looking at countertops and decided that we would do a 2-part countertop system.

corian is great, but not heat resistant. however, it does not need ANY maintenance.
we will use this for all countertops around the sink and prep areas.

silestone is heat resistant, and while expensive, less so than granite. it too needs far less maintenance than granite. we will use this on either side of the cooking area.

I sold Silestone for a few years, very nice product.

Huh? You have to seal granite counter tops once, maybe twice a year. It takes 10-15 minutes.

But you don't have to seal Silestone (or other MM quartz products).

Not to dissuade you from other choices but in my opinion the best countertop material is the man made quartz products from a variety of manufacturers. If you are trying to get something that doesn't "look" like granite they have some pretty cool options that really have a nice style to them.

BRENT

He said he's using Silestone (a MM quartz product).

I like Silestone, because of the homogeneous look, but yeah... it is no more maintenance free than granite. Afterall... it is granite (i.e. Silestone is quartz, which is 10% binder and the rest is leftover granite from MFG processes. Or at least that is what I read.).

I much prefer quartz over Corian-like products, which are seriously $$$... more so it seems than quartz and it is far more binder material than filler. It damages easier than quartz.

But it is all about what you like aesthetically for the most part. That usually is the #1 priority and given that... the difference in anything you choose isn't that much in terms of care IMHO. Well... maybe except butcherblock and concrete.

BTW... look for the store's REMNANTS, which are leftover pieces. They price them cheaper and if the housing industry is taking a hit in your neck of the woods like mine, you may find SF prices as low as $20.

You don't have to seal Silestone.

^^

Agreed. I keep telling people from experience that granite is over-rated. It's made for people that don't cook, durable for showrooms.

Corian is man made, it is durable and antibacterial. A lot more designs and colors available and won't break the chinaware.

Silestone is formulated w/ Microban, an anti-microbial agent.

[Oliver@triplezoom]

I like the look of marble in some kitchens.

[crawford]

The look is great. The maintenance... not so much.

[Mk1Racer]

I would never use marble for a kitchen counter in a kitchen that was actually used. Too soft, too prone to fissures, and too easy to stain.

[GeoffD]

I would never use marble for a kitchen counter in a kitchen that was actually used. Too soft, too prone to fissures, and too easy to stain.

Bleach and hydrogen peroxide (used separately) both work pretty well getting stains out of white marble.

[Oliver@triplezoom]

I would never use marble for a kitchen counter in a kitchen that was actually used. Too soft, too prone to fissures, and too easy to stain.

Yeah, I'm not really familiar with it, just like the look. My parents have marble on their bathroom vanity and it looks fantastic.

[crawford]

I put it on my bathroom vanity (and floors) and love it.

[robhurlburt]

i would stay far far away from soapstone. my parents put it in their kitchen and you can't even open a beer bottle on it with out scratching. sure it fixes with oil, but who wants to oil their counter top everyday? you can even pick away at the veins with ur fingernail and the stuff comes right out.

[Mk1Racer]

Bleach and hydrogen peroxide (used separately) both work pretty well getting stains out of white marble.

I know it's fairly easy to get stains out, but I wouldn't want to bother. Add that to the relative softness (compared to other stones), and I would personally avoid it. Too many other choices out there.

[firefighterjunkie]

Those copper countertops are ridiculous I think I could REALLY like this, if there was more contrast between the wood and the copper color.

[Tornado2dr]

Those copper countertops are ridiculous I think I could REALLY like this, if there was more contrast between the wood and the copper color.

Beware. From what I understand the sealer-coats that are applied to copper counters are not all that durable (and not good with heat), and you will constantly be wiping/polishing away fingerprints and smudges if they are unsealed. Screw that!

[InternetMeme]

Concrete here

[barry2952]

!5 year old Corian. Love it.

[Papa Dras]

Concrete here

We currently have corian, but I will be stoked to get rid of it. Concrete looks bad ass!

[InternetMeme]

We currently have corian, but I will be stoked to get rid of it. Concrete looks bad ass!

I originally wanted darker countertops but we decided not to stain the original wood floors so we went with concrete. I'm pretty happy with them

[Flavo Cadillac]

I made my bartop/island out of copper and find the patina it is getting rather nice. I never intended for it to remain bright though. Way too much maintenance for my blood.

Beware. From what I understand the sealer-coats that are applied to copper counters are not all that durable (and not good with heat), and you will constantly be wiping/polishing away fingerprints and smudges if they are unsealed. Screw that!

[dubinsincuwereindiapers]

As an ex cabinet maker, kitchen and bath specialist; corian is the best countertops material bar none. All the beauty of granite, but seamless with zero maintenance. If you scratch it up it can be sanded and buffed out, etc. Total upgrade from granite IMO.

Most people go with granite for two reasons.

(1) they don't know any better

(2) they want to say they have granite.

Not knocking the use of granite, but I really don't see the appeal. If I wanted that kind of maintenance, id go with polished concrete, or natural cleft slate.

My 2¢

[spockcat]

As an ex cabinet maker, kitchen and bath specialist; corian is the best countertops material bar none. All the beauty of granite, but seamless with zero maintenance. If you scratch it up it can be sanded and buffed out, etc. Total upgrade from granite IMO.

I've seen too much boring, bland Corian to ever consider this. We have this in the bathrooms in our condo in FL and it doesn't look anywhere as nice as granite. Even the most common granite. Maybe there is better Corian on the market these days but the plain white/off white is really bad as most of the other colors I've seen too.

[barry2952]

I love our Corian. I do all the cooking, and I'm a klutz. I would have broken dozens of things on grant or marble. I designed the kitchen and saw a sample of this edging at the kitchen design center. Reminded me of a line running down the middle of the road. It was very labor intensive as each dash is a separate piece. I love the material and it's ease to clean and refinish, if necessary. Granite's not so easy.

Our addition and lower level have Corian window sills. That was money well spent.

[spockcat]

Barry, I know where you are coming from and your Corian install is very nice. However, 99% of the Corian type solid surface installs I've seen are plain single color material that is either white, off white or trying to imitate some kind of stone. It is a step up from Formica but it usually costs almost as much or more than granite. Clearly the material has some advantages but I don't see looks being one of them most of the time.

As for maintenance, we've had granite in our kitchen for nearly 20 years and we haven't done a thing to it. We don't have scratches, nicks or stains.

[dubinsincuwereindiapers]

I've seen too much boring, bland Corian to ever consider this. We have this in the bathrooms in our condo in FL and it doesn't look anywhere as nice as granite. Even the most common granite. Maybe there is better Corian on the market these days but the plain white/off white is really bad as most of the other colors I've seen too.

Corian, and similar products are available in literally thousands of different colors, and visual textures; many of them mimic granite, and other natural materials perfectly.

Id go far enough to make the assumption that you've probably seen a few "gorgeous granite countertops" that were in fact corian or a similar composite.

I don't do low end, or mcmansion kitchens.

Just sayin..

[spockcat]

Corian, and similar products are available in literally thousands of different colors, and visual textures; many of them mimic granite, and other natural materials perfectly.

Id go far enough to make the assumption that you've probably seen a few "gorgeous granite countertops" that were in fact corian or a similar composite.

I don't do low end, or mcmansion kitchens.

Just sayin..

I can't imagine not being able to tell the difference between Corian/composite and granite in person. I would more than welcome the opportunity to see such a quality countertop that I couldn't tell. In photos it might be possible to have a more difficult time distinguishing. Please give me some examples of materials that are difficult to tell from natural stone.

[dubinsincuwereindiapers]

I can't imagine not being able to tell the difference between Corian/composite and granite in person. I would more than welcome the opportunity to see such a quality countertop that I couldn't tell. In photos it might be possible to have a more difficult time distinguishing. Please give me some examples of materials that are difficult to tell from natural stone.

"Indistinguishable" is a strong statement, and I personally would never use it in this context. There are however some very high quality solid surface materials on the market that I would stack against legit granite all day.

That said; I install a TON of granite, as its trendy, and people love it. Its all a matter of preference at the end of the day.

My best advice is to shop around, and look at the literally thousands of different options out there. From solid surface, to manufactured stone, to granite, slate, synthetic slate, concrete, etc.

Find something you truly love, and then price it out amongst a few different suppliers. You would vomit if you knew the markup on stone. You will find pricing all over the place. Depending on the choice you make, shopping around could potentially save you thousands. I usually price my countertops amongst a couple suppliers, and then mark them up considerably to "Home Depot pricing".

You wouldn't believe how much (or more accurately how little) the average $50,000+ kitchen REALLY costs the installer. Do your homework, and don't let some guy like me pay for his own kitchen, by installing yours