Re: OT: Kitchen counertops, questions

Posted by spacechem on April 12, 2010 at 20:08:53 from (222.217.217.5):

In Reply to: Re: OT: Kitchen counertops, questions posted by 37chief on April 12, 2010 at 17:12:41:

I used to work selling kitchen remodels. Here’s my Standard Speech on countertops:
1. 4 types cover 95% of the market- Laminate, Corian, Granite, and Quartz (Silestone, Zodiac, etc.)
2. Laminate is always the cheapest. When you get tired of it, you throw it away and get a whole new kitchen look with a new top and some paint. Too many people turn up their noses at laminate. They’ve had laminate tops for 30 years and they want something fancier. I say 30 years is damn good service, and you could have replaced it twice in that time and still had money left over for a nice vacation.
3. All three of the rest are close enough in price to take that out of the equation:

a. Corian is perhaps the most functional top. Yes, it can scratch, but the scratches (and any other damage) can be repaired. Will not stain or harbor bacteria. Where you see “stains”, they are in the surface and a little elbow grease will remove them. Seams are invisible, and you can get integral sinks. Looks like plastic because it is plastic.

b. Granite is a beautiful natural stone- no one has made a really convincing fake yet. Must be sealed to prevent stains unless you’re okay with a little “patina”. It can spall or crack with severe thermal shock. Obviously, cannot be repaired. Will outlast you and me, so you’d better love it. Visible seams and undermount sink.

c. Quartz combines the sanitation of the Corian and the natural look (and longevity) of Granite because it’s made from the biggest component of Granite- Quartz. Silestone advertises some antibacterial quality, but I’ve never seen anything in hard legalese to say you’ll never get food poisoning if you buy their countertops. I’m sure your home is clean enough. Comes down to finding a color you like and a fabricator you can trust. Visible seams and undermount sink. Often the most expensive option unless you start to consider some of the rarer natural stones.

We put a Zodiac top in our Kitchen because we like the color and I know neither my wife nor I would ever get around to sealing granite, and she would be freaked out if there happened to be a stain- that’s just her.

ALWAYS use a hot pad or trivet with anything hot, no matter what surface you have. Quartz is 95% stone, but that leaves 5% things that can be affected by heat. With granite, you’ll destroy your sealer.

Forget about the “lifetime sealers” sold for granite tops. Read the fine print to learn what is (and isn’t) really guaranteed. A natural stone top is a commitment.

Please, please don’t even think about those filthy (grout), bumpy, tile countertops!

Hope that helps.

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