Countertop selections can be confusing and overwhelming when you begin thinking about the many different materials that are available, the colours, and trim details. I suggest you begin by identifying your top priority. Is it durability? Style? Cost effectiveness?
Work with a RenoMark renovator and designer who will help you narrow down the materials that match your priorities. There are three main categories of countertop options: natural material, quartz material and non-porous material.
Three types of countertop materials
Natural
This includes granite, marble, limestone and wood. These types of materials require some maintenance and will age over time. They won’t look perfect and brand new forever but, in my opinion, this is part of what makes natural material an interesting and viable option to consider! Before omitting this option, read more about these materials!
Quartz
This category includes material defined as natural or engineered stone, the latter being made from about 95 per cent natural quartz and 5 per cent polymer resins. You might recognize brand names such as SileStone, CaesarStone, Cambria and Zodiac.
Non-porous
Non-porous surfaces can vary greatly, including laminate, stainless steel, glass, tile, and acrylic surfaces such as Corian. These materials offer various qualities but the unifying characteristic is that they are all manufactured materials and are all considered non-porous.
There are advantages and disadvantages to any countertop material you choose for your kitchen, so it’s important to explore the reasons for choosing one material over another with your professional renovator. When I have this discussion with our clients, sometimes I suggest mixing various countertops in a kitchen based on how a surface will be used.