3 Common Kitchen Counter-tops: Granite, Quartz and Solid Top

Dec 23, 2013

The counter-top is one of the most important components of your kitchen cabinets. After all, this is where you will do most of your food preparation so the material is super important. To decide on a suitable surface for your kitchen, you need to consider a few factors:

how often you cook
budget
living habits

Once you've determined the above factors, choosing a suitable material will give you less of a headache. Here are 3 common materials available in the market today:

GRANITE	QUARTZ	SOLID SURFACE
100% natural: cut from quarries	Man made: made from 85% to 95% quartz (one of the hardest minerals in the world)	Man-made: made from acrylic or polyester
Every piece is unique in colour and pattern with a high polish finish.	Has a polished finish, and is consistent in terms of colour and pattern	Has a matt finish, and is consistent in terms of colour and pattern
Scratch resistant	Scratch resistant	More prone to scratches, but can be sanded out unless the scratches are very severe
Heat resistant	Heat resistant up to 205 °C	Not heat resistant, which means it tends to melt or warp when it comes into contact with hot items
Average resistance to stains	High resistance to stains	Excellent resistance to stains
Average resistance to chipping	High resistance to chipping	High resistance to chipping
Bacteria resistant	Bacteria resistant	Poor resistance as bacteria and moisture may accumulate in severe scratches
Needs to be sealed during installation and at least once every year	No sealing is required	No sealing is required
Suitable for people who do heavy cooking	Suitable for people who do heavy cooking	Great for people on a tight budget and don't cook as much
Prices can be anywhere from $60 to $180 per foot run, depending on the brand	Prices can be anywhere from $120 to $190 per foot run, depending on the brand	Prices can be anywhere from $75 to $180 per foot run, depending on the brand

The above materials are relatively affordable compared to other stones like soapstone and marble. But if you have the budget and the taste for something different, you can even consider steel for your kitchen counter-top. After all, it should be something that you can live with for at least 5 years or more.

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