Glass Creek Inc.
Kitchen Cabinets, Bathroom Remodeling, Kitchen Floor Plans
03/04/2009
Kitchen Countertop Material Selection
There is a wide variety of countertop materials worthy of consideration in a kitchen remodel. Some materials are worth consideration for their aesthetic appeal, others for their performance, and some for their price. The major categories are: glass, concrete, exotic stones (soapstone, marble, rare granites), stone (granite), quartz stone (Caesarstone, Cambria, Silestone, Formicastone, Hanstone), solid surfaces (Corian, Mystera, Staron, Avonite, Formica, Himax), tile, and laminate (Wilsonart, Formica).
Price Ranking of Kitchen Countertop Materials
Kitchen countertops can be roughly rank by price as follows: glass countertops, exotic stones, concrete, quartz stones, granite, solid surfaces, tile, and laminate.
Aesthetic Considerations for Kitchen Countertops
There is no beating natural stone for pure beauty. None of the made made surfaces can achieve the look and feel of the naturals. Though some of the quartz stones and solid surfaces with larger particulate sizes and veining do a good job of imitating nature.
Usability and Performance
From a chiefs perspective the best performing countertops for the kitchen are the quartz stones with the solid surfaces a close second. For longevity and wear ceramic tile is a good choice. Granites perform well if they are maintained and care taken in regular cleaning.
Maintenance
Quartz stones, solid surfaces, and laminates are essentially maintenance free; requiring cleaning with soap and water. Tile grout and granites require a regular sealing process to reduce staining.
We service Fullerton, Brea, Placentia, Yorba Linda, Anaheim Hills, La Habra, Hacienda Heights, Diamond Bar, Irvine, Chino Hills, Buena Park, Walnut, Villa Park, and other North Orange County, CA cities.
714-680-9277 2454 E. Fender Avenue, Suite A, Fullerton, California 92831 CA Lic. # 741889