So it’s that time in your home reno or new build to choose your countertop. There are so many great options to consider. Are you feeling confused? You are not alone! There are so many factors to consider, from style and colour to durability and cost. Here are a few of my thoughts and suggestions to help you choose.

Laminate

The cost of laminate is much more appealing than a lot of other options and may make it your choice for that reason alone. There are many great looks and colours as well as stunning replicas of laminates more expensive cousins (i.e. granite and quartz). Laminate is easy to clean and fairly durable, however not as durable as natural stone nor is it heat resistant.

Quartz – Engineered Stone

Quartz is fairly low maintenance and doesn’t need to be sealed. It is also heat and scratch proof. Quartz is also easy to fit into unique situations and can be a more customizable option for you. Some cons to using quartz is that it can chip and seams are hard to hide when pieces need to be matched.

Marble

Looks amazing and provides that luxurious vibe you are looking for in your room. It is also available in many colours but the fact that it is soft and porous will give it more of an opportunity to scratch and stain it very easy. Both quartz and marble would be fairly comparable in cost.

Granite

This has been a great choice of many homes and provides a wide variance of pricing, which can make it affordable. I know the granite I ended up using in my own reno surprised me with its reasonable cost.

It has the great qualities of being stain, heat and water resistant when sealed but it is very heavy and requires good support. The natural elements also make it a little unpredictable in your final product, but to me that is appealing and what sets it apart.

Concrete

As you can expect this product is tough, heat and stain resistant. It is very heavy and can be a bit difficult to install.

Stainless Steel

The look of stainless steel can be very appealing and can create a more commercial feel if that is the look you are going for. It is definitely more high maintenance as fingerprints and smudges will stand out on this surface.

The Butcher Block Counter

There really are so many looks that can be achieved with this choice and it can be an affordable option. The character of the butcher block does make it mark easier and it will need to be maintained regularly. It can look stunning as the entire choice for your countertops but can also be a stunning contrast when done as an accent to a few of the other choices above.

You can’t say that there aren’t enough choices for you to make your kitchen beautiful and unique to you and your home. If anything the choices are overwhelming, but given a few more details about each option I hope this will help guide you to the decision that makes you the happiest!