Redoing my kitchen - What countertops should I get?

Current breakdown of my customers homes is 60/40 granite/quartz, it comes down to look, and my customers lean slightly to a unique nature stone.

 

Granite is porous and needs to be sealed.

Quartz isn't and doesn't.

I'm all about ease so I'd go quartz, even if it cost a bit more up front.

Which naturally means I have granite in my house. Which I need to seal again.

 

Corian or other fabbed quartz. I have granite in mine, It isnt a perfectly smooth surface, I can feel occasional pits here and there when cleaning. Its also porous as hell. I've been putting off resealing it, which I badly need to do. Ever try to pull a coffee stain out of white granite?


Paint those cabinets light gray if you want to go for the modern look. Leave the floors or look into a thick vinyl plank - much better than real wood for areas that might experience spills or heaven forbid a plumbing leak.

 

We just had a Corian top installed this summer. Lowes calls it "solid surface" and it's about half as expensive as quartz. Went with a quartz sink though. The solid surface Corian looks, performs, and feels the same as quartz but much less money ($53 versus $93 installed per sq ft at Lowes). It can be machined just like quartz with decorative edges and does not give up anything in toughness. They do recommend on both surfaces to keep hot pots out of direct contact which I can't imagine anyone doing. Both surfaces go through the same manufacturing process also. Seams are invisible on the solid surface also. When it comes to flooring, we'll never have anything other than vinyl plank flooring. With us being older folks, it's easy maintenance....just mop whenever it needs it. Our hardwood section (living room) requires too much care. If my wife didn't love it so much it would replaced quickly with the vinyl planks. Wish I could attach a picture....don't know how yet

 

Well, how about butcher block. They give the kitchen a more homey feel. Less like a surgical suite.

But whatever you do stay away from stainless steel counter tops. Unless you are running a jack in the box.

 

I always thought a section of butcherblock wood would be cool. Maple or something. Easily replaceable. Nice idea!

Stainless? Maybe in my brewing area!

One unrelated thing, and maybe not just quartz (perhaps marble/granite) (Corian? (acrylic and alumina) - Quartz is an absolutely awesome heat sink. I did not consider this. Countertops were installed on a butt cold day last winter, they had been outside for days. Bringing them all in? Man the heater went into OT IMMEDIATELY. And cranked until equilibrium was reached. This is not a problem, because the countertops live inside - point being - they actually help stabilize temp AND best, throw some meat on the counter and it thaws out yesterday. A bit of a surprise to me. The thermal mass will have its way.

 

I've seen electric mat heating (like used under floor tile) installed under quartz countertops

 

Just so they feel warm to the touch? Mine stay at ambient when checking with IR thermometer

 

yes

 

This is my kitchen, in my house I designed & built. On counters, I waited for Lowe's to have a 35% off on their corain copy w/ free sink deal, in the color I wanted, total cost $1700 & two areas beside me(tiny bit RT bottom corner, flank the Frig). It is to Age In Place in. I have nerve damage to RT hand so drop things, corain & the like are "softer" than stone, might not break that plate, glass, plus warmer. So there are things like Mirco down in corner for ease of use(lifted off counter using a shelf from the corner cab above, so things can sit under & door can open with plate in front). Upper cabinets to ceiling for storage. Lots of drawers lower cabinets, easier to get out when old no crouching on floor(drawers in the stove side of Island for pots & pans). 1/2 moon lazy susan(can get bigger things in, & it brings out to you more). Cabinet over sink if no window, most people don't think of. Then some of the other side. Seat for many dog trips outside shoe/boot change, Dogfood set up. Many years old now BL. Decker under counter toaster oven. Floor is true GLAZED porcelain tile(can't find anymore), & back splash is tile too. I did tile for a living. Small but tightly set up kitchen.

 

"Well, how about butcher block. They give the kitchen a more homey feel. Less like a surgical suite.

My 1st house I built had a small piece(leftover from a Job) piece of butcher block, as a built in cutting board. HARD to keep clean, scars up, etc.

 

"Gwyns04, post: 24868078, member: 349311"]My kitchen as it presently sits, with @PennSilverTaco’s dog Porter photobombing...

[/QUOTE] Your layout & size is just about the same as mine! (see my post at the end). If you don't "quit" have the room for an Island(Best thing I did!). Look to your cabinet person putting a matching cabinet(ordered with kitchen) on wheels/casters(might have to go with lower vanity height for wheel allowance) that can be lock. Might be a little hard to keep clean under, but can move it if needed. Make use of every sq inch inside cabinets too. Pay extra for a plywood sink base, & seal the 3 bottom sides to bottom inside with silicone for any water leak,(They will ALWAYS happen). I also seal the bottom edge twice of all the lower cabinets before installing, for even washing the floor water.

 

Amazing what you can get your son to do if the job involves destroying something!

 

Hah demo is the best part!

I personally like Quartz for reasons stated above. Not porous and no need to seal.

 

I think the consensus is quartz. I get measurements on Wednesday and will have a better understanding of my options

 

FWIW,
Quartz countertop. Many advantages.
Natural wood cabinets, always look good.

DO NOT install a laminate floor. They are slippery, cold and never quite look like hardwood.
Floor should be tile or wood. There are many wood floors with durable surface wear coatings and damage can be repaired.
Tile will be hard and cold. Durable, damage can be repaired. Grout lines can be a maintenance problem.

We have laminate floor in the kitchen/dining......hate it. Cold, slippery, seems to amplify noise. Plus it s'pose to look like wood......it looks like plastic wood........

 

FWIW, I'm a commercial interior designer for an architecture firm. We work on university buildings, biotech labs, hospitals, office towers, and apartment towers. I've also worked on the highest-end residential houses in my last job.

We specify quartz and solid surface all the time for different uses. Corian is just a brand name for solid surface similar to Kleenex and tissues. Solid surface from different manufacturers will be comparable.

Solid Surface
Knicks, scrapes, and gouges can be buffed out. The patterning of solid surface is typically more homogeneous and the same throughout the entire surface. Installation takes no more than normal woodworking/carpentry tools. No grout seams to maintain. Solid surface can be patched easily and made to match. You wouldn't notice it. Like a hole for a faucet or soap dispenser could be plugged with another piece of solid surface and you wouldn't notice. My commercial clients love solid surface for its durability and ease of care. We even use 1/4" panels for shower stall walls or where we have high wall impact areas for protection. If you install a solid surface undermount sink, it can be welded to the counter so there are absolutely no seams (not doable with quartz). This helps mitigate germs as they stick to seams and grout lines.

Quartz
Denser but more brittle. Chips and cracks can happen and not as repairable as solid surface. We typically use quartz in "flashier" spaces because it's look is "higher end." The patterning of quartz is usually more desirable because it resembles expensive stones like granite or marble. These spaces don't typically go through the abuse of daily kitchen use though. Usually lobbies, reception desks and such.

Wood Butchers Block
Germ nightmare if not maintained properly. If you actually use it as a cutting board, it will wear away. We've never used this for commercial applications. It wouldn't hold up.

If you're only shopping at Lowe's and Home Depot your choices are so limited and typically they only carry the cheapest shit that I would never consider using. They may also have "Manufacturer A" but are only showing you a limited selection of what "Manufacturer A" actually offers.

 

Love the look of granite, but would never install it in my house. One red wine spill can ruin the look forever. I know they say it just needs to be sealed properly, but why take the chance?

 

quartzite for me. It is a natural rock harder than granite.

 

Damn. You got all kinds of patterns going on!