Counter Solutions
The counters for your project are the surfaces which get the most use. They get cut on, stood on, sat on, and occasionally flooded with water. Pots and pans are constantly scraping over them.
With this in mind, choose your counter surfaces to suit the use and abuse they will be asked to endure. Having a marble counter top might look beautiful, but unless you are prepared to follow an exacting maintenance schedule and limit what tasks you perform on it, don’t expect that look to last; you may not feel as happy with your purchase once stains and scratches set in.
Below is a chart of the most common counter surfaces and their respective characteristics. There are pros and cons to each. Our experienced sales staff can help you assess each option to see which counter is best for you.
| Laminate | Butcher Block | Solid Surface | Granite | Quartz | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brands | Wilsonart Formica Abourite Pionite |
Corian Staron |
Cambria Hanstone Caesarstone Zodiaq Silestone |
||
| Cost per Sq/Ft | $ | $$ | $$$$ | $$$$ | $$$$ |
| Needs Sealing | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Scratch Resistantance | Medium | Low | Low | Medium | High |
| Stain Resistantance | Medium | Low | High | Medium | High |
| Heat Resistance | Low | Medium | Medium | High | High |
| Seam Appearance | Noticeable | Noticeable | Difficult to detect | Noticeable | Noticeable |
| Sink Options | TM* | TM / UM* | TM /UM / INT* | TM / UM* | TM / UM* |
| Installation Timeframe | 1-3 days | 1-3 days | 1-3 days | 14-16 days | 14-16 days |
| Reparability | Hard | Medium | Medium | Hard | Hard |
| Requires Pro Installation | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Man Made vs. Organic | Manmade | Organic | Manmade | Organic | 7% manmade 93% Organic |
* TM - Top Mount, UM - Undermount, INT - Integrated
