Liquids and stains cannot penetrate non-porous materials because they have a built-in seal. Natural stone countertops, such as polished marbles or granite, have pores and small splinters that require sealing on a regular basis.
If someone asks our team for a low-maintenance countertop, quartz is almost always at the top of our list. Meanwhile, other options such as marble, limestone, and granite countertops need to be sealed because they have a porous structure. If you don't seal them, they'll easily be subject to material wear.
Unlike granite, quartz doesn't need to be sealed on a regular basis in order to prevent staining. The nonporous surface makes it an ideal choice for food preparation and maintenance. You can clean these countertops with some warm and soapy water when necessary.
Throughout the life of your countertops, a sealer is necessary to keep your counters looking their best and to protect against scratches, stains, and overall dullness.
Solid surface countertops are non-porous, which keeps bacteria and stains away—without having to seal. Seamless Look–Most solid surface patterns can be joined with seams that are very hard to detect to the naked eye. It also has thermoformable properties, so it can be shaped into things like custom shower pans.
Quartz doesn't require a sealant. Using one is a waste of time and money and could even damage your countertop. Quartz isn't the same as other popular countertop materials and sealants have their drawbacks. A quartz countertop is durable and beautiful without a sealant.
No, Corian is nonporous. Unlike natural stone, Corian never needs sealing making it easy to live with and perfect for kitchen countertops, bathroom countertops, vanities, and many other surfaces! Corian is a beautiful, maintenance-free surface that is perfect for your new kitchen remodeling projects.
A Corian ® surface that has been professionally fabricated and installed is completely sealed and non-porous, meaning it creates a durable barrier without having to be sealed.
Maintenance and Care. There's not much to do when it comes to maintaining laminate countertops. No sealing is ever required. Normal cleaning with mild soap and water is plenty to keep them looking their best.
Unsealed granite counters are susceptible to stains from food, drinks, and other spills. Since granite is porous, is can quickly absorb food and liquids, which is then hard to get up. Sealing your countertops is the best way to avoid stains like this.
Quartz is resistant to scratches, stains, and heat, plus it's non-porous. This makes quartz one of the most durable countertops you can buy for your kitchen or bathroom.
As a countertop material, stainless steel is as low-maintenance as it gets. No sealing or refinishing is ever required, and cleaning is easy with mild soap products. These countertops work very well in the kitchen or bath since they won't be stained by food, juice, facial cleansers, etc.
The undisputed, unbeaten champion of the Porous Test, quartz is non-porous. Quartz's non-porous nature allows it to resist staining much better than granite, marble and concrete. Quartz can repel the harshest spills, from juice to oil to tomatoes, coffee and more.
Conclusion. Clorox wipes should never be used to clean your quartz countertops because the solution used in the wipes can potentially damage the surface. Instead, use warm water and mild soap, white vinegar and water or a quartz cleaner.
Vinegar-based spray cleaner is another option to keep quartz countertops glistening. In a clean spray bottle, mix one-quarter vinegar with three-quarters water and shake it up. Just as with regular countertop cleaning, keep spraying and wiping across the counter, cleaning a few feet at a time.
You Can't Set Hot Pans on Them
Although quartz countertops are extremely durable and considered heat-resistant, putting a hot pan right on the surface can damage the material. As with most other countertops, you'll need to use a trivet or stove mitt to protect it, as heat can cause discoloration and/or cracking.
Laminate, Formica®, and Wilsonart® are all essentially the same thing; laminate is the substance, and Formica® and Wilsonart® are the brand names. Both types are widely marketed for kitchen countertops, bathroom vanities, and bar counters and available in a variety of colors and designs.
Instead, have a handy supply of trivets or hot pads to create a barrier between your pan/appliance and the laminate countertop. Don't use harsh abrasive cleansers. These will dull the laminate finish. Don't use steel wool or scrubbing tools containing steel wool, they too will scratch and dull the finish.
A matte finish is a better choice to help hide scratches. You'll basically have two choices of surface finish: matte and glossy. Any type of glossy finish will accentuate scratches, and wear will dull it in heavily used areas. So stick with the matte finish.
In terms of durability, Corian tends to be more easily damaged by hot surfaces than natural stone. It's also more prone to scratches than surfaces like quartz and granite.
Corian is cheaper than quartz upfront. You can expect to pay between $40 and $65 per square foot for Corian while quartz starts at $40 and can extend well beyond $200 per square foot. Corian will cost more over the long haul due to the material's fragility and poor resale value.
If you have soft surface countertops like granite or marble, step away from the magic eraser. You can use them on laminate, Corian, quartz, and other solid surface countertops, but do a spot check.
Disinfecting Occasionally wipe surface with diluted household bleach - 1:100 (5 Tbsp. of bleach to 1 gallon of water, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for disinfection of surfaces).
Corian and other solid surface materials are generally warranted for 10 years; but in practice, they can easily last 30 years or more.
Cost. Corian costs $70 to $130 per square foot. Granite's pricing varies a lot according to appearance and coloring, but most granite goes for $40 to $150 per square foot. Installation costs for both materials often vary by region.