Even a more moderately-priced
Quartz wins as the most durable material for any kitchen construction or renovation. Having a durable countertop is a lifelong investment and if you plan to sell your home at some point in the future, its value will be higher if you've used a durable countertop like quartz.
Quartz is more expensive but more durable, while laminate is less expensive and easily available in a wide variety of colors and patterns. Quartz and laminate are both great countertop options — but they're also quite different.
Laminate is a finishing material applied on Plywood, MDF or any kind of composite wooden panel. Corian is a strong and homogeneous material made from acrylic resins and aluminium trihydrate.
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.
Although laminate countertops have decent impact resistance, they're vulnerable to heat damage and scratch easily. Moisture can penetrate seams and cause delamination. Not repairable. Small scratches can be touched up with designated resin paint, but deep scratches and chips aren't fixable.
Quartz Countertops
Quartz is one of the strongest materials you can use, making it one of the best-value countertops available. Both scratch- and stain-resistant, quartz countertops can look brand new for years even after withstanding heavy usage.
Quartz Remains the Most Popular Stone Countertop Material
Quartz countertops provide a variety of durability benefits, including: Stain resistant. Scratch resistant. Impervious to heat.
Quartz. Currently the most popular choice in kitchen countertops, homeowners choose quartz surfacing because of its many advantages. Quartz doesn't need to be sealed, and its seams blend very well.
Quartz can be more expensive than other countertops but is generally cheaper than natural stone and other luxury options. It does require professional installation and can discolor when exposed to high temperatures and extensive heat for long periods.
Do you want it to last without spending a lot of time on countertop maintenance? Quartz is a great material but has its drawbacks, including being difficult to install, expensive, vulnerable to heat and having visible seams. Evaluate its pros and cons to make an informed purchase.
Quartz countertops are the easiest natural stone to take care of. They are engineered using ground stone and resin, so they don't require regular sealing they way most granite and marble countertops do. This stone is non-porous, so it does not easily stain or etch.
White marble will always be an elegant choice for kitchen countertops, but if the maintenance and potential for staining has you worrying about its longevity, consider butcher block. The go-to choice for farmhouse kitchens, butcher block will wear beautifully over the years, and you can prepare food directly on it.
Other than perhaps stainless steel, no countertop is 100% stain proof. Quartz is the most stain resistant material because it is engineered with ground-up natural stone and resin. This creates a non-porous material that is highly stain resistant. Quartz is also easy to maintain as no sealer is required.
Quartz is made up of mostly quartz mixed with resin. The resin in the quartz is highly affected by heat, and this is why placing a hot pan on quartz is so strongly discouraged. If you were to put such high heat on quartz, the resin is very likely to burn and the countertop's coloration would be significantly impacted.
You could be considering finishing, maintenance, staining, durability, color, or any other of the number of aspects that come with different countertop options. But when it comes to specific interests, namely doing high level cooking in the kitchen, top chefs in the world prefer granite countertops.
“Different countertop materials, combination wood and stone worktops, and mixed metal fixtures and hardware will become more common, as will homeowners increasingly repurposing unique furniture pieces or vintage tables as islands,” Zillow observed.
Some of the most popular colors for quartzite countertops include white, grey, beige, and blue. These colors can be complemented with a variety of edge profiles to create a unique and customized look. One of the most popular colors to start 2023 is Taj Mahal Quartzite.
The national average cost to install new countertops at $3,102, with prices ranging typically between $1,859–$4,346. The expected cost of installing new countertops will vary considerably, usually $15 to $70 per square foot, depending on material, labor, dimensions/layout and the kitchen's location.
Quartz countertops are one of the best alternatives to granite counters in terms of durability, aesthetic appeal, functionality, and versatility.
Ceramic and porcelain tile are among the most affordable varieties and come in a wide range of colors and patterns, including designs that mimic granite and other stone. Natural stone tiles are pricier than ceramic but are much more affordable than slab granite or marble.
In the battle of laminate vs. Formica countertops, there's no clear winner. Formica may have a higher standard of quality than off-brand imitations, but there are other quality brands on the market like WilsonArt or Arborite.
Laminate is making a comeback and is being used more and more these days because of its improved design and style. Today's laminate looks more like natural stone, and because of improved printing techniques and designers who are creating better recreations of stone, laminate has made a dramatic comeback.
While laminate flooring has many strong points, its most significant downside is its poor resistence to water. Laminate flooring can tolerate some water on top surface but it should not be allowed to pool and remain for long. Otherwise, the water may seep below and affect the sensitive core layer.