Ultimate Countertop Comparison Guide

If you’re planning on remodeling your kitchen or bathroom, one of the toughest decisions you’ll need to make is which type of material to select for your countertops. Many countertop options are available, each offering its advantages and disadvantages that families should carefully consider before making a final decision.

In this blog post, the expert remodelers at Willet Construction offer a complete guide to all the different countertop materials available so you can make the most informed decision for your project’s unique needs.

Granite Countertops

Created from natural granite stone, granite countertops are known for their unique patterns, incredible strength, and high resistance to heat and scratches.

Pros:

• Aesthetic: Renowned for its natural beauty and individual patterns, granite adds a touch of timeless elegance to any space.
• Durability: Granite countertops are highly durable and can withstand scratches, heat, and stains, making them long-lasting and low maintenance.
• Value: Installing granite countertops can increase the resale value of your home due to their perceived luxury and aesthetic appeal.

Cons:

• Cost: Compared to other materials, granite countertops are much more expensive to install.
• Heaviness: A dense, heavy material, granite countertops may require additional structural support, which can increase the cost of your remodel.
• Porousness: While resistant to staining, granite countertops are more porous than other countertop materials, especially if they aren’t properly sealed.

Quartz Countertops

Quartz countertops are comprised of 90% crushed quartz minerals combined with resins and pigments, resulting in a durable, non-porous, low-maintenance countertop material ideal for kitchens and bathrooms.

Pros:

• Durability: Highly resistant to scratches, stains, and impacts, quartz countertops make excellent additions to high-traffic areas of your home.
• Maintenance: Quartz countertops don’t require continuous sealing and are easy to clean and maintain using just soap and water.
• Variety: Available in a wide range of colors, patterns, and finishes, quartz countertops offer virtually endless design possibilities.

Cons:

• Cost: Compared to laminate or tile countertops especially, quartz countertops can be a more expensive option for homeowners on a budget.
• Sunlight: Quartz countertops can fade or discolor when exposed to direct sunlight for prolonged periods.
• Vulnerability: While heat resistant, quartz can become cracked or discolored when faced with extreme temperature changes.

Marble Countertops

Created from natural marble stone, marble countertops are a highly sought-after choice due to their timeless elegance, distinctive veining patterns, and unique color variations.

Pros:

• Resistance: Naturally cool to the touch, marble countertops offer unparalleled heat resistance, making them a great choice for kitchen remodels.
• Timelessness: Offering a classic, elegant aesthetic with unique veining and color variations, marble countertops add a sense of luxury to any space.
• Value: Marble countertops can greatly enhance the resale value of your home, as many prospective buyers show a preference for this material.

Cons:

• Maintenance: Marble countertops require regular sealing and careful maintenance to protect them from scratching, stains, and etching.
• Porousness: Like granite, marble is more porous, making it more susceptible to staining from acidic substances like juices, vinegar, or wine.
• Scratching: While durable, marble countertops are more likely to scratch from sharp objects than other countertop materials.

Laminate Countertops

Laminate countertops are typically composed of layered plastic laminate bonded to particleboard, offering unparalleled design versatility to suit a broad range of kitchen and bathroom styles.

Pros:

• Cost: Laminate countertops are a much more budget-friendly option for kitchen and bathroom remodeling projects compared to other materials.
• Maintenance: Easy to clean with soap and water, laminate countertops require little maintenance to keep looking their best.
• Variety: Available in a wide range of colors, patterns, and textures, laminate countertops can mimic the appearance of natural stone, wood, or metal.

Cons:

• Durability: While durable enough to withstand everyday use, laminate countertops may become damaged or delaminated over time.
• Moisture: Prolonged exposure to moisture or water can compromise the edges or seams, leading to swelling, warping, or delamination.
• Vulnerability: Laminate countertops are more prone to scratching, chipping, and burning around the edges and seams.

Onyx Countertops

Known for their distinct veining patterns, vibrancy, and unique ability to transmit light, onyx countertops make an intriguing addition to any interior space.

Pros:

• Illumination: Renowned for its ability to transmit light, onyx countertops can glow from within when backlit, creating a mesmerizing ambiance.
• Unique: Onyx countertops have translucent properties, vibrant colors, and intricate veining, offering a truly unique aesthetic.
• Versatility: A versatile material that can extend beyond your countertops, onyx offers greater design flexibility for your remodel.

Cons:

• Availability: Less common and more expensive than other countertop materials, onyx may have limited availability, making it less accessible.
• Maintenance: Regular sealing and careful maintenance is required to protect onyx countertops from staining, scratching, and etching.
• Vulnerability: Onyx is a soft, porous material that can more easily sustain damage due to scratching, chipping, and etching.

Wood Countertops

Wood countertops offer a warm, natural aesthetic to your kitchen or bathroom, offering options ranging from butcher block to exotic hardwoods for a unique design.

Pros:

• Eco-friendly: A sustainable choice, wood countertops can be sourced from responsibly managed forests or reclaimed wood.
• Versatility: Available in a wide range of colors and finishes, wood countertops are easily customizable to suit virtually any design preference.
• Warmth: Cozy and inviting, wood countertops bring natural warmth and a welcoming atmosphere that complements a wide range of interior styles.

Cons:

• Maintenance: Wood countertops require regular sealing, sanding, and re-oiling to prevent damage from moisture, staining, and wear.
• Sensitivity: Moisture and humidity can cause warping, swelling, and mold or mildew growth.
• Susceptibility: Wood countertops are more prone to scratching, dents, and stains, especially in highly trafficked areas with high moisture levels.

Soapstone Countertops

Crafted from natural soapstone, these countertops are renowned for their smooth surface, subtle veining, and resistance to heat and stains.

Pros:

• Antibacterial: Soapstone is inherently resistant to bacterial growth, making it a hygienic choice for bathrooms and kitchens.
• Resistance: Highly heat-resistant, soapstone countertops are an ideal addition to kitchen renovation projects.
• Timeless: Its smooth texture, subtlety, and natural beauty give soapstone countertops a sense of timeless elegance that greatly enhances interior spaces.

Cons:

• Colors: Available in shades of gray, black, or green, soapstone offers limited variety in terms of color choice and design.
• Maintenance: Soapstone requires regular oiling to maintain its luster and ensure adequate resistance to staining.
• Susceptibility: While durable, soapstone can be more prone to damage from scratches and nicks from sharp objects.

Solid Surface Countertops

Solid surface countertops are human-made surfaces typically crafted from acrylic, polyester, or a combination of both, available in a wide range of colors, patterns, and textures.

Pros:

• Maintenance: Easily maintained with just soap and water, solid surface countertops are a low-maintenance option compared to other materials.
• Seamless: Offering a seamless, smooth surface, solid surface countertops provide a sleek, modern aesthetic.
• Versatility: Available in various colors, patterns, and finishes, solid surface countertops offer greater design versatility.

Cons:

• Sensitivity: Exposure to high heat can damage solid surface countertops, resulting in discoloration and warping.
• Sunlight: Like quartz countertops, solid surface countertops can become discolored or faded when exposed to sunlight for too long.
• Vulnerability: While highly durable, solid surface countertops can be more prone to scratching and scuffing from sharp objects and abrasive materials.

Choose Willet Construction for Bathroom & Kitchen Remodeling

No matter what type of countertops you want installed in your bathroom or kitchen, Willet Construction has the team you need to bring your vision to life. Working with the highest quality materials, we go above and beyond to deliver a final result that exceeds your expectations.

Proudly serving customers throughout the Lincoln area since 1995, we’re confident in our ability to deliver top-quality service and work in every remodel we take on.

Schedule a remodeling consultation with our expert design-build remodeling team by calling 402-434-8008 today.