Kitchen Countertops. Information about the most popular countertops and descriptions about them. Pages on granite countertops, concrete countertops, laminate countertops & other kitchen countertops.

Top 5 Kitchen Countertop According to about.com

1) Granite Kitchen Countertop
Granite remains the countertop material that defines elegance. Though heat resistant and durable, granite needs periodic applications of sealant.

Pros: Takes hot pans, looks beautiful.
Cons: Expensive, high maintenance, can stain, may crack, available in limited sizes and colours, requires periodic resealing.

2) Engineered Stone Kitchen Countertops
Engineered stone is fashioned from quartz and offers the visual depth of granite, yet is available in a larger range of colors. It is a nonporous surface that resists scratches and is easy to maintain, without the annual sealing required by natural stone. Look for brands such as DuPont Zodiaq®, Cambria Quartz, and Silestone.

Pros: Stain and acid resistant, easy care.
Cons: Expensive.

3) Solid Surface Kitchen Countertops
Avonite, Corian, and Swanstone are some of the popular brands of solid surface countertops custom made to your exact specification. Because it is made in a solid sheet, scratches can be sanded out.

Pros: Seamless, stain resistant, large variety of colors and patterns.
Cons: Hot pans or stains can damage surface, can be moderately expensive.

4) Ceramic Tile Kitchen Countertops
Tile is a great choice for a kitchen. It is often inexpensive and long lasting and can be installed by handy homeowners.

Pros: Takes hot pans, easy to clean, standard tiles are inexpensive, available in many sizes, colours, and textures.
Cons: Uneven surface, grout lines can stain, tile may chip or crack, artistic tiles can be very expensive.

5) Laminates Kitchen Countertops
Widely used in new homes for many years, laminate counters such as Formica, Nevamar, and Wilsonart, are made of plastic-coated synthetics. Its smooth surface makes cleaning a breeze. Available in standard lengths as well as custom sizes.

Pros: Offered in lots of colors, easy care, inexpensive, durable.
Cons: Chips and scratches are hard to repair, seaming will show, edge treatments add to cost.