Countertop
materials can really help set the tone for 
your
kitchen. There is a host of colors, patterns and materials to choose
from - each with its own unique qualities.
The beauty of counters is that you don't have to choose only one material for your kitchen. You may want some butcher block to chop on, some tile to set hot pots down on—even a bit of marble to roll out pie dough. Mixing materials can make a real fashion and functionality statement. Choosing an interesting front edge treatment or backsplash detail can also offer an added design dynamic.
You may choose a particular product because you've fallen in love with its look; or your decision may be based on price alone. Remember that counters are among the easier elements to replace, so they are a great place to economize if your budget looks tight. You can either mix materials (to get "some" of what you really want) or go with an inexpensive material and replace it later on.
When you're selecting your counter material, be sure to consider maintenance and durability. Also, take into account how your sink will mount when making the product choice for that area. One more design suggestion—you might want to vary counter heights in your kitchen to accommodate prep, cooking and clean-up tasks. Keep that in mind when you order your cabinets.
There are more square feet of laminate counters in US kitchens than any other material. Laminate consistently delivers the lowest installed cost along with a wide choice of colors, patterns and textures. (And if you're in a real rush to complete the job, pre-fab counter sections are always in stock at home centers.)
Plastic laminate is easy to maintain. If you're careful and stick with non-abrasive cleansers, you can expect 10-15 years of service from laminate counters, with little sign of wear.
Laminate is waterproof, stain and scuff resistant. However, it is not impervious to daily life. You can't put hot pots on it and you can't chop on it because knives easily cut through the plastic surface. In high-pressure decorative laminates, only the topmost layer of paper below the finish holds the color or pattern. If you damage it, it's tough to repair, and the dark-colored layers below may show through. Color-through laminates (more costly than high pressure laminate), while just as susceptible to damage, have the color through all layers. So nicks and slices in the material may not be as noticeable. Color-through laminates show fewer joint lines, and are therefore often used for special edge treatments.
Though laminate is a comparatively low-cost material, you can really get creative and add interesting details with the front edge and backsplash treatments. Ask your kitchen designer or countertop fabricator to show you some of the options.
Keep in mind that in long runs of counter, and L- or U-shaped counters, several pieces of laminate will need to be used. Seams are inevitable, so be sure to work with your designer or fabricator to keep them to a minimum, and plan for them to be in less noticeable areas.
You'll find laminate counters can range in price from ultra-low budget for a down-and-dirty factory-formed top, to middle-range with the added pizzazz of, for example, special edge treatments, to somewhat more pricey for special patterns, custom edging or color-through laminate.
Solid surface counters provide tremendous design flexibility and easy maintenance at about the same price as premium tile work. Available in a wide choice of colors and patterns, many resembling stone, solid-surface accepts more varied edge treatments than any other counter. In solid color material, the glued seams are so invisible you may not find them even if you know where to look. Intricate design accents—such as inlays of a different color or pattern - can add excitement and flair.
Maintenance is a breeze with solid surface. It's easy to clean and sanitize. One of its best features is that scratches and most stains can be buffed out, usually with an abrasive cleaning pad; tougher stains come out with fine sandpaper. This means that chopping on counters is generally not a problem.) Though the material is stain- and heat-resistant, you can't put exceedingly hot pots on it, so care should be taken around the stove (perhaps an ideal spot to include tile or stone counters, or inserts in the solid surface material).
Pricewise (for standard ½ inch solid surface material), you'll find simpler choices to be the least expensive, i.e. one solid color with a square-cut backsplash and front edge. Prices creep up when your kitchen layout becomes more intricate, when you select certain patterns and when you add intricate routing to the front edges. Finally, you can go "top of the line" with inlaid designs, striped edges, curves and other unique details.
If your budget is tight, but you love the look of solid surface material, consider a veneer. It offers some of the same benefits, although fewer design options, but because it is 1/8" thick it costs less than the traditional 1/2" thick solid surface.
Granite can make a terrific aesthetic statement in your kitchen. And whether smoothly honed or polished to a mirror finish, it can complement most design styles.
Granite can really stand up to daily kitchen life. Its natural qualities make it waterproof and stain resistant, and it can survive contact with hot pots. If you fall for granite, plan to spend time choosing the right slab—colors and veining vary. The fewer and smaller the veins, the more durable the finished counter.
You'll need beefier cabinets to handle the weight, so talk this over with your kitchen designer or fabricator before you order cabinets.
Though granite slabs are typically the most expensive countertop, stone tile cuts the cost. Medium range pricing in granite can get you a slab with a simple backsplash and sink cut out. On the pricey end, you can get curved corners, intricate edge details, and extra cuts and joints in the stone.
There are so many types of ceramic tile—and ways to install them—that it's tough to generalize the cost. Standard tiles, laid in simple patterns won't break most kitchen budgets. It's the imported tiles that catch your eye in showrooms along with their ornate edge tiles that add up fast.
Tile does offer a great deal of design flexibility. You can create patterns, include fun decorative tiles in a backsplash border or edge treatment, even incorporate a mural to serve as a focal point in your kitchen.
Tile can be great near the stove and sink, but may be less desirable in food preparation areas because it's not an ideal chopping surface. When you're choosing tile, be sure to consider the manufacturer's usage recommendations (not all tiles will work as a counter surface). Also, think about grout. You may want white, or you may want a colored grout to either closely match your tile, or to create contrast.
Glazed ceramic tiles generally wipe clean easily. However, take care in maintaining the grout. It can absorb stains, and will need to be resealed periodically (narrow, well-sealed grout lines will reduce staining). Tiles can chip or break, but because they are individual pieces, they can be removed and replaced.
When it comes to pricing, simpler generally equals cheaper. Prices increase when you select nicer tile, and add borders or insets. And you'll find yourself at the top of the price range if you go for imported tile or intricate layouts.
If you love rugged good looks, concrete kitchen counters may be your perfect choice. Color options can make a fabulous impact. The chipped edges and hairline cracks that are an expected part of their fabrication add charm. It is important to know, however, that because concrete is a relatively new countertop material, experienced and successful fabricators are not easy to come by.
Concrete counters should be custom made to fit the specifications of your particular job. Your best bet will probably be to work through a kitchen designer, contractor or millworker that has access to information about concrete counter companies. They can help make sure the job is detailed properly and can be properly installed.
Most concrete counter contractors will pour concrete in place. Just be aware that, once cured, this type of concrete counter can't be removed without damaging cabinets and walls. In some cases it's possible to order pre-cast counters, engineered for your kitchen; this type is easier to remove without damage.
Plan on sturdier-than-typical cabinets. To support the 2-in. thick slabs, you should specify solid plywood cabinets with vertical supports spaced no greater than 24-in. apart. 3/4-in. plywood backs and tops would be wise, too.
Finally, expect to renew with a penetrating finish every year or two. If you don't mind the glossier look, choose either a moisture-cured urethane or acrylic sealer. These last from 7-10 years in normal use.
Price is tough to pinpoint for concrete because it can vary widely depending on fabricator and design. Expect concrete counters to be competitively priced with solid surface and better quality natural stone. Although the raw materials in concrete are inexpensive, it must be highly engineered for countertops—including reinforcements, development of special molds, polishing and finishing.
Commercial kitchens feature lots of stainless steel counters and sinks because they're simple to maintain and easy to disinfect. If you're hooked on that commercial look and you'd like to keep it simple, consider a stock stainless counter and sink combination. These units, typically 6-ft. long, have integral drain boards, which slope into a large sink.
Keep in mind that the stainless finish will produce glare from overhead lights. And you should probably have insulation sprayed on the underside to keep noise (from pots, glasses and utensils being placed or dropped on counters) to a minimum.
Stock units ordered from a restaurant supply house will be your least expensive option in stainless counters. You'll move into middle-range pricing with custom shapes and some bends in the counter. Heavy gauge steel, custom fabrication and L- or U-shaped counters will land you on the high-end of stainless steel pricing.
You won't need cutting boards cluttering your counters if you plan a maple butcher block top. Unique kitchens may feature an entire countertop in butcher block, but, most often, an insert block is included in a central part of the work area.
Block counters develop a pleasing glow from daily use, so don't try to keep them blemish-free. If your counter or inset is fabricated from unfinished wood, you'll need to protect it from standing water, scrape it with a steel scraper or spatula after use, and oil it weekly with mineral oil. If pre-finished wood is used, a penetrating sealer and non-toxic lacquer finish will prevent moisture penetration, so oiling is generally not required, and a damp cloth can be used for cleaning. In either case, butcher block should not be installed around a sink. And you should wipe off food and water quickly to prevent staining and warping.
Some people fear that wooden cutting boards will harbor germs—and they can, but so can plastic if not properly disinfected. If it is of great concern, use a separate plastic or wood cutting board to cut meat and poultry.
When pricing butcher block, you'll likely find that 25-inch slabs that needn't be connected to adjacent counters are least expensive. In the middle range are slabs that must be fastened to adjacent counters. Most expensive will be wider slabs, and those with complicated shaping and edging.