Your kitchen counter plays an important role in establishing the design style of your home. Makes a strong visual and tactile impression. The material you use should be durable enough to withstand kitchen grease and stains, as well as attractive and up-to-date. If you’re thinking of renovating your countertop, select a style that complements your kitchen cabinets and the overall style of your home. Here are some options that are popular today:

granite

Today’s housing trend toward modern styling, cleaner lines, and simple patterns has led to less ornate patterns in all countertop materials. However, granite is still a very popular surface for countertops. It is resistant to scratching with knives or etching with cooking acids. Granite is a dense stone made up of crystallized minerals at extremely high temperatures. Here are several options in granite finishes:

Polished – Fine polishing brings out the depth, color and pattern of the granite. This is the least porous and the most reflective of the granite surfaces. Each piece has its own natural pattern and color movement.

Polished Finish: To create a polished surface, the polishing process is not taken to its full potential. Instead of a 3000 grit polished surface, it stops at a smooth gloss 600 grit surface. The result is a less formal satin finish. The polished surface is more absorbent, so it will show stains more easily than a closed pore polished surface.

Leather Finish – A leather finish begins with a polished surface. It is then swept with diamond-tipped brushes. Brushing closes the surface pores and restores the color. The result is a polished to honed surface. It has more shine than a polished finish and is less porous.

Flame Finish: To create this surface, heat is applied with torch force to the granite surface. This causes some of the granite crystals to explode and shatter, leaving a highly textured surface. This surface is used more suitable for outdoor flooring than for countertops.

River Wash: To create the river wash texture, the granite is first flamed; then swept with a diamond tipped brush to soften the sharpness of the surface. The result is a rustic texture with an aged and irregular finish.

roof tile

Used on kitchen counters for many years, the tile is scratch and heat resistant. They offer a wide range of colors and patterns that are well suited to today’s modern look. Tiles can be made from fired clay or cut from stone. Stone tiles and some clay tiles are rectified. This means they are cut to precise sizes, so they can be placed close together, keeping grout joints to a minimum.

Stone and clay tiles come in a variety of sizes, up to 28 x 28. Accurately sized large pieces result in a countertop that has a smooth appearance with less exposed grout. Tile is not as expensive as tile material and can be installed by tile installers for less labor cost.

Marble

Shell sediments and plant matter turn into marble stone after millions of years under pressure. Marbles include limestone, travertine, marble, and onyx. Because their main component is calcium, these stones will react to acids like vinegar and citrus. Marble can be used on kitchen counters as long as there is some tolerance for stains and scratches. Polished finish is better for kitchen countertops, rather than polished. This is because the softer, less formal look will accept wear and tear more naturally.

Limestone

Limestone is an organic stone similar to marble, but not as hard. Can be sealed and used for kitchen countertops. However, there is likely to be some staining and color variation over time, as the calcium in the limestone is exposed to the acids used in cooking.

Jerusalem Stone is a dense limestone found in Europe and the Middle East and used for countertops. Offers a warm, soft look in creams and earth tones. Since limestone is absorbent, it must be sealed regularly. Some stains and color variations are part of its organic and rustic appearance.

engineering stones

The trend towards more ecological finishes has led to an increased use of compositestones. Engineered stones are approximately 93% quartz, 7% epoxy, plus resin and color. Using crushed quartz creates less waste, making it a more environmentally friendly option. However, the cutting and shaping of the material is done by the manufacturers. So the cost is about the same as many granites or stone slabs.

Some family names are:

Caesarstone – evokes the look of limestone

Cambria – faux granite

Silestone – very dense and polished surface

Okite – add a bit of streaking for a marbled look

Slate and Soapstone

Most slates are too rough for countertop use, however there are a few exceptions. Pietra de Cardosa is a gray slate from northern Italy, which could be an alternative to granite. It doesn’t have much pattern movement.

Soapstone is also an alternative to granite. Since soapstone is impenetrable, it will not stain. It has been used for years as a work surface in chemistry labs. The colors are mostly gray and black.

ice stone

ceStone is a tile product made from recycled glass on a cement base. Offers a clean, modern look with the shine of glass. Because it uses recycled glass, it is considered an environmentally friendly option. Due to manufacturing labor, the cost is similar to natural stone slabs.

Concrete

A good fabricator can build a beautiful countertop out of soft-colored concrete. Although it is sealed, the homeowner should expect some stains and stains over time. That is part of the organic aspect of concrete. There is a lot of art and craft involved in making a concrete countertop. A professional fabricator should be able to cast and finish the counter in place. Although concrete is inexpensive, the labor brings the cost up to that of some stone slabs.

stainless steel

Stainless steel has been used for years in professional kitchens. It fits well with today’s chic and contemporary style. Steel is stain resistant and durable, but it does scratch and can be noisy. There are brushed or textured finishes that help camouflage scratches. And, when bonded to a lower layer of wood, it is more sound resistant.