Counter Top Discussions

An unusual and beautiful Granite,  Black Mosaic.

    

 

There are four different types of countertops (tops) readily available here in Southwest Florida. 

  • Laminate:   Formica is a brand name and has become a generic name for all laminates regardless who manufactured them.  Is is the least expensive top available and widely used in modular housing and for builders trying to build to a price.  It has sharp edges and corners and the particle board substrate is prone to water absorption and swelling.  Once scratched, it can only be replaced, not repaired. Laminate tops will actually subtract from the value of your house on the real estate market.

     

  • Solid Surface:   Corian is just one of several manufacturers of solid surface (SS) and again, the name has become generic. The surface is smooth and non-absorbent and under-mount sinks, if they are the same or similar material, can be mounted without a seam or caulk-line. The surface has a pleasing mat finish and will never shine, but scratches can be sanded and polished out.  Seams are normally invisible. Suppliers normally make cutting boards from the sink cut-out as an extra, and these can serve as raw material for the repair of serious damage in the future. Solid Surface tops will add value to the kitchen if polished before market. SS tops (if generic) are about double the cost of laminate.

     

  • Granite:    Stone comes in a wide variety of colors and types and the names can change with different suppliers. Besides being naturally beautiful, stone is smooth, cool to the touch and retains a high polish.   Most stone sold locally is from Brazil and arrives through the ports of Miami and Tampa and hasn't traveled far over the roads, saving costs.  It is a natural product and the material's look will change with changes in the quarry it comes from. You can choose your slabs from the local stone yard and the fabricator will put it aside for your project.  Hiding the seams between pieces can sometimes be a problem if the stone has a lot of figure. This can be minimized by a good fabricator.  If well sealed when new, stone will not normally absorb stains. Do not leave spilled wine on the surface overnight but care is usually limited to just wiping with a sponge and drying with a hand towel. People have asked if stone is hard on your dishes or glassware.  We have not experienced this after almost five years of daily living with stone tops.   Stone can cost about 1/3  more than Solid Surface depending on your choice of material.  Stone adds the most value to your house on the resale market.

     We are in an especially good buyers market for stone here in SW Florida.  Since the raw material comes through our local ports, the price is low. In addition, many stone artisans are opening businesses here due to our building industry. Competition is fierce and prices are stable or lowering in our market while the quality of the installations is rising.

  • Quartz:   Quartz is a man-made product consisting of ground granite (about 90%) mixed with solid surface resin.  The surface is hard and takes a polish but not a high polish. It is cool to the touch but warmer than solid granite, and the surface does not need to be sealed, even when new. The look is uniform without figure or variation.  Quartz is more expensive than stone.  It generally costs about 1/4 to 1/3 more than a normal stone top and adds about the same market resale value as natural granite. The uniformity of Quartz can be an asset when there is a large top that requires a seam as the seam is less visible due to the absence of figure in the material.

  • Marble:  Marble is almost never used for countertops due to its softness and cost.  I have not seen a new marble countertop installation in years.

     I'll try to rate features of the various available top materials from 1 to 10.  As you can see, heat damage resistance varies as does maintenance and repair ability. This table is my own view and does not relate to any other source.

 

Material

Hardness Gloss Looks

Heat

Damage Resistance

Maintenance Repair ability Cost Seam visibility Added Value
Laminate 4 6 2 2 8 1 3 5 2
Solid Surface 3 3 3 3 4 9 4 9 5
Granite 8 9 8 8 8 5 6 5 9
Quartz 8 7 7 7 8 5 8 8 9
 

 

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