Choosing the Best Countertop for Your Kitchen

Featured Image: French Country Cottage Kitchen Reveal

When remodeling or upgrading your kitchen, one of the biggest decisions you’ll make is choosing a countertop material. And with so many choices available, it can be a daunting task! With some materials being nearly maintenance-free and others requiring a lot of care, it’s important to understand the pros and cons of each material in order to determine the best choice for your lifestyle. Below is some information on five great options for kitchen countertops to help you select one that’s right for you. A

Granite

Granite is one of the most popular choices for kitchen countertops. And, with its great combination of style and durability, it’s easy to understand why! It comes in a wide range of colors and patterns, is stain-resistant and stands up well against the normal kitchen related wear and tear, such as heat and knife nicks. Although granite doesn’t require much maintenance on a daily basis, it does need to be sealed once in a while in order to maintain its stain resistance. And since it’s heavy, sturdy cabinets are necessary to support the weight.

Marble

Marble is one of the most elegant and sophisticated looking natural stones, making it another frequently chosen material for kitchen countertops. Just take a look at the gorgeous marble in this kitchen remodel for the French Country Cottage and you’ll understand its allure! After several years, marble takes on a patina, a look that many people love. It’s also highly resistant to heat and breakage. With monthly cleaning and sealing, marble can be very resilient.

Quartz

Quartz countertops, made in a vast amount of colors, are aesthetically pleasing while being highly durable. And since they’re nonporous, you don’t need to worry about sealing them! Unlike natural-stone slabs, which are mined, quartz slabs are engineered in a factory. A good alternative to stone, they provide the beauty of stone without the maintenance requirements.

Soapstone

Soapstone is becoming a more popular choice for kitchen countertops, likely due to the subtle beauty and simple feel it provides as compared to other materials. Similar to marble, it acquires a patina over time. One of the more high-maintenance materials, it needs to be oiled regularly. And, since it doesn’t fare so well against knife scratches and nicks, it can crack, resulting in an expensive fix. A large benefit, however, is soapstone’s resistance to stains. If you’re a coffee lover or wine aficionado, this is definitely a material you’ll want to consider!

Tile

Both ceramic and porcelain tile are inexpensive, easy to install and clean, and come in seemingly endless color and design options, making them suitable for just about any kitchen style. Tile is sturdy and does well with heat, sharp knives and stains. One of the greatest advantages of tile is that it’s fairly easy to replace in the event some tiles chip or crack.

Check Out an Arizona Tile Showroom!

We know how important choosing a kitchen countertop is and how overwhelming it can be! Feel free to visit any of our Arizona Tile locations to speak with one of our professionally trained consultants and discuss the various kitchen countertop options available.