Polished granite, engineered quartz, marble, and concrete. Stainless steel, soapstone, travertine, and butcher block. Brown paper packages tied up with strings, these are a few of my favorite things.

At Apuzzo Kitchens, we love getting to play around with all the different and unique materials that go into a kitchen design, one of our favorites being countertop materials! Each material brings a different look and feel into a kitchen, and we love finding the ones that will speak to our client’s design palette. However, just because you are satisfied with how it looks, doesn’t mean you’ll be fully satisfied with all of the qualities of the material. It’s important to also keep in mind the durability, porosity, and cost of each countertop material choice. Countertop materials all vary in these factors and your lifestyle will determine which countertop material is right for you. Listed below are the pros and cons of two of the most common countertop materials.

Granite

Granite is a natural stone that is extracted from the earth and then fabricated appropriately to become a countertop. Most granites come from either India, Italy, Brazil or the US. 

Pros:

• Varies in price anywhere from $60 to $200 per square foot

• Each slab is unique and varies in color

• Resistant to high temperatures, scratches, and etches

• Unlikely to absorb bacteria (but only if you keep up with sealing it regularly!)

• Can be polished, honed, or have other textured finishes

• Can be used in outdoor applications

• Easy to clean

Cons:

• Price could get very high for more exotic stones

• Typically have to pay for the whole slab 

• Maintenance - recommended to seal your granite at once a year to maintain durability

Engineered Quartz

Engineered quartz is made up primarily of natural quartz that is ground up, heated, then melted with resin and other pigments to create a beautiful color and pattern. Some of the most popular companies selling quartz in the US are: Cambria, Caesarstone and LG Viatera.

Pros:

• Price point varies from $65 to $125 per square foot

• Easy to clean

• No sealing required

• Nonporous making it antibacterial and stain resistant

• Resistant to scratches, etches, and stains

• Can be polished, honed, or textured (depending on availability) 

• It is nontoxic and non-allergenic

• Costs less and requires less maintenance than some natural stones

• Many color options

Cons:

• It is heat resistant, but not heat proof (recommended to use a trivet for hot pots/pans/dishes)

• Cannot be used in outdoor applications

• Many companies that sell this material are from outside of the US and have higher costs

Marble, soapstone, concrete, butcher block and stainless steel are also popular choices for countertops. 

If you are interested in learning about the other countertop materials , please contact us for an appointment with one of our design professionals. If you’d like to learn more about the countertop lines we work with at Apuzzo Kitchens, please visit our website!