Type |
Description |
Appeal |
Heat Resistant |
Scratch Resistant |
Stain Resistant |
Maintenance |
Granite |
Very hard natural stone, cut in slabs. |
Elegant, highly popular. Other types of stone not recommended for kitchens.
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes if polished and sealed properly
|
Very durable. Requires sealing and resealing regularly.
|
Quartz |
Engineered stone using natural quartz particles. Harder than granite.
|
Generally more uniform look than natural stone. Elegant and increasingly popular
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Very durable. Very low maintenance. No sealing required.
|
Solid Surface |
Made of acrylic resins (plastic) to imitate stone and concrete. |
Seamless and can be made with integrated sink and backsplash. |
No |
No but minor damage can be sanded out
|
Yes |
No maintenance unless damaged |
Laminate |
Thin plastic sheet over plywood printed with images to mimic other materials. |
Available in fun patterns or realistic imitation, but usually shows seams on edges. |
No |
No and can't be repaired
|
Yes |
Low maintenance Easy to clean |
Wood/ butcher block |
Strips of wood glued together to form a slab, usually made from hardwoods like maple & oak. |
Provides a warm, country look. Not recommended near sink. |
No |
No |
No but can be sanded and resealed
|
Requires sealing and routine maintenance |
Metal (stainless steel, copper) |
Made by wrapping a sheet of metal around wood core. |
Modern, industrial look. Can be loud. Shows fingerprints
|
Yes |
No and can dent
|
Yes |
No sealing required. Clean with stainless steel cleaners.
|
Concrete |
Color tinted, treated concrete custom poured to exact dimensions. |
High end exclusive material, customizable to any shape. Different colors and textures. Can integrate with custom sink.
|
Yes |
No |
Yes if sealed
|
Very durable, but should be sealed routinely
|
Recycled glass |
Engineered with shards of recycled glass mixed with cement and pigment. |
Considered an environmentally friendly surface. Unique, decorative
|
Yes |
Yes |
No will stain similar to concrete in areas between glass
|
Durable, strong material. Requires buff with wax periodically and resealing every year. |
Ceramic Tile |
Individual tiles set with grout. |
Wide range of colors and styles. Possible for DIY.
|
Yes |
Yes |
Yes but grout can stain
|
Tiles easy to clean,but grout requires routine cleaning and periodic renewal |