By Jeanna Freeman, Memphis Commercial Appeal

Kitchen countertop options — from granite to wood — can fit any design style, purpose and budget.

Granite: Granite’s durability makes it a lifetime investment. It is a popular choice in defining elegance in today’s kitchens. It can add significant resale value to your home; it resists heat, scratches and stains (when sealed properly) and comes in a range of patterns and colors.

However, it’s pricey, and requires some maintenance (although some new sealants claim to be maintenance-free). Save money by opting for remnant slabs or using it only in certain areas. Keep in mind, granite tiles can be a less-expensive alternative and can also be used on floors, fireplaces, swimming pools, Jacuzzis and hot tub areas.

Quartz or engineered stone (a composite of 93 percent quartz particles and resin that mimics natural stone and comes in a variety of colors): This is a stain-, heat- and scratch-resistant surface with low maintenance requirements. Edges and corners can chip, and it can be expensive. (Check out Silestone or Cambria.)

Solid surfaces are durable, non-porous countertops that provide a seamless look and a choice of edges. The most familiar is Corian, but there is also Avonite and Swanstone, both available locally. Scratches can be removed by sanding; a variety of colors and patterns are available. It’s in the moderate price range. Hot pans can damage the surface.

For a green product, consider Icestone, a strong durable surface like granite, made from 75 percent recycled glass chips and material from landfills. It’s safe for food prepping and is heat resistant. It’s free of volatile organic compounds and comes in 27 colors or a customized color palette. Pricing is comparable to granite. But this is a unique product that can be installed vertically or horizontally and used for floors, showers, table and desktops.

Contemporary countertop styles lean toward the sleek, professional look of stainless steel and the modern high-tech look of concrete.

Stainless repels heat, stains and rust and gives the option for a seamless effect with an integral sink. However, it shows fingerprints, dents and scratches. Choose a grain or matte finish to make these issues less visible.

As for concrete, it will resist heat and stains if a penetrating sealant is used. Customize the look with textures and dyes. Price range is from $100 to $150 per square foot.

Laminate still remains the classic inexpensive countertop choice. This versatile surface is low-maintenance, stain and grease resistant. The price ranges from $15-$60 per running foot. Choose from a multitude of colors, patterns and textures, plus designs that mimic metals, stone and nature. Damage from cuts and hot pans makes repairs difficult.

Take time to do your homework and lay out your samples to ensure a perfect fit with cabinets and paint selections.

Jeanna Freeman of Collierville is a designer with 38 years of experience. She has taught classes in design and has done commercial and residential design locally and internationally. To read more from her or chat with her online, go to Midsouthmoms.com and click on “Mom talk.”

It is a natural Stone
Honed granite comes is available in many natural colors
Honing gives a nice matte finish not polished or reflective
Honed granite countertops are the most durable of all the stone counter options
It comes in large slabs so fewer joints are necessary

Honed Granite Countertops Cons

Requires sealant – every six months to a year
If honed granite is not sealed then will stain.
Honed stone colors are not as vibrant as a polished stone.
Uneven coloring in natural granite
Hard to match color if adding a section at a later time
Inflexible – can crack on impact
Joints cannot be made invisible
Hard on breakables

N.B.: Black granite is sometimes faked, and then will “fade” over
time. If the granite countertop is not truly black granite, it could
be an import that has been dyed. Over time this dye wears off.

Clean granite counter surfaces with a few drops of neutral cleaner (non acidic), stone soap or a mild liquid dish washing detergent and warm water. For best results use a clean cloth or rag. Don’t over apply cleaners, too much cleaner or soap may leave a film and cause streaks. Remember non-acidic products, do not use products that contain lemon, vinegar or other acids on the granite the high acid content may etch the surface. Rinse the granite counter surface thoroughly after washing with the soap solution and dry with a soft cloth. Changing the rinse water frequently. Do not use scouring powders or creams; these products contain abrasives that may scratch the surface finish.

Bath and Other Wet Areas In the bathroom or other wet areas, soap scum can be minimized by using a squeegee after each use. To remove soap scum, use a non-acidic soap scum remover. Frequent or over use of an ammonia solution may eventually dull the surface of the stone.

Things to do: Do dust surfaces frequently Do clean surfaces with mild detergent or stone soap Do thoroughly rinse and dry the surface after washing. Do blot up spills immediately. Don’ts: Do not use vinegar, lemon juice or other cleaners containing acids. Do not use cleaners that contain acid such as bathroom cleaners, grout cleaners or tub & tile cleaners. Do not use abrasive cleaners such as dry cleansers or soft cleansers. Do not mix bleach and ammonia; this combination creates a toxic and lethal gas.

Simply using these granite care and cleaning tips will ensure that your granite kitchen counter top or granite bathroom vanity countertop looks good for as long as it lasts.

But, Granite continues to reign as one of the most popular kitchen countertop surface materials. Kitchen designers and businesses claim that demand for the substance is spurred by its fairly inexpensive cost, which is competitive with Corian and quartz.
A survey, comparing the popularity of countertop materials, recently done by the National Kitchen and Bath Association of 22,000 re-modelers, according to market research manager Ed Pell, showed that granite accounted for 30% of counter tops, laminate 33% and solid surface accounted for 16% this includes quartz and corian. However other surfaces for countertops are becoming popular with more trendy remodelers who are requesting stainless steel or copper for kitchen counter top surfaces.

For people that want an upscale appearance in their kitchens, that are not too busy and who are generally neat, granite kitchen countertops are a great choice. Soapstone for counter tops are a good selection in kitchens that are not used frequently. A top alternative for kitchens where cooking is done frequently is Quartz. Solid Surface, including Corian, Avonite and Swanstone are excellent kitchen counter surface choices for that busy, frequently used kitchen that will have a good amount of cooking in it.

Relative costs vary, by counter top material, company and even by region. To find the best counter top surface and cost for your kitchen it wouldn’t hurt and might help to consult a kitchen design or remodeling professional. An online search though will yield a wealth of ideas,information and price quotes for preliminary research with no obligation. What ever you do have fun in choosing and designing while you compare kitchen countertop materials.

One reason this type of countertop is used is because the tiles are cheaper than an actual slab of granite. Due to the durability of granite you won’t have to replace your countertops as often as you have done in the past. These tiles can be laid out to look just like a solid piece of granite.

Granite is made of cooled molten rock with crystallization above or below the surface. The colors can range from pink to black. When in its natural state it is huge. Because of its size it is used in construction. Granite is not specific to one certain region however the commercial grade granite can be found in Africa, Sweden, Finland, and Spain among other areas of the world.

Granite contains minerals which formed when the molten rock cooled. Depending on how fast it cooled is what determines the unique patterns that are formed. When it cools rapidly the minerals form smaller patterns and the opposite is true when it cools slowly. Polished granite is shiny while honed granite has a softer look.

If you have ever laid tile you can install a granite countertop. The steps are basically…(Read More)

If you been considering installing granite countertops in your kitchen or bathroom you know that its natural beauty and rich look can’t be beat. And nothing would add more depth and character to your kitchen or bathroom redecorating project than granite tile kitchen countertops.

Though you can have them installed professionally, if you have ever laid ceramic tile you can install a granite tile countertop your self and save even more. The steps are basically the same and not too complicated. Just make sure you use the correct adhesive for granite and pay attention to the edges. It is a fairly simple do-it-yourself project if you have any knowledge of laying tiles.

When you are ready to choose the countertops for your kitchen, if you desire lasting beauty, ease of maintenance and durability, granite is a popular counter top choice. But if granite slabs prove a little pricey and do not fit into your kitchen decorating budget consider the installation of granite tile. That’s right, get all of the benefits you desire in granite counter tops with the installation of granite tile counter tops that cost less and look good almost forever. Our little secret.

Just bear in mind that granite is granite, it is the same base substance throughout regardless of the cost of your granite countertop. And, aside from structural issues such as the thickness of a slab and the presence of ‘filled’ areas there is really no difference in the actual stones’ composition. When you purchase granite that …(More)…