Whether you’re looking for the right material to use in your kitchen or your bathroom, there are pros and cons to every material that you might be interested in. You will need to take daily use and your personal lifestyle into account in order to make sure that you choose the perfect stone.
List of Pros of Countertop Materials
1. Natural Stone Countertops
If you’re looking for a classic and timeless look that is going to change the look of your kitchen for the better, natural stone countertops are your best bet. Whether it’s marble, soapstone, or granite, natural stone is strong, unique, and is seen in some of the most luxurious kitchens.
2. Cultured-Stone Countertops
Also known as quartz, cultured-stone countertops give off a similar appearance to natural stone. You will be able to choose from an assortment of colors, graining, and textures, which you won’t be able to do with natural stone. Cultured-stone is heat resistant, stain resistant, and scratch resistant.
3. Laminate Countertops
As the least expensive type of countertop that you can find, laminate is typically the type of material that builder’s choose when they’re creating new subdivisions. You can find laminate in a variety of colors and it is typically used to mimic the look of natural wood, metal, or stone. The best part is that laminate is incredibly cost effective in comparison to the materials that it is designed to mimic.
List of Cons of Countertop Materials
1. Natural Stone Countertops
There are many concerns that people have with natural stone countertops, particularly in terms of scratching and staining. Every counter will have to be sealed, but over time the sealant will deteriorate, putting your counter at risk for staining and scratching.
2. Cultured-Stone Countertops
The main issue that people have with cultured-stone is that it doesn’t look as authentic as natural stone, which can degrade the value of your home. For a type of material that costs similar to natural stone, many home owners choose a granite or marble instead.
3. Laminate Countertops
Laminate might look similar to different types of natural materials, but it surely isn’t as resilient and durable as a stone. With laminate you have to be incredibly careful with heat and staining as it could permanently damage the counter. It’s also important to note that if there is any damage to the counter it cannot be repaired, you will have to purchase a brand new piece of laminate for replacement.