Don’t Let Choosing a Countertop Cause Unnecessary Anxiety

• Granite: Granite is one of the most popular natural stone materials due to the variety of colors and textures that are available. The lighter colors bring a softer material, while the darker colors offer a more durable option. While there are many different colors to choose from, you must realize that every slab has slight differences. This material must also be sealed regularly to ensure that it doesn’t stain or get damaged.
• Soapstone: Soapstone is a lesser known countertop material, but that is quickly changing amongst those who are looking for something different. This is a very soft material that can scratch easily, but those scratches will fade as it develops a natural patina. You never need to seal this material, which is perfect if you do not want to deal with a lot of maintenance.
• Quartz: Quartz is also called engineered quartz, because these countertops are ninety percent quartz and the rest is a heavy-duty resin and pigment. This material never needs to be sealed and it is heat and scratch resistant. Quartz is currently giving granite a run for its money, since it is considered maintenance free. Plus, you can find numerous slabs with the same colors and features since they are manufactured that way.
• Marble: Marble isn’t for everyone, but it does offer an elegant and luxurious feel to any kitchen. You can find this material in many different colors, but the colors that are offered the most are white, cream, black, and gray. This material does scratch easily and can get stained quickly with some foods and drinks. Most people will choose this material for a countertop where they will be doing their baking, because it is perfect for rolling out dough. We recommend matching it with engineered quartz, as you can get the same look for less money and less maintenance all around.

Don’t stress or get anxious over your new countertop! We recommend deciding how your countertop will be used and what features you are truly looking for. That will narrow down your choices, as will your current countertop budget. Once you have done all that, you should be able to easily choose the countertop that will work best for your needs.