Five kitchen remodeling surface materials to consider:
Quartz, Quartzite, Marble, Porcelain, and Wood
Countertop materials have come a long way! From cringe-worthy, multi-colored speckled laminates to inexpensive pre-fabricated, cookie-cutter granite to newer, edgier choices like concrete and glass inserts, the options are endless.
Today, we’re featuring five, popular choices: manufactured quartz, quartzite, marble, porcelain, and wood.
This is a consequencial selection because countertops often connect other materials by serving as a creative thoroughline as well as bearing the daily pressures of your household’s activities.
Most of us narrow our choices based on what we find appealing or not.
However, making an aesthetic choice is more complex than simply liking the look of a product. Here are some things to consider when the primary concern is style.
Ask yourself, what quality or feeling do each of your considerations add to the overall design? Or, conversely, which of these common aesthetic characteristics serve to achieve the overall goals of your design. Would you like the materials to:
- Contrast and Pop
- Take a back seat to other materials through Tone-on-Tone
- Create Uniformity, Peace, and Tranquility
- Add Movement and Dynamism
- Contribute to the flavor of the design’s plan (Contemporary, Transitional, or Traditional)
- Balance the character of the design’s plan (Contemporary, Transitional, or Traditional)
- There are several ways to approach material selection beyond aesthetics.
With the assistance of a professional kitchen designer, you may discover other factors to prioritize because of your family’s activities or lifestyle. In situations where endless options can hinder the flow of your project, the guidance of a designer is helpful by proposing materials that align with solutions for your project’s specific objectives.
Below are common criteria for selecting materials:
- Durability
- Cost
- Maintenance
- Aesthetics
- Resale Value
- Environmental Impact
It’s important to observe how you and your family use the kitchen most and be clear about how you’d like it to function for you and your lifestyle going forward. Below are familiar archetypes that center the kitchen as the most important space in their daily lives.
How does your family use the kitchen?
Professional Expertise
Designers have specialized knowledge and training principles in space planning, color theory, and materials.
The Gourmand
Professional kitchen designers handle planning, sourcing, and project management, saving you time and effort.
The Busy Family
These creative professionals have access to a wide range of products, materials, furnishings, and industry contacts not available to the general public.
The Flipper
Professional designers can assist you manage your project, but also select options that help you stick to your budget by finding cost-effective solutions, keep contractors on time, and prevent expensive mistakes.
The Fashionista
They create custom design options tailored to your tastes, needs, and lifestyle.
The Eco Trendsetter
All projects run into logistic hurdles, a kitchen design pro intimately involved in your design can provide creative solutions to challenging spaces or design issues.
Now that you have some criteria to use as a guide, here are some other popular options to consider beyond the traditional granite or laminate options.
PROs & CONs
Manufactured Quartz
PROS
- Low-to-almost no porosity indicates its ease of cleaning and near-antimicrobial properties.
- Highly durable and resistant to scratches and stains.
- Low maintenance
- Available in a wide range of colors and patterns from reputable companies, which often offer life or limited-lifetime warranties.
- Uniform appearance with fewer imperfections.
- Reasonably priced by quality manufacturers.
CONS
- Wide range of quality dependent on the manufacturer. Common issues include: color drift; emulsifying and/or pigment ingredients may not be as clear or as pure and rich, which may produce slabs that are cloudy or have no depth; vulnerable to fading depending on directional and daily sun exposure.
- Not as heat resistant as natural stone, it tends to crack along a seam if hot objects, such as pans, baking sheets, cast iron pots, and crock pots, are placed on it.
- Lacks the natural variations, depth, and beauty of real stone.
- The manufacturing process is energy-intensive, not as sustainable.
Quartzite
PROS
- The natural beauty and wide array of species offers organically striking slabs with beautiful veining.
- Incredible durability in addition to the colors and striations of unique veining, the patterning or minerality can evoke precious stones, marble, or onyx, but are substantively hardier.
- Better heat resistance compared to manufactured quartz.
- Resistant to stains when adequately sealed and maintained.
CONS
- Can be more expensive due to natural beauty, appearance, hardness, and rarity.
- While natural variations are characteristic of quartzite’s striking and beautiful appearance, creating seamless transitions between different slabs may be more challenging.
- Due to its hardness, installation may be more challenging. However, this can be easily overcome by contracting a fabricator with a good reputation and experience with quartzite.
Marble
PROS
- Marble denotes timelessness and luxury. Its application in a space conveys opulence and extravagance.
- Its unique veining, used by ancient civilizations for monuments and art that remain today, add a sense of affluence and grandeur.
- This product naturally stays cool and is ideal for baking and pastry work.
- Often adds value for those in the market to resell.
CONS
- Marble is porous, making it more susceptible to scratching, staining, nurturing bacterial growth, and easily etches from acidic substances.
- It is mined all over the world. The most precious species often come from Italy and are priced by the rarity and pureness of contrast.
- Stains easily if not frequently attended to with careful cleaning and maintenance.
Porcelain
PROS
- Highly durable and resistant to scratches, chips, and heat.
- A low-maintenance product, easy to clean, and does not need sealing.
- Available from reputable companies, it has a wide range of colors and designs that mimic natural stone.
- Stain and bacteria resistant.
CONS
- Can be relatively expensive.
- Requires skilled and certified installers due to its propensity to crack if improperly handled.
- Compared to other materials, has limited edge treatment and profiles. Front edge treatments are confined to square-mitered edges only.
- Not a through-body product and may seem less rich in depth and authenticity.
Wood
PROS
- Conveys a warm, natural look that adds character and charm.
- Scratches and dents can often be sanded out and refinished.
- Can be used for both countertops and other kitchen features, such as butcher blocks or live-edge bar tops, to create contrast with other materials.
- It is a renewable resource, especially from a sustainably certified company.
CONS
- Wood does require regular sealing and maintenance to prevent water damage and staining.
- While it is prone to scratches, dents, and heat damage, it can be easily sanded and refinished if maintained with mineral oil.
- An initial urethane finish is more durable, but can only be easily repaired by a skilled professional.
- Can harbor bacteria if not properly maintained.
- May vary widely in cost depending on the species of wood, cut, and quality.
Before you go,
here’s one last thing to consider on your remodeling journey.
The Mohs Scale, a scientific rating from 1-10 measures durability by assessing mineral composition and density. A rating of 1 indicates the most porous and least durable material, while 10 rates as hardest and most durable.
Each countertop material has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Technology and organic materials overwhelm many consumers with endless options. Instead of feeling daunted, we encourage you to research these materials further and collaborate with your kitchen designer. Armed with knowledge, the selection process can be fun and satisfying!