Kitchen Counters: High-Tech Solid Surfaces Make Maintenance Easy

olldbobbi If I were ever to replace my countertops, I've always thought this is the way I would go. It bothers me that it's a finite non-renewable source, though. Does anyone have these countertops, and do you love/hate them? And does anyone have the product with re-cycled content? I would think that is the way to go.

Ashley Henry I have solid white Wilsonart solid surface and I am so ready to get them replaced. The previous owner thought they would be a good idea to replace builder basic laminate, but I think I would've held out for some type of stone. The counters are no more than 5 years old and all I can see are scratches from everyday use and I have had some issues with things like berries staining the surface. I added granite countertop to my laundry room and while it doesn't get as much daily use as the kitchen, I prefer granite over solid surface.

olldbobbi Ashley, have you tried sanding and/or bleaching them? I thought that was what made them so great?

SURFACE DECOR FLOOR WAREHOUSE & DESIGN CENTER Surface Decor provides a wide variety of options for Caesarstone quartz countertops. They are contemporary, maintenance free and some of the most beautiful materials you can buy. Surfaceanddecor.com in DFW metroplex has a great assortment of surfaces.

Restoring our 1890 Victorian What material is the very first photo? The marble lookalike one?

ohharriet When I redid my kitchen I used a product called alkemi which is made from the byproduct of aluminum set in resin. It comes in various colors but the natural aluminum IMHO is the only way to go. Easy maintenance. Check it out.

denisemersmann I have a white Tresca countertop. I LOVE it. I have had mine for 4 years, no stains, no scratches. I have a replacement piece that was left here and I understand if I ever have an issue they can just blend it in. I put hot pots and pans on mine all of the time and have no issues with that either. I highly recommend.

omathgoddess I did some research and saw that the first photo is of calcutta marble. Not a great pic for an article about easy maintenance countertops :(

suzlanuz I,too,am looking for the name of the material used in the 1st photo...I was sooo hoping it wasn't carrara marble!! I want that look but not the real deal. I looked at a silestone in 2 different stores with the same name...the 1st stores sample was perfect! I was so excited but then the sample at the 2nd store looked totally different! Please someone help me get the look of carrara marble without the Carrara marble!

strevo I got Eco by Cosentino countertops and love them. The are made with 75% recycled content and are extremely durable. I got a couple of samples and tried everything to stain or scratch them and nothing worked not even sharpie marker!
http://www.ecobycosentino.com/usa/what-is-eco.html

suzlanuz Thanks so much for the quick reply! Your place looks incredible! I will look into it!

jojosail2 I have had Corian for 12 years, for the past 5 years the house has been a rental. I just evicted the tenant and she lived like an animal and had 3 unsupervised kids. They did not manage to damage the Corian in any way, including the integrated white sink. I am amazed. She also did not manage to do any damage to porcelain tile. It appears both products are truly bulletproof.

msteme To Suzlanuz: I had the same dilemma and chose "Torquay" from Cambria. It has not been installed yet but I received 2 samples and everyone comments on it's beauty! Good Luck

suzlanuz Thanks msteme! I did see that on line and will def look into it again.

perezfam we used allen+roth sugarbrush available from lowes for a carrera marble look. love them!

PaintColorHelp.com Dallas Eco is great but the price is outrageous. In fact, all the recycled countertops I've ever seen are more expensive than even exotic granites. I don't really get this, considering they are made partly from "trash", people!

strevo The price for ECO is high, but compared to white granite it wasn't much more. You have to shop around though. We found a much better price at a local installer than at Lowes or HD.

Debie Wilson My husband and I have been fabricating and installing DuPont Corian and other brands of solid surface for over 20 years. Actually, DuPont has been making Corian for at least 40 years now. It is non-porous, has a very high fire rating, and it used in laboratories, hospitals, and the food service industry. There is a good reason for this......it is non-porous. We have, actually, removed counter tops from a house that was damaged by a fire, cut off the end that was fire-damaged and attached a newly fabricated end. We repolished the whole counter. It looked like new!

It is completely renewable, in that at any time, you can repolish and refinsh the surface with sandpaper and a scotch brite pad. In fact, that is how our employees put the final finish on the counter top to begin with. It polishes just like wood.....finer and finer sandpaper and then as the last step, we use a green scotch-brite pad. This puts a matte finish on it and that is the easiest finish to maintain. After many, many times of wiping the counter off, it will become shinier and shinier. Solid surface WILL scratch easier, but the scratches and stains (like red hot sauce, grape juice, etc) can be removed with fine sandpaper and/or a green scotch-brite. Grey Scotch-Brite pads can be found in the auto industry stores and green Scotch-Brite pads are usually found in the paint dept. (Grey is a finer pad)

I just had plain white solid surface installed in our very modern condo. I had them put a 2 1/2" edge on it with hardly any overhang at the cabinet edge. The edge detail was a simple 1/8" round over. It looks almost square. It is sleek, modern and looks amazing. Everyone that comes into the house seems surprised that this is solid surface, as they have heard that solid surface is outdated and not attractive. It depends on the color and pattern you choose. As with anything, different colors and patterns go in and out of style. Super large particulate has become dated and the solid colors and very small particulates are more popular now. Solid surface is warmer to the touch than stone or e-stone and doesn't suck the heat out of my morning coffee like the granite that we replaced did . We love it. We can repolish these countertops in 10-20 years and they will look like the day they were installed!
If there ever is damage, the area can be cut out and a new piece seamed in its place. Solid surface is the preferred counter top material for rental properties, as they can be re-sanded to look like new after a tenant moves out.
I am not saying that solid surface is for everyone, but it is a viable option that does have its place among counter top choices.

jimcharfar Quartz White Fantasy in the whiter slabs closely resembles carerra marble without the upkeep. I have chosen that for my new house. I had a small sampleon whicht I poured vinegar, red wine, olive oil and blueberry juice and let each stand for awhile. Then I took the handle of a serving knife and hit it a few times. No damage whatsoever. Am hoping this is the same with the large slabs.

drwade If you haven't heard of ReVelle - you should go to www.revelle.us and take a look - awesome for countertops!! 99.9% natural requires NO maintenance made in the USA and is amazingly beautiful. I have seen it in several homes and a dental office. check it out, it is a great option!

Debie Wilson This article states that costs are $50-$100 per square foot, installed. We have NEVER been able to charge that amount for installation of solid surface.....even DuPont Corian at the height of its popularity. The cost of installed solid surface counter tops has come down significantly in the past 3 to 4 years. If you take a drawing for your counter top around to various solid surface and stone fabricators, solid surface is usually the very lowest price. Don't take my word for it, check it out for yourself.

Stevie I have corian counter tops and they are wonderful. No maintenance required with the matt finish. Easy to clean, hides scratches, never had a chip that needs sanding. If you are a cooking mom and really use your kitchen I recommend Corian. My next countertops might be quartz as I love the look of marble but don't want to have to baby it. Of course with that convenience comes cost. It can be higher than stone but I feel the benefits out weigh the price. Funny, I mostly go first for the "looks" or the beauty but in the kitchen I want function to be first.
Always good to read about the latest and greatest counters, thanks!

suzlanuz Thanks to everyone! I have no problem with corian...I am just looking for something with the carrara marble look. I think the Torquay from Cambria might be it!! :)

lrhome Caesarstone has come up with a new line called " Supernatural". It's supposed to resemble marble. See: http://www.caesarstone.com.au/Colours.aspx

msteme The new Caesarstone collection looks very intriguing!! Just called my designer and she is locating samples. That way we'll be able to compare it to the Cambria "Torquay". I can't thank you enough "lrhome" for sharing this link and information.

wilsonart1 Hello Ashley,

I'm Daniel a CSR with Wilsonart. In regards to your concern about Wilsonart Solid Surface material. Our Solid Surface material is renewable and repairable. The scratches can be buffed out by you or a certified fabricator. Here is a link from our website about how to remove minor cuts, scratches, and stubborn residue for the Wilsonart Solid Surface.
http://www.wilsonartcontract.com/portfolio/laminate/technical-info/care-and-maintenance/wilsonart-solid-surface-2/

You also mentioned using laminate. We do offer laminate as well. It is much cheaper and easier to maintain than granite. You do not have to seal it like you do granite. We have a laminate called Calcutta Marble. This pattern gives you the Marble look. For a sample please visit our website at www.wilsonartcontract.com or you call 1-800-433-3222.

Thank you for your time,

Wilsonart International
1-800-433-3222

Flavia Andrade Corian. It is not super attractive but they are really resistant to scratches and stain. I got quartz for my bathrooms and even though they look nicer, they get stains much more easily. So if you really cook as we do, go for a nice color in corian.

suzlanuz Yes, thanks " irhome"...I am going to compare your suggestion with the Torquay cambria, too! This app is amazing! :)

Deb Delaney Wow! How exciting to see Calcutta Marble in a Houzz photo! This is the countertop material I recently chose for our new kitchen. I can't wait to see it installed. The samples in the store are ALL different looking because the marbling is so random. I needed to pick up a larger sample or several small ones to discover each marbling color - a dark black/grey, a kind of grey-brown on a pale grey/white background - gorgeous with my walnut laminate and toffee cabinets, and a simultaneously perfect contrast AND pick-up of the wood colors! It's a great mimic of a marble countertop.

hootmama1 I installed Torquay by Cambria last November, and it does look very close to marble, although not a dead ringer. Most people think it's real, however. I have been very happy with it- extremely easy to clean, no scratches, looks virtually seamless. But one caution- I left the edges almost square, just a slight bevel, and I do have a chip in the sink area. I was replacing limestone, so this is SO much easier to care for. Very glad I did it, I was so tired of maintaining stone!

emjay194 So good to hear all the comments. My husband and I will be building in the next few years so I'll need to seriously consider what to get. I've always had laminate. I'm just wondering how each of the surfaces are for polishing. I've heard that granite is a pain to keep polished...water spots, finger prints, etc.

Karen Heffernan @victoriaelizabeth the material on the right in the first pic is calacatta marble. the solid surface is the white on the left in the pic

kateskouros IMHO, counters that try to mimic the appearance of natural marble just don't. Visually, they tend to lower the bar. I searched for something that wasn't marble for two years until realizing what i wanted was the real deal, not some cubic zirconia look (not much) alike. My calacutta is honed and was sealed by the installer. All I do is wipe them down after each use. And in the event some unforgivable attrocity should befall them, they can always be resurfaced by any fabricator. We have a house in Greece that has been in our family for three generations and in the kitchen resides a large, marble topped work table. The surface has developed a mellow patina and is still glorious.

Also in regard to solid surface materials, corian included, they will discolor over time. Given the cost, with maintenance considerations being about the same as natural stone i've never considered them a viable option.

suzlanuz Katescouros...I am so ready to just use the real deal! I have been looking at all the "cubic zirconia" marbles and I am just not finding "it" in them. I did read a while back that if you don't mind the dinks and dents that can happen to the Carreras marble, don't "settle" for anything but! I don't think I am going to settle. :)

jmansam suzlanuz, if marble is what speaks to you don't settle for anything else. I always wanted marble counters and when I finally got around to remodeling my kitchen everyone, and I do mean EVERYONE including the counter guy I chose, tried to talk me out of it even after I had fallen in love with his "Lady Onyx" marble in his yard. "Marble is NOT for kitchens!" he said. I spent months trying to find a substitute and finally decided on Bianco Romano granite. We had everything finalized and written up when we went into his yard to see the slabs, we walked right past the Lady Onyx marble....I HAD to have it!

I am sooooo glad I didn't settle! I LOVE IT! Is it higher maintenance.....probably and I am far from a neat freak when I cook. Although I must say, the style I chose has beautiful mint green and salmon veins running through it so it is surprisingly much more forgiving than I expected and the honed finish helps too. I went for a "Shabby Chic" style decor in my great room/kitchen combo so this marble is perfect. Go for the marble....nothing else will make you happier and settling will only disappoint you every time you walk in your kitchen! Good luck!

hootmama1 I too had to have the beautiful French limestone that I coveted when I redid my counters 15 years ago, and would not have settled for anything else. But after all those years of caring for it, I am SO much happier withy the quartz- and people do indeed ask me all the time what sort of stone it is. The sealing only does so much on natural stone, and things that you would never think of ( for instance, milk, lemon!) would etch the sealant right off of the top. I would wipe off spills immediately, but you can bet other people in the household are not always so meticulous. It certainly did develop a "patina" over time, and I wouldn't call it good looking. Also chips, especially in the sink area. I eventually became so tired of the care, I was happy to see it hauled away. So think hard before jumping into something soft like marble, especially if you cook a lot and there are others in your household.

annebowman Marble is wonderful for those of you who have a "family home in Greece," but for those of us regular folks, the solid surface will probably suffice.

martsihlas I love marble and decided to install it in our kitchen (I found Calacatta Gold at Southwest Marble in Austin, Tx) for a reasonable price. I love it but you have to be willing to give up having a spotless counter, especially around the sink area. My husband and I are careful wipping areas but others are not so careful and we have spots and rings here and there but even so I would not have settled for anything else. We opted for a honed finish wich gives it a beautiful appearance.

kitchenatlast I am planning a small kitchen remodel, and am considering porcelain tile that looks like marble for the counters. It stands up to heat, cannot stain as it is non-pourous, and is porcelain throughout so if it chips it will not show. I have read too much about real marble not to want it in my kitchen. Even though these tiles are designed for use as floor tiles, I think they are a great choice for a countertop. However, I have not seen anyone talking about porcelain tile as an option. What am I missing?

Karen Heffernan I had porcelain tile as a kitchen counter for 5 years, and it looked fine, but I really didn't like it. The grout stained easily, and the tiles can crack. I also found it harder to clean because of the grooves (grout lines). There are some lovely engineered surfaces and even quartzites that can look similar to marble. I have marble in my bathroom and love it, but agree that it's would be hard to maintain in a kitchen

drwade revell.us

cleowolf Last year, I updated the kitchen in my 1922 Craftsman bungalow and selected a beautiful Staron countertop (by Samsung). I, personally, am tired of seeing granite everywhere, yet I wanted something that was durable and timeless, and feeling appropriate for a historic home. I LOVE it! First picture below shows the "beautiful" tile countertop I had before. The second picture is after the install.

rohollo I just had cirrus corian installed its white with a slight grain, with the integrated sink. This is my second kitchen with corian. I love it. Cabinets are painted a creamy white. Style of room and house is kind of cottage. I use trivets and cutting board. Agree with everything Debie above several comments ago said about corian. It is warmer and a softer feel when touching and setting things. No staining issues. I even wash cast iron skillets in the sink. No marking so far and if there were you just use the scotch bright pad to buff out. I coved it up in the back to meet the current backsplash tile. Such a clean look and easy care around the sink. Did I mention I love it? There is a tumbleweed color that looks like a tan marble or a sandstone. I've seen in installed in a kitchen and it was beautiful.

kskousen I replaced 20 yr old laminate with a Hi-Macs product. I wanted a white kitchen without the cost of marble. I LOVE the look of this slightly speckled white countertop and it wipes up VERY easily, no stains whatsoever. HOWEVER, while the company warned me about the low heat tolerance level, (I was prepared with hot pads and trivets galore) they did NOT tell me about the scratching problem. Only until after it was installed, did they warn me to NEVER slide an item across the counter. No dishes, pots/pans, small appliances, silverware, etc. I tried for weeks to insist that my family lift every item over the countertop. It was fruitless and tiring! So, now we live like normal people but the counters are VERY scratched. The installers said I could call them to buff it out, for a price, of course. I probably won't bother until I decide to sell our home.The installers also told me that low bright direct sun in the winter can cause cracking but I have not noticed any problems and I get direct sun in my south-facing kitchen. Sorry this is such a long comment!

Stevie I am a huge fan of the solid surface. Corian is the brand that I have had for 20 years. Under the disadvantages it says it "is sensitive to heat and vulnerable to scratches." Never have burned my countertop (I don't set hot pots on it) and as far as the scratches, not an issue. I have a matt finish and deep scratches can be sanded out (that goes for burns too) but have never had a problem with scratches. The ease of care and maintenance is a breeze. I don't have to wipe up spills and never have to seal it. The counter looks just about new and it is great for the person who loves to to cook. I can't wait to see the new styles because I plan on doing the solid surface thing again in my next home. Marble is my favorite but I couldn't tolerate the care or the patina.

mothernut Where can I find the natural granite Calcutta marble in Houston.

Nicole Menkhaus You missed Avonite Surfaces... The innovator that makes both acrylic (Foundations) and polyester (Studio) solid surface material and has the ability to custom size their sheets...

kathleenandguy So sorry I chose this; it scratches so easy. Constantly finding scratches and I have pads and trivets all over the top ot it. They might sand out easy enough but who wants that mess everytime you have a scratch. They almost appear out of nowhere!!