From what I've heard, concrete is at some risk for cracking. I would think you want to avoid any potential problem in the future so you don't have to replace again. It seems to me that quartz would match the finish of the island and is available in many colors so a darker one much like what you have would be nice.

It looks like you have corian or swanstone or one of those plastic surfaces.

The heaving looks like water damage to the substrate (generally plywood, but could be particle board). This type of counter is pretty thin - like 3/8" - and the substrate holds it straight.

I would bet on the sealant around the sink edges leaking. If the sink is an American Standard Americast, it's possible for the porcelain layer to separate from the plastic base material and leak that way. You might or might not also have some damage to the top of the sink base.

If your money stretches, you might consider changing to an undermount sink while you're at it.

Since you like some uniformity, you might like quartz. Caeserstone, Silestone, Cambria and Zodiac are some nationwide brands but there are regional makers too.

Zodiac Caraway (white, cream and gray)
{{!gwi}}
Corain Earth
{{!gwi}}

How about real granite? I never heard of cultured granite until your post but I looked it up and it's a man-made surface. Real stone should be much sturdier although different granites have different properties - the dark ones often are bullet-proof whereas others need periodic sealing.

Thanks so much for everyone's input. I never thought of water damage. I just knew that heat couldn't of caused it. I really appreciate the comments..since I have to bite the bullet and replace..I just want to make sure I pick out something that looks great! Such a big and permanent investment..well, suppose to be :)

It could be that heat & moisture from the dishwasher warped the substrate. Where does your dw vent from - the top, front, or sides? If the problem is your dw venting, I'd replace the counters with either solid 3cm stone or some other surface that doesn't need a substrate.

I suspect you have more damage than you realize. Bmorepanic is correct in that the counter sub top is the prime suspect here and that the culprit is moisture damage and not heat. If the subtop has lifted that much, that means a great deal of moisture damage has occurred and might also affect your cabinets. You need to get that counter off ASAP and inspect what's underneath. You can live with plywood counters until you decide on something new, but if you need to replace cabinets and repair drywall, you will need to know about it sooner rather than later.

Would substrate damage actually cause a solid surface countertop to warp? That material is so heavy...seems odd. I am taking all your advice though. I called the company that installed it and they are coming out. I'm going to pray nothing happened to those cabinets...ugh!!!

Hi lisa616,

I like your island. Can you tell me what size it is (how many ft by how many ft)?

Sorry I don't have enough knowledge regarding countertops to give you any real advice.

Thanks!

Good for you, Lisa, to grab potential bad news by the collar and rassle. Unstated, but implied, is that you need to figure out what the underlying cause of the problem is so it doesn't just repeat itself on your new countertops. As well as unearthing the truth about how much repair you might be looking at.

I admire your evident good humor! You go girl! Good luck...

Yes, if the substrate wood decides to move, it could easily push the countertop material around. Wood stocks have bent steel rifle barrels. Wood is powerful stuff!