Take a look at Quartzite or concrete as materials. There are also new materials made from recycled class that are interesting as well. We just installed quartzite and are very happy with it. the concrete and recylcled materials were a liitle to "modern" for what we were looking for

Some people like the Zodiaq Okite in the faux carerra marble....some not....I also loved the look of white marble but I didn't have a death wish and ended up going a different color route anyway...there also weren't too many granites I liked, but there is one (don't know the name) that had some grey/beige veining that wasn't overpowering...it's definitely not the same look but sometimes you plain just can't duplicate something and can't use it either and will have to compromise for function...

I was seriously considering glass, but wasn't happy with what I found. The colors are limiting. Bioglass seems the most interesting, but it's shipped from China and I was told it has a lot of flaws and is very hard to work with. It has a nice, solid, feeling, comparable to stone, however, whereas the other glass I've seen is too glassish and feels like it would nick or scratch, and would always be smeary. There are also some beautiful glass terrazzos, which have small bits of glass in concrete or resin.

I finally decided on an eclectic, retro + modern look, and am about to buy some lovely handmade matte tiles. Tile is very functional, and I don't have trouble cleaning grout.

Did you consider the Vulcanite? I included a link to the company in California. They have some really lovely colors and they are tiles. A lot cheaper than the one imported from France!

Good luck!

Here is a link that might be useful: FireClay Lava Tile

Your kitchen designer is wrong. Soapstone will not stain. We've installed many jobs on white cabinetry and it looks awesome.

Richlite? A few folks here have used it. Based on the look and properties I'm getting some cutting boards to try.

Here is a link that might be useful: richlite website

Soapstone (used for years in labs) is completely stainproof. It is non porous and NOTHING will or can stain it. Period. Kevinb is correct. Another really nice feature is that it can take any heat--think red hot cast iron pan--set directly on it. There are no nasty sealers to apply. Very functional and beautiful.

There's lot's of products that will work for you -

If it was my home, I'd probably do Granite again -
especially since you've had no problems with it in the past...

(but then I am a bit biased since I work with the stuff every day too!!!)

hope that helps

kevin

Hi all,

I am trying to decide on a countertop for our new home (April 2010) and I'm having a lot of difficulty...mainly because I don't know the difference between the many choices, especially when it comes to price. Any help?
Also, I would like something in which I can ask to have runnels (drain board)...suggestions?

Is there a site I can go to which lists all the materials and pros/cons/approx. prices???

Thanks! :-)

We put stainless steel countertops on our wall runs, which contain our hot cooking area & our cleanup area. We don't have to baby this surface & it looks great.

However, SS does scratch, but this will patina over time. We selected granite for our island, which is large & bridges the kitchen from our family/breakfast areas to the working part of the kitchen, which has the stainless.

Another countertop material to consider is Corian or a similar solid surface. We had this in our previous kitchen for 20 years and it held up beautifully. Since it was creamy white, I initially worried about stains, but they always came out using a cleaner like Bon Ami or Soft Scrub. The look of Corian didn't work for our current kitchen, but we selected it for DS's bathroom & other areas.

Here's a helpful article that gives a lot of information about the different countertop choices including cost, durability and maintenance.

Here is a link that might be useful: Countertops

Thanks for your answers...much appreciated! Just wondering: is Corian or Soapstone around the same price as granite? I have an island that is about 8 feet long and 3 feet wide on which I would like to put one of these 3 above mentioned materials. Any idea on approx. cost? I am clueless as I am very new to all of this. Any info is welcome and appreciated.

Thanks! :-)

Prices will vary depending upon where you live. I live in NH and granite prices around here seem to range from $50 to $100/sq ft installed depending on the type of granite you choose. I have one soapstone quote so far and it was $123/sq ft installed. I have no idea how much Corian is.

Erika

Thanks Erika! :-)