I am going with Quartz. So far every distributor has stated that it is great with pots and stain resistant. I am doing LG Huasys Viatera collection in Brushed Carbo and Brushed Minuet. Check them out also! Good luck

quartz will scorch if used as a backsplash by gas range, and one cannot put a hot pot on quartz.

“I am going with Quartz. So far every distributor has stated that it is great with pots and stain resistant.”

The distributors are selling you a bill of goods. Quartz counters are made from ground up quartz particles and plastic resins. Putting hot pots and pans on engineered stone...whether it’s Silestone, Caesarstone, Cambria, or any other brand, can scorch or melt the resin. Doing that can also create thermal shock, resulting in cracking. Any damage from heat will not be covered by the warrantee. Do a search...you’ll come up with many threads on this.

I have Silestone quartz (Eternal Serena). I don't place hot pots on it. I mean, I have, but only for a few seconds or so. learn to use trivets or cutting boards.

Cambria is one of the highest prices.

It does chip. I clipped the edge w/an iron skillet, and clipped another edge w/the same damn skillet!

only that chip is front and center. I'm waiting to have them repaired so they shouldn't be too noticeable. That's the drawback to quartz. (if you're careless removing your iron skillet from the drawer below like I am!)

The porcelain slabs have come a long way.

This is a porcelain that looks like marble. I actually couldn't tell the difference.

book-end porcelain slabs.

The main thing w/using porcelain is that the installer MUST use thinset on 100% coverage on the back to set the countertop. completely covered. (no blobs or spots. ) edges will be vulnerable just like the quartz would. but you can set hot pots on it. (honestly, I don't know why the big concern w/hot pots. why can't you all use trivets??)

If you don't wanna use trivets, get a metal counter. Or tile. :)

(Beth, watch our for crockpots too! I chipped a porcelain tile countertop in my old kitchen the same week my friend chipper her granite--both with the crock. It wasn't even 1970s Cookery Week!)

This lady used her engineered stone island as an ironing board and heard a big bang. Unlike Corian, there's no fixin' that crack. I wonder what every distributor would say about that?

Beth:

Were I called to do your repair, I'd try to talk you into eliminating the squared outside corner. Looks like an appliance bump out, so I'll bet you've got another corner that matches that would have to be redone. May not be your stylin' cup of tea, but the chips would be nonexistent, not just repaired.

No more waiting either please. The longer chips and cracks go, the more contaminated they become and more difficult to repair. I'm gonna try to sneak a little super glue into the above-pictured crack after I decontaminate when I install her sink. Otherwise the crack fills with crud, turns black, and becomes unsanitary and conspicuous. She'll still feel it, but that's better than me abrading it to flush and trying to match factory finish on a deck, especially on a freebie.

IMO if you want something that can be a work horse with the least amount of worry then get real stone not fake plastic “stone” There are so many beatuful granites go with that instead. As for the porcealin from porcelanosa ask them .

I brought home samples of various materials before choosing my kitchen counters. I left wine and blueberry juice sit on the samples overnight ....after running a knife and a wine bottle over their surfaces. The white quartz did not scratch or stain. My husband is always running his metal water bottle across our counters! So far (2years) so good not a mark or scratch on either kitchen , 2 bathroom or laundry room counters.

thanks so far for all the replies. never done this forum before so very cool. So, with the resin in the solid surface, ~33%, a blemish could be 'rubbed out'? less so with quartz b/c the resin % is so low, I'm thinking. And for hot pots, well, don't you sometimes take out something from the oven and its hotter or heavier than anticipated and you need to quickly set it down. I don't want to remember that moment forever! the porcelanosa is intriguing, of course people will always pitch their products as being impervious to all damage, and i would probably use their own installers if we go with that product [there is krion and Xtone] . Thanks for pointer for thinset @Beth H. :, As for granite, it just looks so turn of the century [this last one, that is!] and too busy with all those blended, busy albeit natural patterns. We will probably go back to the showroom a 2nd time.

White solid surface doesn't stain. I have gotten highlighter on mine, in addition to egg dye, red wine, coffee, beet juice, turmeric, etc. Soft Scrub with bleach takes care of everything. It's a very personal choice though. Pros and cons for all counter types.