With lots of countertop materials in the market, many homeowners are confused about the right ones to go for. Are you wondering, what is the best stone for kitchen countertops? Here are some of the options to choose from as given by countertop replacement services providers:

Granite

Granite is one of the most popular countertop materials in the market. It has been around for centuries and is loved by homeowners as it completely transforms the kitchen when properly installed. The countertops give modest houses a pleasing, luxurious look.

For years, many homeowners have shied away from granite due to its high cost. Thankfully, due to technological advancements, its prices have drastically come down, making it more affordable.

Pros of the stone

• Significantly adds value to your kitchen
• Easy to maintain
• Strong and durable
• Almost impervious to heat
• Comes in plenty of colors and designs

Cons

• Tends to crack when exposed to a lot of stress or improperly installed
• Not suitable for DIY installation
• Expensive
• Porous, so you need to seal it to prevent stains from coming about
• Knives tend to quickly dull when you cut directly on the stone

Marble

Like granite, marble has been around since time immemorial, where you can see it even in palaces and other buildings that date back to the Roman era.

One of its most significant setbacks is its high price tag, which makes it impractical to install in large kitchens. Homeowners also see it as the material to install in specific areas of the kitchen, such as the island or sections of the countertop reserved as baking centers.

While marble is highly-priced, it doesn’t easily stain or scratch. To reduce its maintenance, you should seal it with a high-quality sealer.

Concrete

Does your kitchen have an unusual shape, and you would like to maintain the unique look? Why not install concrete countertops? Homeowners have the impression the concrete used is the same you find in the sidewalks, but this isn’t the case.

The concrete used on the countertops is usually highly polished and often textured or even acid-stained to give it unique colors.

Pros of the stone

• You can tint it to your preferred color
• Gives your kitchen a unique, exotic look
• Heat and scratch-resistant

Cons

• You can’t install it on your own—you have to hire a professional to install it for you
• You have to seal the surfaces to reduce the porosity
• Cracking can happen
• Gives the kitchen an industrial look which might be off-putting to potential homebuyers—if looking to sell the house later on.
• Due to the customization, the cost of the stone might be high.

Quartz

Also known as engineered stone, quartz comes in a wide range of colors and features a nonporous surface that is resistant to staining and scratching.

Pros

• Even with minimal skills, you can install the countertop material
• Quartz slabs are uniform, without any imperfections
• You can custom fabricate the slabs into any size and shape
• Due to its nonporous nature, the countertops are resistant to stains and impervious to heat and acid
• Concrete is easy to maintain as you don’t need to seal it.

Cons

• The countertops are expensive so unaffordable for many people
• Quartz is heavy, which can add on a lot of weight on your surfaces.

Ceramic tile

Compared to quartz, marble, and other natural stone countertops, ceramic tile is much more affordable. The countertop material has undergone great transformations, so you will easily find porcelain tiles with different designs. You will find tiles that resemble wood, cork, marble, and even leather.

Pros

• Affordable
• Comes in a wide range of colors and styles
• Resistant to heat damage from hot pans
• Ideal for DIYers as they are easy to install
• Easy to clean

Cons

• If looking for custom tiles, they can easily get too expensive
• They don’t carry the same prestige as quartz or granite which might put off future house buyers
• Ceramic tiles are brittle and can easily crack when put under a lot of stress.

Over to you

There is no definite best stone countertop you can install in your home. The choice solely depends on your tastes and the look you want to create. To choose the right material, consult granite installers Rockville, or any other professionals.