Consumer Reports put more than a dozen common countertop varieties to evaluate how well they stood up to stains, heat damage, cuts, abrasion, and impact and found that seven of them passed. Here are the specifics best Countertops Store in USA:
Performance varied amongst materials in our countertop tests. Still, there was minimal variation between rival brands, so shop around for the best bargain on your countertop material of choice. See the numbered entries below for the advantages and disadvantages of each type.
Kitchen countertops come in a variety of materials.
Intelligence on the Counter
1. Quartz
Pros: It has the appearance of stone yet requires less upkeep. Quartz, a combination of mineral, color, and resin, was unaffected by hot pots, serrated knives, abrasive pads, and most stains. It comes in various brilliant hues and designs that resemble granite and marble.
Cons: Edges and corners can chip, requiring professional repair. Rounded edges are beneficial.
2. Granite
Pros: Each natural stone slab is one-of-a-kind; unusual colors and veining are more expensive. Granite was unaffect by heat, cuts, or scratches in our experiments. Both polished and matte surfaces were resistant to most stains when properly sealed, so choose your favorite look.
Cons: To avoid stains, resealing is required regularly. Edges and corners, like quartz, can chip and require professional repair.
3. Marble, soapstone, and limestone
Pros: Soapstone isn’t as prevalent as granite, but it’s extremely heat resistant. Small scratches can be removed using fine sandpaper and mineral oil. Classic materials include limestone (shown) and marble. Limestone has a natural stone appearance with no significant veining or graining, and it is heat resistant.
Cons: Soapstone readily nicks, cuts, scratches, and some stains are difficult to remove. Limestone and marble both have these flaws, and our marble was affect by the heat.
4. Apply lamination
Pros: Low-cost, simple to install, and far more attractive than you might recall, thanks to improved printing technology and decorative edges. The laminates we examin were unaffect by stains or heat.
Cutting straight ruins the laminate permanently; therefore, use a cutting board.
5 – Surfacing that is solid.
Pros: It comes in a wide range of colors and designs and may be used for the counters, sink, and backsplash, producing a cohesive aesthetic thanks to imperceptible connections. Its color, like quartz, won’t vary much from the retail sample. Most strains are resistant to solid surfacing, and minor nicks and scratches can easily restored.
Cons: It easily scratches and cuts, so a cutting board is required.
6. Glass Recycled
Pros: It has a lively, contemporary style because of the large shards; finely powdered glass makes it less crowded. Most of the glass counters we examined were stain, cut, scratch, and heat resistant.
Cons: It’s the only material where we discovered differences across brands. Only the Cosentino Eco counters developed a thin crack during our heat testing.
7 -Butcher Block
Pros: It adds warmth and is simple to install and maintain, but the finish matters. Varnish made stain resistance better, but penetrating oils made it worse.
Cons: Nicks and scratches are common. However, they may sanded away.