Countertops: Tile vs. Corian vs Granite, etc.

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K

KD_B_IHB

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Other than aesthetics, what are the pros and cons of each type of countertop? Is it more about cost and appeal than about function?
 
I hate grout as well. The place we are in now has tiled granite. The tiles are large and the grout is very thin, but it still has edges and grooves that trap food and water. Fortunately, the grout is very dark, so it doesn't stain.
 
I wholeheartedly agree with the "no grout" rule. We put in slab granite out of personal preference and because my brother just happened to have enough left over from his kitchen remodel to fit perfectly in our kitchen and I loved the color ;-).



I know of others who put in Corian or that man-made granite (Quartz?) for practical reasons (easier to keep clean, cheaper, etc). I think it is a personal preference really, but I don't think I could ever live with grout again.
 
<p>I'm growing to hate the slab granite in our rental. It's so hard to see what you've spilled on it, so I find we are constantly cleaning it just because we don't know what filth is lurking on it. I've seen some lighter colored caesarstone quartz countertops in a couple of places --- those seem very nice. </p>

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CK:



I know what you mean about the granite. We have a light colored slab of granite in our rental as well and I am constantly cleaning the counter. I am always surprised at how "clean" it looks to the naked eye, but how much stuff ends up on the paper towel.



Another interesting type of counter top is concrete. I've seen it done and it doesn't look bad, but I probably wouldn't put it in my own home.
 
<p>As I've posted before I like corian and corian knockoffs. To tell the truth, if you tested them probably they are all covered with bacteria, with grout holding the worst infestations. I suggest a little bleach, or those bleach soaked towelette things.</p>

<p>Also, another FUN FACT is that the dirtiest part of your house is the kitchen sink. Far dirtier than the toilet bowl, which is limited to the kinds of germs that come out of the intestinal tract. Whereas the kitchen sink has all kinds of stuff from everywhere. E. coli, samonella, who knows what. Again bleach.</p>

<p>A further fun fact that I read in Science News I think, is that wooden cutting boards, no matter how yucky they look are actually cleaner than other types, because the wood fibers exude chemicals that inhibit germs..</p>
 
<p>We currently have dark granite - and I agree that I'm constantly cleaning it because you can't see what's dirty and what's clean. I never thought I would miss the white tile from our old IAC, but I do. You could see an ant a mile away on that counter. And bleach works wonders on the grout to keep it clean and white. (Although, I wouldn't install white tile in any house.) I would probably go with a light granite.</p>

<p>We had corian in our first house and it shows scratches everywhere. We were told that you can buff out the scratches, but we never attempted it.</p>

<p>I am also a member of the "Hate Grout" team.</p>
 
Grout is indeed incredibly painful to clean. There is an ever-growing number of surfaces available for counters, including granite, Corian™, any number of the "more granite-like" synthetic stone surfaces, concrete, glass, brick, and butcher block. All have their advantages and disadvantages. Granite, and any other porous surface, needs to be sealed every 5-20 years if you want to prevent liquids (especially acidic ones) from damaging the surface. In general, darker granites are less porous than lighter colors. Corian and the other synthetic stones are not porous and also supposedly can be repaired/sanded down in case of damage. They are easier to work with than granite and can be used inside a sink as well so you have a sink with no lip for stuff to get stuck in. The newer synthetic stones can appear more like natural stone, although up close no synthetic will have the beauty of granite in my opinion. Concrete and the newer glass is being used in more and more modern designs and can be stunning and is available in any color you like. The glass is quite hard now and has been shown to be able to withstand heavy pots being dropped onto them without cracking. Butcher block, especially on the island, is also a popular new choice.
 
My corian knock off has indeed scratched, and I keep thinking I have to have it buffed, and I keep not doing it. It's 10 years old and with a little buffing, would look fine.
 
manufactured stone - it can go by a variety of brand names such as caesarstone and technistone, but in general they are just engineered quartz. i love the look and has a more muted, less glossy look than granite which looks great in modern kitchens. though they claim its as tough as granite, it's not. i've seen a hot pot leave a permanent burn on quartz after leaving it there for only a few seconds.





corian - this is what i have in my current place. its repairable and very easy to maintain. as liz mentioned, you can buff out scratches. my ad-hoc fix for scratches is some light sand paper and then a bit of magic counter spray.





personally i wish i paid up a bit for granite. nature's best still beats man-made every time.
 
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