A Complete Guide to Choosing the Right Countertop Material for Your Kitchen

General Category

Dec 3

Your kitchen countertops are more than just a functional surface. They're a cornerstone of your kitchen's design, longevity, and overall value. With so many materials, finishes, and styles available, making the right choice can feel overwhelming—but it doesn't have to be.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to select the perfect countertop material for your kitchen. Whether you're looking for timeless elegance, dependability, or budget-friendly options, our experts will help you confidently transform your space. At Quartz Co, we understand the importance of combining beauty with practicality, and we’re here to guide you every step of the way.

Read on to discover how the right countertop can elevate your kitchen, complement your lifestyle, and enhance the value of your home.

Kitchen Style

Your kitchen countertops will allow you to reflect a certain style. Are you looking for rustic charm, modern sophistication, something classic and timeless, or eclectic and quirky?

If you want a material that can work in just about any kitchen style, quartz and porcelain products come in a multitude of colours and patterns. However, something specific like natural black stone would be limited to very sophisticated or sleek modern spaces, while classic butcher block is ideal for a more rustic look.

Budget

When it comes to designing your dream kitchen, cost always has a major influence on your kitchen counter choice. While laminate is by far the most affordable, it lacks the appeal and resilience of materials like quartz, porcelain, and natural stone.

For example, carbon neutral, ultracompact porcelain surface products like Dekton are making a big splash as the new affordable alternative to natural stone countertops, without sacrificing the high-end look you want in your kitchen.

Overall, many homeowners are leaning towards quartz countertops as the most affordable, attractive, and low-maintenance option. While natural stone and marble countertops always come in first for appearance, they tend to come in last for affordability!

Function

Kitchen counters need to be attractive and functional. When we look at the most common countertop materials, here’s how they rank for function:

Marble countertops: Marble tends to be the favourite when it comes to looks, but from a functional standpoint, it has its issues. While you can place hot pots directly onto marble, pale colours are prone to staining from things like dark berries, wine, tomato sauce, and curries if the marble isn’t properly sealed. It is also easier to chip compared to something like quartz or granite.
Butcher block: These counters are food-safe, and allow you to perform a long list of food-preparation tasks worry-free. It also gains more character over years of use.
Quartz: Quartz tends to be the most practical as a well-rounded surface that is heat-resistant. You can chop on it and do things like knead bread and roll out pastry with ease, so it gets a big thumbs up for both practicality and attractiveness.
Laminate: Laminate can stain and is not heat-resistant, so it’s not as functional as most counter materials.
Porcelain And Sintered Stone: Products like Dekton, Laminam & Neolith countertops are beautiful and practical, with high strength and heat resistance that is difficult to beat.

Maintenance

Ideally, you want countertops that are low maintenance and require nothing more than a wipe down after use. Generally, quartz, porcelain and sintered stone products tend to require the lowest level of maintenance, despite their higher-end looks. That said, most countertops require some form of maintenance a few times of year, including:

Granite: Granite countertops need a kitchen-safe sealant, usually once a year. Sensa from Cosentino carries a manufacturers warranty against staining and etching.
Butcher block: Butcher block requires a protective application of oil at least twice a year, unless you select a product like waterproof and maintenance-free Caribou Block.
Marble: Marble countertops have a high-maintenance stone surface due to the material’s porousness, which requires sealing several times a year to protect against staining.
Steel: This is by far the highest maintenance surface, requiring daily wiping with specialty cleaning products or cloths to remove all the smudge marks.

Installation

Costs and the look of the kitchen counters are both impacted by the installation process. For example, kitchen countertops made of natural materials require some form of seams for longer runs of counter surfaces or larger islands.

On the other hand, manufactured products such as Dekton countertops, Cambria, or Laminam can be made in larger pieces for larger or longer counters. If you want a smooth, solid surface with fewer joints, these materials are perfect.

Additionally, if you’re looking at something less conventional, such as a tile counter, this requires a very time-consuming installation process. Therefore, it will cost more than something like butcher block or stone materials that just have to be slid in and then glued into place.

Home Value

The last consideration is home value. It’s no secret that home buyers want natural materials that reflect a more modern, high-end aesthetic. As a result, we tend to see products like laminate counters reduce in value, while natural stone countertops or customizable materials like Cambria, Dekton countertops, and Laminam help increase home value.

Some tips for choosing kitchen countertops that help maintain or even increase home value include:

Choose countertops that are not too specific or stylized, as these counters will appear outdated more quickly than a timeless, elegant design.
Pick something that is sturdy like quartz or porcelain products, so they maintain their appearance longer and, in turn, their value.
Avoid overly distracting stone that will feel too busy to the average home buyer, such as dramatic contrasts in marble countertops, too much veining, or busy textures like high-contrast granite.

Contact the Professionals at Quartz Co

Using this guide when selecting your kitchen countertops will provide years of beauty, limited maintenance, and help improve your home’s value.

For more information about kitchen counters, reach out to the experts at Quartz Co. Click here to view our inspiration gallery. You can also contact us here to book an appointment at one of our showrooms.