Little-known Kitchen Countertop Types Revealed

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April 7, 2018

When it comes to kitchen countertops, people tend to only think of granite and laminate. 

There are other less-known options that may be perfect for your kitchen.

Let’s take a moment and explore your options. 

Quartz

Quartz is an engineered stone material. 

It has all the beauty and elegance of natural stone, as well as all of the benefits of a manufactured material.  Quartz is often known for its depth and beauty, similar to natural stone.

One other great quality is its durability.  It’s resistant to practically everything—heat, stains, acid, scratches, impact — and it comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns, suitable for any kitchen.

Quartz is nonporous, so it equates to easy maintenance.  No need for sealing or waxing. The surface is durable, strong and very appealing.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is typically seen in industrial kitchens, but has made headway into residential kitchens. 

Its extremely durable and its smooth surface is easy to keep clean, as well as sleek looking.  The nonporous surface makes the countertop antibacterial.  Bacteria is not able to find its way into cracks and pores.  Stainless steel is stain and heat resistance. as well as very attractive.

Both functional and striking looking, stainless steel complements many different styles of cabinets, flooring, and kitchen décor.  And it cleans up easily by wiping it down with a mild cleaner.  There’s no need for sealing or waxing ever.  While stainless steel is very strong, never use it in lieu of a cutting board.

Butcher Block

Butcher block is nothing new.  It has only recently become a popular kitchen finish.  Its warmth and charm makes any kitchen look rustic.

Butcher block countertops are made from long, rectangular cuts of wood, glued together to form a slab.  The pieces of wood can be glued together in many ways including edge grain, flat grain and end grain.  These different methods showcase the different sides of the wood.  Butcher block can be constructed from many different types of wood, but is often made from maple due to its strength and hardness.

One of the keys to having beautiful, functional butcher block countertops is the way its maintained.  Oil-treated, unsealed butcher block will look beautiful and function for years.  Roughly every six months, another treatment of oil will protect and nourish the butcher block and keep it from drying and dulling. 

Soapstone

Soapstone is reasonably unknown, yet is well-suited for kitchen countertop use.  It has so many great qualities for cooking and preparation, that it could be the next big thing in kitchen finishes.

Soapstone is a natural stone found in the eastern part of the USA and in parts of South America and Europe.  It’s often recognized for its smooth, soft feel which is due to the presence of talc in its natural composition.  The stone is strong and durable, and can really take a beating, as well as heat and stain resistant.  Being nonporous, it is antibacterial and simple to clean.  Another benefit to a soapstone countertop is that it’s virtually maintenance free with no need to seal or oil the surface — soap and water is just fine.

Soapstone is available in several shades of gray.  Each slab is unique in color and undertone.

Concrete

Concrete countertops are growing in popularity for many reasons.  They have the perfect mix of durability and beauty.  Its strength as well as it’s attractive, customizable look make it a great countertop choice.  The color, thickness, stain, texture and size of the concrete are all customizable.  You can also cast the concrete with embellishments such as shells or glitter.

Concrete is highly porous so its important to seal concrete to prevent staining.  Along with regular cleaning, concrete countertops need to be waxed to maintain their surface finish.

Recycled Glass

Recycled glass is eco-friendly and just stunning to look at. 

It is made from bits of post-consumer recycled glass mixed together and fused with a cement or resin binder.  When combined, recycled glass is a glimmering masterpiece kitchen countertop.  The color and size is widely customizable.  Recycled glass countertops are durable, as well as scratch and heat resistant.

Regular sealing and waxing will keep the surface shiny and beautiful for decades.

We’re glad to help you better understand kitchen countertop choices.  The Edge Showroom Kitchen and Bath Designers at Builder Supply Outlet are here to help you with all your kitchen and bath needs.

Feel free to stop into Builder Supply Outlet or the Edge Showroom with any home improvement questions you may have or call us anytime at 1-708-343-3900.  You can also make an appointment to meet with one of our designers at no charge by clicking here.