countertops thread

[AppleJack]

huge fan of butcher block. love the imperfections it picks up over the years.

that chick i married says recycled glass is balls right now. so hot. or quartz if you like durability and not to expensive.

[steve dave]

granite, no downsides to it. Try to think of one. You can't. Concrete requires maintenance.

[Tobias]

sheet metal

[tdaver]

I would choose quartz over granite.  It's more durable and non-porous so it doesn't need to be sealed regularly like granite.  But both are good, depends on what look you are going for.

I agree with TBJ about butcher block.  Would definitely consider this route, especially if on a budget and DIY'ing it.

[Pete]

granite, no downsides to it. Try to think of one. You can't. Concrete requires maintenance.

I redid my kitchen this summer and put in grantie, and went ahead and the same granite in two bathrooms. I love it.

BUT, if you drop a glass on it, it will break easier.  Only bad thing I can say about it, though.

[michigancat]

granite, no downsides to it. Try to think of one. You can't. Concrete requires maintenance.

I don't like the way most granite I've seen looks. But probably no functional downsides.

[Asteriskhead]

i'm anti-countertop but i'm pro table.

[AST]

quartz, next topic please

[8manpick]

Himalayan salt block

[Pete]

granite, no downsides to it. Try to think of one. You can't. Concrete requires maintenance.

I don't like the way most granite I've seen looks. But probably no functional downsides.

I'm not terribly picky on the look, so for me it was easy to do.  I just picked out a pretty neutral looking tan-ish color with a limited number of lines and speckles and crap and ran with it.  Pretty basic.  The install was easy, the dudes did everything.

[Boom Roasted]

I tiled mine with travertine. Hot things like granite for about $4 sqft. Little tougher to clean but it works great for me.

[chum1]

Granite is probably a good option if you'll need your countertop for more than 1000 years.

[wetwillie]

huge fan of butcher block. love the imperfections it picks up over the years.

that chick i married says recycled glass is balls right now. so hot. or quartz if you like durability and not to expensive.

That recycled glass does look great.

[kim carnes]

1. marble
2. quartz
3. granite

[IPA4Me]

Not a big fan of putting radiation sources on my countertops. I'd pass on the granite.

Laminate with the rolled edge has worked well for us.

[lopakman]

Laminate with the rolled edge has worked well for us.

Based on your deck this does not surprise me.

[The Big Train]

 

[IPA4Me]

Laminate with the rolled edge has worked well for us.

Based on your deck this does not surprise me.

Don't let let the frugality of my deck maintenance confuse you. We have marble countertops in the master with matching marble shower.

[steve dave]

Not a big fan of putting radiation sources on my countertops. I'd pass on the granite.

Didn't know about this. Terrifying. Do they not have a test for it?

[IPA4Me]

Not a big fan of putting radiation sources on my countertops. I'd pass on the granite.

Didn't know about this. Terrifying. Do they not have a test for it?

Geiger counter. Oh

You can use a radon test kit.

[Tobias]

Not a big fan of putting radiation sources on my countertops. I'd pass on the granite.

Didn't know about this. Terrifying. Do they not have a test for it?

time to call the builder!

[Bloodfart]

Right now we have laminate but it is all scratched to crap from the previous owners.  We have decided to go with quarts because of the low maintenance and durability.  Considered granite but you have to reseal it periodically and that doesn't seem like anything I'd want to spend my free time doing.

[mocat]

How many quarts bloodfart?

[sys]

i kinda like the leathered finish granite, especially in dark colors.  not as pretty as marble, but better than polished granite.  honed looks good too.


any thoughts on soapstone?  looks great, but i think it's expensive.

[cDubya]

Himalayan salt block

Wonderful cross-thread post, here.