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VeeJay
Love baby feet
Member since 2/09 2894 total posts
Name:
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Best material for kitchen countertops?
We are looking to replace our kitchen countertop and trying to decide what type of material we want. Some are saying that granite is not good (I forget why).
Your thoughts?
Thanks!!
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Posted 8/11/14 1:32 PM  |
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jams92
Member since 1/12 6105 total posts
Name:
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Best material for kitchen countertops?
We were between Quartz and granite. The prices were comparable and so we opted for Quartz as it's non-porous which means it's easier to maintain
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| Posted 8/11/14 1:44 PM |
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JSDB
<3
Member since 1/13 1329 total posts
Name:
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Re: Best material for kitchen countertops?
We were deciding between quartz and granite. Quartz never needs to be sealed and is supposedly easier to maintain, although granite is supposedly pretty easy to maintain as well (seal it -- an easy process -- every few years). We looked at quartz initially but we didnt like the look of it so we went with granite. Marble (especially carerra) is supposed to be very very difficult to maintain and is easily damaged so keep that in mind. I like the look of marble but didnt consider it for that reason.
If you want an unusual color or a very uniform look, that is difficult or expensive to get with granite and you are probably better off with quartz. If you want more natural variation and movement then you are probably better off with granite.
Message edited 8/11/2014 1:53:52 PM.
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| Posted 8/11/14 1:53 PM |
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mrsm-2011
He is my world!
Member since 6/12 3009 total posts
Name:
Theresa
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Re: Best material for kitchen countertops?
Quartz
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| Posted 8/11/14 1:53 PM |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54917 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: Best material for kitchen countertops?
The granite we got has something called PermaShield. It's a protection that is "baked" into the granite if you will.
It does not need to be sealed for I think 15 or 20 years.
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| Posted 8/11/14 2:16 PM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Best material for kitchen countertops?
Posted by secretlyTTCagain
...
If you want an unusual color or a very uniform look, that is difficult or expensive to get with granite and you are probably better off with quartz. If you want more natural variation and movement then you are probably better off with granite.
Newer types of Quartz can be even more random than granite, so even that isn't an issue anymore. The quartz that I have looks more natural than some of the granite I've seen.
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| Posted 8/11/14 2:16 PM |
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evnme
My little lamb
Member since 8/05 12633 total posts
Name:
aka momma2b
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Re: Best material for kitchen countertops?
We have quartz
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| Posted 8/11/14 2:43 PM |
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JSDB
<3
Member since 1/13 1329 total posts
Name:
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Re: Best material for kitchen countertops?
Posted by GoldenRod
Posted by secretlyTTCagain
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If you want an unusual color or a very uniform look, that is difficult or expensive to get with granite and you are probably better off with quartz. If you want more natural variation and movement then you are probably better off with granite.
Newer types of Quartz can be even more random than granite, so even that isn't an issue anymore. The quartz that I have looks more natural than some of the granite I've seen.
Quartz has gotten a lot better. I used to think most quartz looked like formica but cambria quartz does have a granite look, but some patterns are more realistic than others. A lot of them had actual glitter (if you look closely you can see the metallic squares of glitter in the quartz) which bugged me. But, cambia quartz def has come a long way in looking more like granite
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| Posted 8/11/14 3:22 PM |
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tara73
carseat nerd
Member since 11/09 3669 total posts
Name:
Buttercup
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Best material for kitchen countertops?
Soapstone is my dream countertop
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| Posted 8/11/14 4:32 PM |
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evrythng4areason
And then there were 4
Member since 1/10 5224 total posts
Name:
Kayla
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Best material for kitchen countertops?
We have quartz that looks like marble in our bathroom and it's been awesome.
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| Posted 8/11/14 7:26 PM |
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MrsG823
Just call me Mommy.
Member since 1/11 5570 total posts
Name:
S
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Best material for kitchen countertops?
My parents have silestone in their kitchen and it is awesome.
It is a treated quartz and has a 15 year warranty. My house has marble countertops and I would not recommend marble for the kitchen.
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| Posted 8/12/14 12:11 AM |
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starlitdragon
Me and my love
Member since 3/13 1301 total posts
Name:
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Best material for kitchen countertops?
We are getting a quartz that looks like granite for our countertops.
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| Posted 8/12/14 7:50 AM |
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klingklang77
kraftwerk!
Member since 7/06 11486 total posts
Name:
Völlig losgelöst
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Best material for kitchen countertops?
Butcher Block. I love it. I know wood and water don't mix, but if you oil it, it's fine.
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| Posted 8/12/14 8:34 AM |
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Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
Name:
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Re: Best material for kitchen countertops?
We have granite and we LOVE it. It's easy to take care of and looks great! Once a year we have to spray a sealer on and wipe it down but it's no big deal. Pretty easy.
I also REALLY love how natural granite is and that no two pieces are the same. I like all the imperfections and patterns within the stone. I don't like the uniform look of the manufactured countertops like Silestone.
Here is a link that explains some of the differences in countertop surfaces.
Countertops
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| Posted 8/12/14 8:50 AM |
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babyvibes
LIF Adult
Member since 7/13 1350 total posts
Name:
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Re: Best material for kitchen countertops?
We have quartz. I prefer it over granite. I do not like the uniform quartz colors but Cambria has the Waterstone Collection that was designed to look like granite, and even some marble. We have Bellingham from that collection. I LOVE it.
I also love the look of marble but wouldn't get it because of the maintenance and risk of staining, etc.
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| Posted 8/12/14 8:53 AM |
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mrsboss
my little love
Member since 12/09 5054 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: Best material for kitchen countertops?
We had marble, it was horrible - should not be used in a kitchen. It absorbs everything and water stains do not lift.
We have granite now and LOVE it. Easy to maintain, durable, no stains.
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| Posted 8/12/14 9:30 AM |
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Sparrow
LIF Adult
Member since 11/10 6826 total posts
Name:
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Re: Best material for kitchen countertops?
Posted by tara73
Soapstone is my dream countertop
I agree, love the look of it! I do think I read something about it that was a drawback but I can't remember what it was now . . .
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| Posted 8/12/14 9:58 AM |
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tourist
Member since 5/05 10425 total posts
Name:
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Re: Best material for kitchen countertops?
Posted by Sparrow
Posted by tara73
Soapstone is my dream countertop
I agree, love the look of it! I do think I read something about it that was a drawback but I can't remember what it was now . . .
It can be harder to get larger pieces, so sometimes there are seams.
It is also expensive, but similar to granite (from what I've read.)
It doesn't need to be sealed, but needs to be oiled if you want that darker smoother look.
I think my dream kitchen would have soapstone counters with a butcher block island, but I in reality I have a tiny apartment kitchen with off-white 80s Formica. 
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| Posted 8/12/14 10:17 AM |
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karen0119
LIF Infant
Member since 5/05 148 total posts
Name:
Karen
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Best material for kitchen countertops?
Anyone familiar with Quartzite?? Curious about opinions on it?
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| Posted 8/12/14 10:25 AM |
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LovesMike
LIF Adult
Member since 8/10 978 total posts
Name:
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Re: Best material for kitchen countertops?
We have caesarstone, which is a type of quartz and are really happy with it. I wanted carrera marble but as PP stated, didn't seem like the right choice for the ktichen - I didn't want to stress about cooking or stains. The caesarstone has been great, easy to clean and no maintenance.
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| Posted 8/12/14 10:30 AM |
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Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
Name:
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Re: Best material for kitchen countertops?
Posted by karen0119
Anyone familiar with Quartzite?? Curious about opinions on it?
My friend just had this put in her kitchen. It's very pretty, she has white with a lot of gray veining throughout. It's natural quartz so it does not have the uniform, consistent look of engineered stone if that's what you like. Just like granite, depending on the slab, it can have a whole different look in terms of the coloring, movement, veining, etc.
From what I understand it's very durable, much like granite, with little or no maintenance.
ETA - Difference between quartz and quartzite
Quartz vs. Quartzite
Message edited 8/12/2014 10:42:45 AM.
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| Posted 8/12/14 10:39 AM |
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karen0119
LIF Infant
Member since 5/05 148 total posts
Name:
Karen
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Re: Best material for kitchen countertops?
Awesome - thank you! Love that look. Any idea on price vs. granite?
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| Posted 8/12/14 10:46 AM |
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Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
Name:
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Re: Best material for kitchen countertops?
Posted by karen0119
Awesome - thank you! Love that look. Any idea on price vs. granite?
Honestly, I found them to be fairly similar in price when we were looking around but the more unique stone color/look you want the prices can go up FAST. You can find both starting around $50-60/sq ft. but you can easily pay over $100/sq ft depending. Your best bet is to check out some local stone places, find a slab you like and then price it out.
We got granite but got super lucky. We chose our slab, ended up with NO seams, and got a great price. We were around $59/sq ft installed. But we wanted something very earthy and natural in color so the slab we chose was more popular over something super unique in color. That choice saved us money.
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| Posted 8/12/14 10:56 AM |
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mosh913
baby boy coming spring '11
Member since 5/05 3133 total posts
Name:
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Re: Best material for kitchen countertops?
Posted by tara73
Soapstone is my dream countertop
me, too! Well actually marble and then soapstone. Is it $$$?
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| Posted 8/12/14 5:10 PM |
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JSDB
<3
Member since 1/13 1329 total posts
Name:
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Re: Best material for kitchen countertops?
Posted by Hofstra26
Posted by karen0119
Anyone familiar with Quartzite?? Curious about opinions on it?
My friend just had this put in her kitchen. It's very pretty, she has white with a lot of gray veining throughout. It's natural quartz so it does not have the uniform, consistent look of engineered stone if that's what you like. Just like granite, depending on the slab, it can have a whole different look in terms of the coloring, movement, veining, etc.
From what I understand it's very durable, much like granite, with little or no maintenance.
ETA - Difference between quartz and quartzite
Quartz vs. Quartzite
We saw a gorgeous quartzite at the stone yard called super white but it was $$$$$
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| Posted 8/13/14 4:42 PM |
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