Granite
- Pros – stylish, affordable, hundreds of color choices, durable, will not burn or scratch
- Cons – Requires maintenance, no warranty, could crack or chip, but not easily
Quartz/Cambria, Silestone, Zodiaq
- Pros – Microban antibacterial technology. Hundreds of color choices, easy to maintain, no sealers. 10 year warranty. Non-porous, resists scratching
- Cons – Expensive
Corian
- Pros – Seamless sinks, stain resistant, scratches can be buffed out, rainbow of colors
- Cons – Expensive, scratches and burns easily
Laminate
- Pros – lots of colors and patterns including new high definition patterns that simulate stone or granite. Durable, inexpensive.
- Cons – scratches and chips are almost impossible to repair
Cultured Marble
- Pros – beautiful, waterproof, heatproof
- Cons—expensive, (many use it on an island only for a luxurious look), porous, stains easily
Tile
- Pros – heat resistant, takes hot pots and pans, easy to clean, wide range of quality, price and design
- Cons—counter surface may be uneven, easily chips or cracks, grout lines may stain