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