Counter Intelligence

By Arrol Gellner

Twenty years ago, selecting a countertop material was simple: You chose ceramic tile if you had money, and plastic laminate if you didn't. Today, thanks to advances in plastics technology (as well as some high-tech developments in the ancient art of stonecutting), there are now a whole range of countertop materials available to complicate your choice. Below are the most popular, roughly in ascending order of cost:

Plastic laminate is still the least expensive choice among countertop materials. Commonly known by the trade name Formica, but available from many other manufacturers as well, it's a thin plastic sheet that's installed over a wood-product substrate. It's available in hundreds of colors and patterns, from woods to marbles to granites, down to such notorious classics as Gold Lamé (white with gold speckles). A variety of edge details are also available, from the familiar old square edge, to a 3/4" radius bullnose, to the one-piece molded drip edge frequently carried by do-it-yourself stores. Hardwood edging can also be specified, although it's susceptible to water damage when installed near sinks. Considering their low cost, laminates are remarkably durable. Most problems arise at the material's edges, where exposure to moisture over the years can cause delamination. However, if properly cared for, laminate tops will easily last the life of the kitchen they're installed in.

Solid-color laminates, sold in monochrome colors under trade names such as Solicore and Colorcore, are similar to plastic laminates except that the color runs all the way through the material. This eliminates the unsightly dark line visible at the corner joints of standard laminate tops.

Ceramic tile is probably the most popular countertop finish. It's handsome, durable, and available in a practically infinite range of tile and grout colors. Yet tile is not always easy to maintain. The recessed grout lines catch crumbs and spills, making cleanup difficult. Dropped objects can crack a tile, requiring a difficult and usually noticeable repair. Hence, ceramic tile tops must be treated with care.

Solid plastic materials, such as Corian, Avonite, and Fountainhead, have gained tremendous popularity in recent years. They're available in 1/4", 1/2", and 3/4" thick sheets. Free of edge seams, and with color and pattern that go clear through, solid plastics can be worked almost as easily as wood. Minor scratches and burns can be sanded out of solid plastic tops. They can be fabricated with near-invisible seams, and some brands offer a range of sinks and lavatories which can be fabricated integrally with the tops. DuPont's Corian, the original solid plastic top, is available in an elegantly understated range of colors which remain very close to natural white marble. Corian's competitors offer more outspoken marble and granite-like patterns.

Granite has gained popularity as a countertop material in recent years due to its near-indestructibility and dazzling range of natural patterns. Not surprisingly, its price is very high.

Moreover, not everyone needs a countertop that'll last three hundred years on cabinets that may last only thirty. There's no doubt that granite is the most durable countertop material; whether that makes it the best choice depends on your priorities.