The evolution of countertops has transformed the home in the last fifty years. There are so many options today that homeowners are often overwhelmed! Should one use tile? laminate? solid surface? natural stone? engineered stone? It can be vexing to sift through all the choices.
Ceramic tile was the standard from the 1700’s until the mid 1950’s. The countertop typically had an undermount sink. In the mid 1950’s, laminate came into vogue. It was available in a variety of colors and was considered luxurious during it’s time. A drop in sink was standard. It is now available in a wide variety of colors with looks from butcher block, to granite, to even foil. The drawback to laminates is that it burns and scratches easily. If you are on a tight budget but want a wide variety of colors, and are careful not to abuse it, it is a great countertop material. The price range for this product is $10 to $30 square foot.
In the mid 1960’s solid surface became a player in the countertop field. It did not take off though until the mid 1970’s, when it became the rave to put in new homes. Solid surface is also available in a wide variety of colors. It is a more durable product than laminate and does stand up to some heat. Most scratches can be repaired, and there is no sealing required. An attractive feature of solid surface is that integral sink bowls are available so there are no seams between the countertop and the sink. Also, special edges can be fabricated to intertwine different colors or styles. This product’s price range is $35 to $85 square foot.
Granite and natural stone was the countertop of choice for high end kitchens, and bathrooms in the mid 1980’s. Since the polishing machines were only available in Italy
until the early 1990’s, the price for polished stone slabs of granite was very expensive. The granite was shipped to Italy, and the slabs were polished there. In the early 1990’s the polishing machines became available in the United States, thence the cost of granite and natural stones became affordable. Granite is better at withstanding stains, heat and scratches. Each piece is custom due to the natural patterns in the stone. However, there can be problems matching the seams. Also, granite does get stress fractures, and can be scratched. The price range for granite is $55 to $150 square foot.
Due to the porosity of the granite, the lack of uniformity between slabs, and the possibility of cracking, a new product called engineered Stone was developed in the 1990’s to solve all these problems. Engineered stone is 95% quartzite with a polymer blend that is stronger than granite, does not require sealing, and has uniformity throughout. It is definitely a product that will withstand heat, scratches, and the easiest of all the countertop material to care for. The price range for this product is $45 to $150 square foot.
It must be noted that square foot prices for all of these products will vary based on the type of edge treatment, whether there is an undermount or drop in sink, backsplashes, and the number of cutouts for items such as electrical outlets, and faucets. If a countertop for the future could be designed, it would be a product that has no seams, is resistant to all stains, scratches, and heat. It will be flexible, and can be pored into place with a natural look such as granite or marble. |
