Countertops

Today's range of materials for kitchen countertops

includes everything from natural stone such as

granite or marble imported from Italy to hardworking

plastic laminates and everything in between.

Manufactured or engineered stone comes in colours that

nature would envy and has an added durability factor.

Laminates can either echo stone or make a statement

with colours like trendy lettuce green. Some homeowners prefer stainless steel or

butcher blocks for their

homes, while others

lean towards tile.

Granite is the most

highly sought after

kitchen countertop material

today, offering a hard,

natural beauty that is

extremely durable. Two

million years on the side of a

mountain gives it a lot of staying

power. The workings of a kitchen notwithstanding,

granite can take a beating.

Toronto condo and granite kitchen countertop owner Darlene

Ursulak has had experience with plastic laminate tops,

too. "I find you have to be a bit more careful with plastic

laminate," she says. "A hot pot may burn it. The thing I

like best about my countertop now is that it sparkles!"

And what are the hot colours in kitchens today? Earth

tones have the edge and have recently started to creep

ahead of the dark and near-black shades. "The taupes,

creams, and browns are probably our most popular colours

right now," says Lorie Marsham of Ciot Marble and

Granite Inc. Umberto Soares of Cameo Kitchens agrees.

"The majority of our customers purchase granite

countertops," he says. "There is a wide selection of colours

and tones, but the earth tones are very popular at the

moment."

If earth tones aren't to your liking, how about a mouthwatering

shot of colour like Apple Martini, a new

selection in a material called engineered stone, which

offers a more consistent look and stunning options.

Engineered stone combines crushed stone, such as quartz,

mixed with various polymers and plastics in a synthetic

material that claims to be extremely stain resistant. "The

engineered stone materials look a lot like granite," Ross

Kennedy of Kenwood Kitchens in Pickering notes. "And

we have had excellent results in terms of durability."

However, Kennedy also points out among his displays a kitchen

countertop in a shade called Butter Rum, which is warm

and appealing and draws appreciative comments.

However, it's not granite or engineered stone. It's plastic

laminate. "Plastic laminate is still the most affordable

countertop material," he says. "The manufacturers are

coming out with new colours and textures all the time, and

they stack up very well from an aesthetic point of view. In

particular, materials that are made to look like slate or

stone can be hard to tell from the real thing."

"I could put a granite and a granite look-alike in my

showroom and you would not be able to tell what is the

real stone and what is not," Angelo Visconti of

Scarborough Countertops states. "The key is that the

price can be 10 times less. That's a big difference. As long

as people are reasonably careful with water and with

avoiding scratches, they will be happy. Right now we are

seeing a lot of warm honey-type colours. That's what's

popular."

A glossary of materials

Granite, Marble, Soapstone, Limestone, Slate

These are

the natural stones. Granite is the hardest, marble is

porous, and soapstone, limestone, and slate are softer

still. The sheer natural beauty of stone is unbeatable, while

a material such as soapstone has advocates who love its

softer, warmer feel.

Butcher Block

A thick wooden material, often made from

maple. Its fans like to use it as a cutting board, but some

feel it requires particularly zealous cleaning to combat the

threat of germs, especially after coming into contact with

raw poultry.

Concrete

Can a material this heavy simply be a flash in the

pan? Concrete appeared on the scene several years ago,

but its propensity to crack and stain caused it to sink in

popularity.

Glass

Some stunning kitchen countertops made of glass have

been manufactured, but the fragile nature of the

substance is a deterrent. Also, unless an opaque finish is

used, the drains are visible.

Tile

Tile is very popular as a backsplash, but because

grout stains easily, very few consumers opt for tile

countertops today.

Plastic Laminate

Laminates come in an astounding array

of colours and designs and the plastic laminate kitchen countertop

is the most affordable option. It requires caution and care,

however. A hot pot or water near the joints will cause

problems. However, all kitchens use heat and water and

all kitchen countertops are somewhat susceptible.

Solid Surfaces and Engineered Stone

Technology's

answer to natural stone, these manufactured products

look great and offer durability and versatility. The newer

engineered stones, containing quartz and other materials,

come in some stunning colours including bright reds and

yellows.