Aug 9 2021
Remodeling & Design Trends

Choosing the Right Countertop Material for Your Kitchen or Bathroom

Many homeowners choose to have contrasting yet complimentary countertops installed – choosing one color or material for the island and another for the rest of the countertops such as this kitchen in dark grey and white.

Marble? Granite? Quartz? Soapstone? Wood? With so many great options to choose from, sometimes it gets a little overwhelming to pick the right material for your kitchen counters or bathroom vanities. We’ve narrowed down some of the most popular choices that our clients often use in their home remodeling projects.

This kitchen island is topped with quartzite.

Natural Stone

  • Granite is perhaps the first stone that comes to mind in this category. Its durability, variety of colors and wide range of price points have long made it a popular choice for kitchens, bathrooms and more.
  • Natural quartzite, is formed by combining sandstone and quartz together under a great deal of heat and pressure. This process makes quartzite harder than quartz. Quartzite has the appealing look of marble, but is much harder and can be more expensive. 
  • Marble is beloved for its elegant, polished look, but it’s also relatively soft. That generally makes it a better fit for the bathroom than the kitchen, where counters take more of a beating. Another issue for some homeowners is that marble develops a patina (aged appearance) over time and can scratch fairly easily.
  • Soapstone is a soft stone that needs to be treated with mineral oil every few months for sealing purposes. It has a rustic, honed look that many people gravitate toward. Plus, if you accidentally scratch it, you can use a piece of sandpaper to buff out the scratch on your own. 
Composite granite was used in this client’s kitchen. Granite composite is a blend of crushed quartz, stone dust, and acrylic resins. It creates a highly durable, low-maintenance material that’s perfect for heavy-duty use in a kitchen.

Engineered Stone

Engineered stone comes in a variety of colors and finishes and contains approximately 90% quartz and 10% resins. A big part of the appeal with engineered stone is the maintenance, or lack thereof. Natural stone should be sealed periodically. In contrast, engineered stone has built-in sealer, so no maintenance is required. 

A butcher block island is a beautiful surface for kitchen islands without sinks

Wood Counters

Wood countertops offer a warm, inviting look for kitchens. Butcher block is a good choice as long as the wood source is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified. Bamboo is a great material (that comes in butcher block) because it grows so quickly making it very sustainable. But keep in mind that wood is porous so it’s better to use it on the kitchen island rather than around a sink where there would be a higher risk of deterioration or mold.

Can’t Decide?

That’s what we’re here for! The Custom Contracting team includes in-house designers who work directly with our clients to help them choose countertops, fixtures, tile, and other design options. We know it can be overwhelming – the team at Custom Contracting is here to help!