Kitchen Counter Tops

[spain]

We bought a house last summer and are considering replacing the counter tops. We are looking at Granite and Quartz. We will be replacing the kitchen sink and putting some tile backsplash in as well. Anybody know the pro's and con's of Granite vs Quartz(Silestone)? Should we get the material and installation through Home Depot Expo or should we buy the material straight from a rock yard and try to find a local guy for the install? Anybody been through this process?

[Yukon Cornelius]

cambria baby is the only way to fly.. or stainless steel

 

granite stains and needs to be sealed often

Edited July 8, 2006 by Yukon Cornelius

[PantherDave]

Granite will run you more $ for sure and would not go through Lowes or HD for selection or install, the quartz in less $, but then again looks cheaper than granite anyway. I'd personally go with the granite, through a local company that has the rock you can pick and does the install, also ask about remnants from other jobs, as if they have enough to do your countertops they will give you a much better deal per sq ft.

[SteelBunz]

Silestone isn't bad.....but quite frankly, Spain.....your kitchen/house deserves granite. I'd go to a stone yard/granite countertop specialist if I were you. I'd also suggest what we did on the last project.....pick two complimentary stones and do your island in one and your general counters in the other. Beautiful look.

 

Doing it through a specialist.....we got the counters cut, fitted and installed in about 10 days-2 weeks. Last time I talked to HD or Lowes about granite countertops....it was an 8 week minimum.

 

The most important thing is to USE the high grade sealer/polish your stone guys recommend.....give it 2 or 3 good coats before you use it. And from then on....cutting boards for all chopping. Some foods will etch or stain granite....as they will most anything....so just be careful with lemons, coffee and raspberries.....LOL.

[nuke'em ttg]

if you can afford granite.......do it........but not thru HD or Lowes as mentioned......

[spain]

if you can afford granite.......do it........but not thru HD or Lowes as mentioned......

 

Cost is not the issue as the Silestone and the Granite are pretty close in price. And we went to Expo, which is owned by Home Depot but is basically an upscale/overpriced home improvement store. Then we went by a couple of wholesale places and looked around.

[spain]

Silestone isn't bad.....but quite frankly, Spain.....your kitchen/house deserves granite. I'd go to a stone yard/granite countertop specialist if I were you. I'd also suggest what we did on the last project.....pick two complimentary stones and do your island in one and your general counters in the other. Beautiful look.

 

Doing it through a specialist.....we got the counters cut, fitted and installed in about 10 days-2 weeks. Last time I talked to HD or Lowes about granite countertops....it was an 8 week minimum.

 

The most important thing is to USE the high grade sealer/polish your stone guys recommend.....give it 2 or 3 good coats before you use it. And from then on....cutting boards for all chopping. Some foods will etch or stain granite....as they will most anything....so just be careful with lemons, coffee and raspberries.....LOL.

 

Thanks Bunz! Per your suggestion, I think we are going to use one stone for the island and a seperate one for the counters! We had that in our last house and it looked great. We are also going to go with the tile backsplash and some sort of granite or porcelin sink. Lots of stainless sinks out there to choose from but I just dont like them. I was thinking we get a granite pearl black island and do the counters in something like Luna Pearl which has alot of white with gray and black specks. Then we could put a black granite sink in as well. And Jane wants to do the tile backsplash herself. Dam uppity women!

[Bring Back Pat!!!]

Hey Spain, I'm a kitchen designer, so here's my

 

Quartz counters combine the best of a solid surface and the best of granite. There are dozens of brands out there right now, some have been mentioned, Cambria, SileStone, CaesarStone, Zodiaq, etc. For all practical purposes, they are all the same. Cambria does tend to run a little less than some others, at least in NH where I work. Quartz counters are non-porous, heat and scratch resistant, and require "no" maintenance, ie, they will never have to be sealed again. Granite counters do require some maintenance. In eight years of doing this, however, i've never had anyone stain a granite, but it is possible. Natural liquids are the most dangerous, lemon juice, oils, things like that. Quartz will not stain, period. The downside is mostly cosmetic. It is considered a manmade product even though they are generally 92% quartz, and as with any man made product, they don't have that beautiful, natural appearance. What you see for a sample, is waht you will get on your counter. Granite will vary from slab to slab, and even from one end to the other of the same slab. The install the same way, need to be templated and installed by a professional, will have seams in corners (depending on size), will have a loose backsplash applied as a separate piece, and usually have an undermount sink. Money wise, give or take 10%, quartz and granite will be the same. And go to a local shop. Either a kitchen specialist or a counter shop if there's one around. They're better with colors, have more knowledge in general because they stay at their job longer (turnover in box stores is hugh!!) and can generally get the job done quicker. I can turn a counter around in 3-4 weeks at most, from scheduling a template, getting it templated and getting it installed. These times may be different in Tenn, not sure.

 

Hope this helps, feel free to ask more questions!!

[dmarc117]

i think with granite u need to seal it every few years....cause it is porous and can stain.

 

Countertops are one product where beauty and practicality can coexist. Granite and quartz made it through a gantlet of spills, hot pots, knives, and more with top scores. But quartz needs less care to keep its good looks.

 

Quartz, also called engineered stone, is a composite of stone, pigment, and resin. Manufacturers are expanding beyond uniform patterns, creating looks closer to natural stone.

 

But granite continues to sell well because of its many colors, variations, and lower prices. It’s also heat and impact resistant, but must be periodically resealed.

 

Granite “brands” are born. With such strong sales it’s no surprise that companies are trying to get a piece of the rock. DuPont and Home Depot now offer branded granite with limited warranties. But DuPont’s warranty doesn’t cover damage caused by normal wear and tear. Home Depot’s Stonemark granite, by Innovative Stone, offers a 15-year stain warranty. Though this granite performed slightly better than regular granite in our tests, we don’t know if its sealer will hold up any better over time. The warranty says only that the company will help you repair stains, not replace the counter.

 

Finish doesn’t matter. Sealed stone counters are sold with glossy and honed (matte) finishes. Contrary to popular belief, our tests found that honed finishes resisted stains no better than glossy ones if stains dried and set overnight.

 

Concrete: Still niche, still fragile. Concrete countertops are generally made and installed by local fabricators, so quality can vary. They chip and scratch easily, and can develop hairline cracks. Topical sealers withstand stains but not heat; penetrating sealers handle heat, not stains.

 

 

HOW TO CHOOSE

 

Consider your lifestyle. If you have young children, a counter that needs TLC might not be worth the trouble. See Types for the pros, cons, and costs.

 

Get personal with granite. Quartz, laminate, and solid surfacing are likely to match store samples. But with real stones, coloring, veining, and graining can vary--even within the same slab. If possible, pick your piece at a stone yard.

 

Choose edges carefully. Bevels and bull noses can spruce-up low-priced counters but can add up to $50 per linear foot.

 

Consider your sink. Undermount sinks narrow your choices to waterproof materials like quartz, stone, solid surfacing, or concrete. If you want a seamless sink made from the same material as the counter, stick with quartz, stainless steel, solid surfacing, or concrete.

 

Consider the seams. Visible seams are fairly easy to smooth out on solid surfacing and stainless steel. Laminates, however, typically have seams. Post forming melds the counter, backsplash, and front edge into one seam-free unit, but color options are more limited.

[dmarc117]

the latest issue of consumer reports is all about 'dream kitchens'.

[theeohiostate]

I have granite throughout house and am not happy with the upkeep, can't keep it clean and shiney, looks dull all the time. I'd recommend another manmade type. As far as tile backsplash, that's a big NO imo. Unless your planning on putting up concrete board, tile-grout is pouris and you'll be kicking yourself in a year.

[BiPolarBear]

This thread is happening at a good time for me. We are just selling our house and we can have granite if we want it when we move. I can tell you for sure that granite is what adds value to your kitchen when you are selling. Any thing else would not be as desireable. I guess in the public's eye, Corian would come in a distant second best. I didn't know about the maintainance issues with granite. I am going to mention the quartz stuff to my wife.

 

Thanks Huddlers.

[10g_DBA]

I have the Brazillian Brown Silestone in my kitchen. Two years ago when I bought my house, they were running a promotion where they'd throw in a free flush mounted sink.

 

I love the quartz - nothing except saphire and diamonds can scratch it (I think), so no worries about cutting boards. Also, hot pots and pans won't damage silestone.

 

Just my $0.02

[SteelBunz]

Thanks Bunz! Per your suggestion, I think we are going to use one stone for the island and a seperate one for the counters! We had that in our last house and it looked great. We are also going to go with the tile backsplash and some sort of granite or porcelin sink. Lots of stainless sinks out there to choose from but I just dont like them. I was thinking we get a granite pearl black island and do the counters in something like Luna Pearl which has alot of white with gray and black specks. Then we could put a black granite sink in as well. And Jane wants to do the tile backsplash herself. Dam uppity women!

 

I'm with you....I'm not big on stainless steel sinks. There are some now that at least have a worn patina right from the factory, so you don't have to worry about scratching your shiny finish. But I really hate the sound of china scraping on stainless.....LOL. Nails on a chalkboard to me. The sink is what I'd go with quartz in or some other solid surface. Remember.....just like in cars...black shows waterspots. So go with a mottled black...not Absolute Black. And maybe a deep slate grey for the sink.

 

Then throw some color and pizazz into the backsplash. If you go with something natural and porous...say a tumbled travertine...use a penetrating sealer. This will change the color of the tile and make it look "wet", but it also makes it easier to clean and saves the grout. (One installation point: do one application to the tile before you grout....easier to clean excess grout off the tile....then a second application over all the tile AND grout about a week after grouting.) It needs reapplied about every 5 years or so.

 

Obviously....you could go with the high gloss porcelain, but that's always felt like bathroom tile used in a kitchen to me. Admittedly that is only a personal opinion. And needless to say....there are a ton of choices inbetween these two extremes. Tile is like carpet....you just have to go see it and touch it...so find a couple good sources and spend an afternoon looking through all the samples. A kitchen backsplash is the ONE AND ONLY place you can get away with using Mastic (a premixed 'thinset') right on the drywall to set tile....instead of true thinset on a cementitous backerboard. And since most "kitchen paints" have more sheen than a flat paint....you'll want to prime that part of the wall first.

 

Whatever tile you use....seal the grout in a week or so. And a couple applications at that. I'm not one that finds it hard to maintain grout, especially on a backsplash. Grout colors are every bit a part of the design as the tile itself....but I really hate when people use dark, dark grout on light floors just because they think it will hide dirt more. What comfort is it that it's hiding the dirt.....when you know the dirt is still there? LOL.

 

Tell Jane to feel free to call me for anything! Or maybe I can make a weekend of it and come down to help.

 

I have granite throughout house and am not happy with the upkeep, can't keep it clean and shiney, looks dull all the time. I'd recommend another manmade type. As far as tile backsplash, that's a big NO imo. Unless your planning on putting up concrete board, tile-grout is pouris and you'll be kicking yourself in a year.

 

Some granites are a lot more crystalline-like and porous than others and no matter how much they are buffed, still look pitted and won't have an even, shiny finish. This is part of the charm of natural stone. Now if this is NOT what you want....you need to go a different route obviously. To me....it's the difference between a hand-rubbed piece of furniture VS. wood furniture that has been sprayed heavily with polyurethane. Sure....the handrubbed piece will need a bit more care over it's lifetime...but I think the beauty and richness is incomparable.

 

Then again.....I'm Italian.....we have an affinity to stone.

Edited July 9, 2006 by SteelBunz

[Hardrocker]

I am renovating a 200 year old farm house, I am going to have to remember all of this when we get to the kitchen.

 

 

good info

Edited July 9, 2006 by Hardrocker

[Deacon Bill]

Granite counter tops need to be resealed once a year. Quartz counters do not. I personally like the look of granite better, but didn't want the maintenance hassle. So I went with quartz.

[nuke'em ttg]

How bout some good ole Butcher Block Formica.......

[SteelBunz]

I am renovating a 200 year old farm house, I am going to have to remember all of this when we get to the kitchen.

good info

 

Ooooooo.....that sounds like a challenge! With a house that old....some charm you're just going to have to live with......lol.....as in floors that run downhill. What fun though.

[Bring Back Pat!!!]

I'm with you....I'm not big on stainless steel sinks. There are some now that at least have a worn patina right from the factory, so you don't have to worry about scratching your shiny finish. But I really hate the sound of china scraping on stainless.....LOL. Nails on a chalkboard to me. The sink is what I'd go with quartz in or some other solid surface. Remember.....just like in cars...black shows waterspots. So go with a mottled black...not Absolute Black. And maybe a deep slate grey for the sink.

 

Just want to make a point. Sinks are not available made from quartz. If you go the route of a quartz counter, you could do a stainless, porcelain or solid surface sink. But regardless of which way, it will be a separate sink, either undermounted or surface mounted. Solid surface is the only counter where you can get a sink molded from the same material.

[SteelBunz]

Just want to make a point. Sinks are not available made from quartz. If you go the route of a quartz counter, you could do a stainless, porcelain or solid surface sink. But regardless of which way, it will be a separate sink, either undermounted or surface mounted. Solid surface is the only counter where you can get a sink molded from the same material.

 

We are talking about the sink being seperate. I don't think anyone here was suggesting a "one-piece sink/counter".....were they? Not quite the same as just getting a vanity top.

 

And quite a few companies make quartz sinks.....Formica, Swanstone and even Jacuzzi to name a few. And yes....they are quartz composites. They give you the look of porcelain without the fragility. And of course....they can be done undermount or drop-in.

Edited July 9, 2006 by SteelBunz

[TimC]

 

We are going with DuPont Quartz in Space Black in the kitchen and master bath. I hear it's purty good. I'll let you know how it looks when installed on the 24th.

[Perchoutofwater]

cambria baby is the only way to fly.. or stainless steel

 

granite stains and needs to be sealed often

 

 

As usual, you don't know what the hell you are talking about. I've had granite in my house for 3 years, and my parents have had it in their house for 12, and neither have stains, and I know I haven't had to re-seal mine, and I'm pretty sure my parents haven't had to re-seal theirs. I've used it in a number of commercial applications and have never had a problem with call-back with it either.

 

Granite will run you more $ for sure and would not go through Lowes or HD for selection or install, the quartz in less $, but then again looks cheaper than granite anyway. I'd personally go with the granite, through a local company that has the rock you can pick and does the install, also ask about remnants from other jobs, as if they have enough to do your countertops they will give you a much better deal per sq ft.

 

 

Good advice.

 

Silestone isn't bad.....but quite frankly, Spain.....your kitchen/house deserves granite. I'd go to a stone yard/granite countertop specialist if I were you. I'd also suggest what we did on the last project.....pick two complimentary stones and do your island in one and your general counters in the other. Beautiful look.

 

Doing it through a specialist.....we got the counters cut, fitted and installed in about 10 days-2 weeks. Last time I talked to HD or Lowes about granite countertops....it was an 8 week minimum.

 

The most important thing is to USE the high grade sealer/polish your stone guys recommend.....give it 2 or 3 good coats before you use it. And from then on....cutting boards for all chopping. Some foods will etch or stain granite....as they will most anything....so just be careful with lemons, coffee and raspberries.....LOL.

 

 

More good advices!

[Fatman]

What does one have to do to reseal a granite countertop, if it looks like it needs it?

[Gonkis]

I have Granite in the kitchen and the master bathroom and love it. I re-seal it once a year, but it's not unlike waxing a car. Clean it, let it dry, apply the schtuff, wait, polish it off. I used the random orbital last time and it shines like crazy. In other words, I don't consider the maintenance any big deal, slightly more work than cleaning them off after dinner.

 

Granite is porous, though. The only stain I've been informed about is if you have not sealed it and you let water sit on it, it may discolor. I've had discoloring in the bathroom that went away within a day of the sitting water being removed.

 

Good luck.

[Gonkis]

What does one have to do to reseal a granite countertop, if it looks like it needs it?

 

 

I can get the name of the sealer I use when at home and PM you or post it tonight, but it's like car wax, but has the consistency more of water. The installer gave me a few bottles when I had the countertops installed. It is specifically for granite/stone and came with a separate product that sanitizes/disinfects.