The countless amount of colors, textures, patterns, and finishes can be overwhelming, with each particular material having its pros and cons that must be considered at the time of selection, including installation and treatments costs to make the material last for as long as possible, always looking for the best cost-quality ratio.

It’s always up to you to decide which particular factors and material characteristics are most important and relevant to your design, having also in mind aspects like maintenance, price, durability, color, and style. It’s all about what you want and what works best for you because, in the end, it’s your kitchen! Keep reading to find out the most common materials for counter-top surfaces and all the information you need to know before making a decision.

MARBLE: ONE OF THE CLASSICS

A natural and timeless stone that’s always trending. As natural as the wood of a tree, marble is a metamorphic stone (The ones that result from physical or chemical alteration by heat and pressure of an existing igneous or sedimentary material into a denser form) that you can find in the mountainous regions of North America, South America, Asia, and Europe. Examples are the Crema Marfil marble, originally from Spain, the Bianco Carrara marble of Italian origin and the Thassos marble, from Greece; being the white marbles one of the most popular in the market. Like any other natural stone, this material presents unique and unrepeatable streaks and colorations in each slab, guaranteeing that the design of your kitchen is one in a million.

Pros:

• If you take good care of it, it’ll last for life! Because natural slabs are stone from tip to tip, you can always repolish its surface to bring the luster back.

• Marble is a classic and timeless material for interior decoration so it will never go out of style.

• You can choose from a wide range of colors and patterns to create a unique design for your kitchen, every slab has different streaks and colorations.

• Marble will make your kitchen look more elegant and sophisticated. It will also raise the cost of your property, something very important to have in mind if you plan to rent or sell your house in the future.

Cons:

• Marble is not a very compact material, especially in slab presentation, so it may break a little easier than granite or other compounds. To make sure this doesn’t happen, always create a structure underneath the counter-tops to have a solid foundation to place the slabs.

• Because of its natural beauty and resistance, marble is not on the affordable side when it comes to design your countertop, so if you’re looking for something on the cheaper side, marble won’t be on your list.

• Since it is a porous material, marble can be stained more easily than other coatings such as quartz or granite, so it is important to seal it and keep it clean at all times.

• It can’t be cleaned with abrasive products as it can damage its surface causing it to lose its luster.

CONCRETE: Trendy and industrial style

This well-known construction material went from being just a part of the grey work of a project to creating amazing and eye-catching countertops for any kind of kitchen. Because of its properties, concrete can be totally customized in matters of color, shape, and texture. It’s easy to install and its surface can be completely smooth, avoiding joints that can make a design lose its aesthetical beauty.

When we think about concrete or micro-cement, we often image industrial and bold kitchens, but in reality concrete can adapt and mimic any kitchen style to achieve a smooth, uniform and solid finish, so if you are looking for a unique material that you can customize any way you want, take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of this cutting-edge material for your kitchen’s countertops.

Pros:

• A perfect way to give your kitchen an edgy look is using concrete for your countertops, it’s something you don’t see every day and it goes perfectly with any kind of style.

• You won’t have to break the bank to install a concrete countertop! Unlike other materials, concrete is a very affordable option to design the work areas of your kitchen.

• It’s easy to shape and mould to any kind of shape you want so you won’t end up if the traditional straight and linear designs. You can also create a custom-made color using additives to the mixture for a great and personalised result.

• Best of both worlds: Concrete can be used for indoor and outdoor decorations because of its durability.

Cons:

• Concrete can scratch easily. It’s not advisable to cut food directly on its surface as it can damage both the knife blade and the countertop.

• The installation process takes a little longer than other types of materials because after its casting, you need to wait a few days or even weeks for the concrete to be solid and ready to use.

• If it is not sealed it can get stained easily since it is a porous material and a lot of absorption.

• Maintenance: Unlike other materials, cement countertops need maintenance every six to eight months to keep their luster and reduce porosity on its surface.

DEKTON: The latest technology

This new material offers a unique technology in its elaboration which makes it almost perfect in every aspect. Dekton is a hybrid of the best materials in the market for surfacing. The combination of porcelain, glass, and quartz gives it a unique look, and feel, being available in a wide range of colors, textures, and finishes.

Pros:

• Good fire and heat resistance.

• Non-combustible material

• High scratch resistance

• Its surface is really compact so it has a very reduced water absorption and is resistant to stains.

Cons:

• Be careful with high impacts on its surface, it could break or crack if a heavy object impacts on its surface.

• Because of all the great qualities of this material, it’s very expensive compared to other options

• You need to find a good fabricator to make the cuts and install it, which can also add some zeros to your bill.

WOOD: Charming and Warm

There has been an increase in the popularity of wood countertops over the past few years, more and more people prefer this kind and natural material for their kitchen designs or renovations, adding warmth and a natural feel vibe to their countertops.

The Scandinavian look (Lots of wood paired with cool tones, modern lines, and elegance) is perfect for any kind of kitchen and wood countertops are key elements in this kind of design. Natural wood gives a look that no other material can, combining the best of a modern feel with the tradition of this material which has been used for years for all types of designs and spaces, let’s take a look at its pros and cons:

Pros:

• Wood has simple and natural beauty. A well-installed wood surface is something worth looking at and something to show off with your family and friends.

• It’s perfect to complement any kitchen style or design because of its neutrality.

• Wood gives a sense of warmth to any design and it also feels warm compared to a cool granite or marble surface, making its surface more attractive and inviting.

• Some countertops can be made out of recycled pieces of wood, reducing the material costs of your countertops and being a great eco-friendly choice.

Cons:

• Not every kind of wood needs suits to be used as a countertop surface. Low durability woods are too soft to be used as countertops. Always look for woods that have a rating of 3650 pounds-force.

• Wood requires a lot of maintenance and care, it is also vulnerable to humidity so sealing its surface is something that has to be done regularly.

• Wooden surfaces are not scratch resistant. Be careful when cutting or dicing

• If the countertop surface isn’t sealed or it’s poorly sealed, bacteria and mold can penetrate the wood. Water that sits for too long can also be a problem for wooden surfaces, it will begin to seep in and make it weak or moldy. So make sure you get a good sealer for your countertop!

With all these options in mind: which one would you choose for your kitchen countertop?