Not high end but even starter homes now have stone counters. Quartz, laminate or granite countertops - which one and why? Pros and cons of each.
Stone has become a popular go to for many home owners. Understandably it denotes a high level of richness, quality and of course historically very popular among wealthy home owners.
Developers now purchase bulk natural stone slabs for their projects to lure in buyers. However with proper education home owners are willing to explore more environmentally friendly options that can reduce the impact of interior finishing. Quartz is a man-made product manufactured to look like natural stone but uses recycled material instead of mining.
Plastic laminate is a cost effective durable surface finish that can give the look of any material. Improved printing and laminating processes has greatly improved the quality of these countertops however they are only a surface unlike natural stone and quartz.
It really is a personal preference. Stone is great. Durable and will last forever. Price wise laminate is the best. Consider a couple of points, first, your tastes may not be the same as a future buyer so is the colour/style/finish an attraction or just something you like. If it is for you and the family, and if you plan to stay there for a long while, go for your choice and don't consider it to be an investment. Future buyers don't really become too interested in the value of a counter top.
Quartz and granite have become the standard for most homes and as noted by another response quartz is a cultured stone product. Laminate is a nice looking option, but i generally never recommend it for two reasons, it is very easy to scratch and it does not handle hot items, should you place a hot pot or pan on it. Although the cost of stone countertops seem high it is a lasting investment, the same could be said for choosing quality flooring.
I love the look of stone but I feel quartz is the better product to go with. The main reasons I went with it was quartz is non-porus and never requires and sealing. Its stronger then granite and marble due to the resin, mine was manufactured to be hygienic, and it can be cleaned with a cloth and soap.
Jason Gullett
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