Spaces for Life: How to choose a countertop

By Lance McCarthy

Countertop Types	Cost	Description	Brands
Laminate	$	Used to be the most popular option, but has fallen with the rise in popularity of granite	Wilsonart is the king here
Solid Surface	$$	Not as popular in kitchens as it used to be, but very popular in bathrooms.	Onyx, cultured marble and Corian
Granite (Grade A)	$$	The next most affordable option (includes 12-15 popular and consistent color patterns	Granite is granite, just pick a pattern
Butcher block	$$	Growing in popularity, but limited in application. It is a natural product, and might not be a good choice in a wet location
Concrete	$$.5	Varies widely in quality, but can prove a versatile option for the right project
Quartz (base grade)	$$$	Man made granite-like durable product with less movement than granite, but a cleaner and possibly more modern look.	Silestone, Cambria, Zodiaq, Caesarstone
Everything else	$$$$+	There are literally hundreds of options	Marble, soapstone, and a host of other options are available including recycled glass, or even copper

Where do your slabs come from? Even within the same family of granites, there is a wide range of quality and finish. That explains the outrageous guys advertising granite for less than a pound of bananas.
What do you use to fabricate them? Countertops can be fabricated in a garage with a grinder, or in a hi-tech facility with a laser-guided computer system. This will have a dramatic effect on the precision of the finished product.
How do you template for the piece? This should be done by laser, or by creating a physical template using cardboard or plastic board so that bowed walls or un-square corners won’t show up.