The Ultimate Guide To Choosing your Los Angeles Home’s Kitchen Counter-Top

Ceramic Tile. Counters topped with ceramic tile will accept hot pots and pans without scorching and will be resistant to moisture from splashes around sinks. The variety of ceramic tile sizes, shapes, and colors makes it perfect for adding style to any kitchen. But please remember that installing ceramic tile can be labor-intensive and often pricey. In addition you’ll have to work to keep those grout lines clean.

Natural Stone. Marble, Granite and soapstone are the most popular stone countertop options. Natural stone gets major points because it’s tough yet elegant, and you can choose from polished, honed, flamed, or tumbled finishes. Keep in mind that most natural stone surfaces require regular sealing. Stone can be a particularly pricey option depending on the type you choose, however. To save money, you might want to consider stone tiles instead.

Laminate. One of the most affordable options, laminate is comprised of several layers of heated and compressed paper. The color or pattern you see on the countertop is just the top layer. Lucky you, when it comes to laminate countertops the colors, patterns, and design choices are almost endless, so you can emulate the traditional look of stone or go wild with color.

Solid Surfacing. Another option if you’re not quite ready to fork over the money for natural stone, synthetic surfacing resembles stone and comes in a variety of colors and patterns. It’s nonporous and durable, but it can be scratched and burned (no setting hot pots directly on the countertop like you can with real stone!).

Stainless Steel. It doesn’t get much more contemporary than stainless steel countertops. This material is durable and easy to clean. But be careful—stainless steel scratches easily, and it’s not cheap to replace.

Concrete. Countertops made of concrete are durable and easy to clean if they’re sealed properly. Concrete can be colored any shade and, as a bonus, its pigmented finish is stain-resistant. Much like stainless steel, concrete is best suited for contemporary kitchens.

Butcher Block. Butcher block is made from hardwood strips that are glued together. Common hardwoods used include oak, cherry, bamboo, and maple. Moisture will damage butcher block, so keep it away from sink areas. And if you finish your butcher block, make sure you choose a finish that’s safe for food contact—because what good is butcher block if you aren’t going to cut on it?

If you were intrigued when I mentioned countertops made from recycled glass, you’re in luck. Here are a few innovative choices worth considering next time you go countertop shopping. (And if you know of any other cool new countertop creations I missed, let me know!)

Squak Mountain Stone. These eco-friendly countertops are made from a fibrous-cement material comprised of recycled paper, recycled glass, coal fly-ash, and Portland cement. It’s a great alternative to natural or quarried stone and resembles soapstone or limestone.