Countertop options abound
If countertops were racetracks, where would the smart money go?
On reliable old laminate? It’s an economical blend of composition wood, resins and other materials available in an array of colours and still the kitchen and bathroom favourite of low-betting developers and budget-minded renovators.
Or maybe the dough would be on gorgeous granite. It’s the odds-on favourite — at least in conservative Ottawa — when it comes to condos, upgrades for that new tract home or renovations on a larger budget.
But then, say the experts, quartz is gaining fast on granite. The tough, manmade product of stone chips and resins that can resemble natural stone was featured in the 2011 CHEO lottery home kitchen and appeals to many because, unlike granite, it’s consistent in colour and pattern.
The Freedonia Group, a major United States market research firm, says countertop trends through to 2015 will see laminate continuing to lead the pack, but with natural and engineered stone like quartz experiencing the fastest market growth.
And, of course, there’s the whole backfield of other contenders: wood, stainless steel, concrete and more.
Each has its strengths and weaknesses: Quartz is practically maintenance-free, but the edges can chip; Corian, a popular product manufactured by Dupont, comes in a rainbow of colours, but hot pans can mar it; and butcher block is like a purebred stallion — handsome but totally high maintenance.
Meanwhile, prices per square foot are all over the map: $55 to $110 for installed granite and up to $160 for quartz; $35 for wood (but uninstalled); as little as $18 for laminate. So what’s best for you? Aside from sheer — and subjective — visual appeal, look for “scratch resistance, how easy it is to clean, if it’s stain-resistant,” says Pascale Auger, a designer with the Gatineau-based kitchen renovation firm Theo Mineault (theomineault.com).
If you go granite, she says, visit the supplier to see the entire slab from which your counter will be cut. “You have to see the colour of the whole thing to know if you like it.”
Caroline Castrucci, a vicepresident with Laurysen Kitchens (laurysenkitchens.com), loves granite because of its unexpected veining and surprises.