Costa's Quality Kitchens -- Your New Kitchen

The biggest consideration when choosing a counter top is price. Laminate is the most economical, with the solid surfaces and granite counters starting at about four times the cost of a laminate top, but there are some downsides to it.

Laminate | Solid Surface | Engineered Quartz | Granite

Laminate

Laminate is the most common kitchen countertop. It is a synthetic material made up of several layers: multiple sheets of kraft paper, a decorative paper, and a melamine plastic coating.

Pros	Cons
Produced in hundreds of colors and patterns and a variety of finishes. Easy upkeep. Impact resistant. A coved design, where the laminate eliminates the countertop’s back edge by curving slightly up the wall, makes for easy cleanup.	Layers make it difficult to repair chips. Hot items and water seeping into seams may cause layers to break apart. Kraft paper leaves a dark line at the edges, unless it runs wall to wall or is trimmed with a decorative material such as wood or stainless steel. You’ll need to use cutting boards. You can’t clean it with abrasives.

There are several brands of laminate including Wilsonart, Formica, and Pionite.

Solid Surface (Corian)

It is solid synthetic sheets formed by mixing a mineral compound with polyester and/or acrylic resins.

Pros	Cons
Because it’s solid, chips, dents, and scratches can be repaired easily. Comes in a variety of colors and finishes and can look and feel like stone. Flexible enough to form decorative shapes and an integral sink.	May crack as it cools down after a hot item has been on it. Will stain. However, because it’s nonporous (that is, nothing soaks too far into it), spots can be scrubbed out. Could become discolored if a heavy object falls on it. You’ll need to use a cutting board, though scratches can be sanded out.

Quartz (Zodiaq)

Quartz is an engineered natural stone combining properties of solid surfaces and marble. It is a mix of 93% stone and resin binders, doesn’t require sealants. It has the look of natural stone yet has a consistent color. Its color should be very close to what you saw in the showroom.

Pros	Cons
Resistant to scratches, chips, and cracks Never have to seal polish or recondition to maintain luster. As heat resistant as granite. Does not support the growth of mold mildew and bacteria.	Has visible seems

Granite

Granite is a very durable natural stone. Because stone is porous, each stone requires special sealants about once a year. You can cut, roll dough, and place hot pots directly on granite.

The color of the stone you saw in the showroom may not exactly match the stone set aside for you. Make sure you are comfortable with any differences.

Pros	Cons
Resistant to scratches Heat resistant Natural luster	Must be resealed once a year Is not stain resistant

Costa's Quality Kitchens, Inc.
6 McCabe Street
South Dartmouth, MA 02748
(508) 999- 6754
Fax (508) 994-3629
info@costaskitchens.com

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