HIGHLIGHTS:
Material definition: The stone-synthetic composite - Corian's Zodiaq, Formica's Crystalite and Cosentino's Silestone - are all made of about 90 percent quartz particles and 10 percent acrylic or epoxy binder. Some of the composites look like natural stone, but not one that you could identify. Others are so close to real granite that you're left asking, "Is it real or is it Memorex?" And some are even better than the real thing. If you've longed for the brilliance of quartz and the rich blue of lapis lazuli, Zodiaq's Celestial Blue or Silestone's Cobalt Blue could be your ticket.
Tips for Selection:
Advantages:
- The composites do not need to be sealed and fabricators who work with them say it's as scratch resistant as granite.
Disadvantages:
- they can stain if food spills are not cleaned up promptly
- Since the composites are man-made materials, they do not have the unexpected variation of granite or marble.
Average Material Cost: Cystalite and Silestone counter tops are similarly priced at about $110 to $160 per linear foot, installed. Zodiaq prices are higher, ranging from about $120 to $250 a linear foot, installed.
OVERVIEW on Kitchen Countertops: The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in your home, and the right choice for kitchen counter tops is key to the successful execution and ongoing use of the space. Now more than ever, you can choose from a diverse range of kitchen counter materials. For each aspect of home design and remodeling you can also strive to make choices that are 1) Functional, 2) Stylish, 3) Cost-Effective, and 4) Environmentally Sustainable. These are the four key guiding principles in the GREENandSAVE strategy. You will find that in certain cases, one or two of the criteria take precedent over others. However, as you review the home improvement options that are right for your home, you may be surprised to learn that reaching all four is more achievable than you thought.
Selection Tip: In choosing a kitchen countertop material make sure to think through its integration with your kitchen cabinets, appliances, and the backsplash that will work best for your design and installation. Solid surface and natural stone materials typically need to be precut prior to installation versus tiles that can be cut and set right on the job site. Kitchen countertop backsplashes sometimes look great when they match the countertop material, but you can alternatively enhance the countertop material by choosing a different tile to run from the top edge of the counter all of the way up to the underside of the head cabinet. If you decide on the tiles, also take care in choosing the right color grout and look for new tile grouts that are stain resistant.
DETAILS on Kitchen Acrylic Countertops: Some of the composites look like natural stone, but not one that you could identify. Others are so close to real granite that you're left asking, "Is it real or is it Memorex?" And some are even better than the real thing.
GREEN Considerations: These are man-made products that may contain harmful chemical compounds.
