Contemplating a renovation of the kitchen in her Leaside home, Patsy Lam is thinking countertops.
With five children and a husband, Ms. Lam puts a premium on the practical. "I'm busy, and I just need to get things done," she says. "For me, it's all about function."
The 39-year-old homeowner certainly doesn't lack for choices — in terms of material, look, functionality or price. Kitchen countertop materials include everything from solid and composite stone to hardwood to old favourites such as solid-surface and plastic laminate.
Then there are some fairly recent entries, such as concrete and stainless steel. And with today's emphasis on the environment, paper and recycled glass counters have emerged.
Today's homeowner doesn't necessarily have to stick to just one type of surface in the cooking area, either. As Nathalie Thorel, a Toronto-based interior designer with IntraMuros Design and Space Planning, points out, with the variety of countertop materials available, it's becoming "pretty common to mix materials in a kitchen. … If [there is] a lot of stainless steel, some wood … will soften the appearance."
Engineered stone
This type of counter — made from particles of granite, marble or other stone mixed with resin and pigments — provides a uniform surface look, is as durable as the real thing, and comes in a wider range of colours.
It's also not as porous as natural stone and therefore doesn't require sealing.
Engineered quartz is the latest must-have kitchen countertop, and it's popularity is not surprising: It has a glorious shine and a uniform surface look. And the product, which can be very expensive, has a lot going for it in the functionality department as well.
"Quartz is very strong and durable," Ms. Thorel says. "It resists scratches and doesn't need a special finish.
It is also good with heat, although like any product, you do have to take … normal precautions and not put something right off the stove on the counter.
"My clients like it because it is clean and modern looking," she adds.
Natural stone
Granite, marble and slate counters are elegant and durable but tend to be at the higher end of the price scale. They stand up well to heat, don't chip, and their colours are what you find in nature.
Granite is more porous than engineered stone products, and has to be sealed once or twice a year. Slate, on the other hand, doesn't stain easily. (While they both make beautiful counters, marble and limestone are often not recommended for kitchens as they're more porous than the others.)
With its mirror-like finish, granite has been considered the gold standard in kitchen countertops for some time and is not in much danger of being knocked off its pedestal.
"Granite is a beautiful product — not manufactured, and that does mean it is considered environmentally friendly, too, when it comes from a local source," designer Eric Tomas points out.
Its surface — full of jags of colour and fissures — doesn't have the uniform look of a engineered stone counter.
But advocates of the natural stone consider these features part of its beauty.
"I would consider granite a bit more traditional and not so modern," Ms. Thorel says. "The choice depends on the look you are trying to achieve."
Solid-surface
These countertops are made with a mineral compound, polyester and/or acrylic resin.
They come in solid sheets, are stain resistant, seamless, and their colours won't fade. They can be scratched and are not very heat-resistant, but chips and dents can be easily repaired. The most common brand name is Corian. They can be very expensive.
Tile
Counters made of ceramic, porcelain, natural stone or mosaic tile can add warmth to a kitchen.
Generally cheaper than natural stone, they are resistant to heat and moisture, and are available in a range of colours, textures and patterns.
On the down side, they can crack or break, and the grout around them can stain and must be sealed regularly.
