Kitchen countertop suggestions

forgop · 02-19-2010, 06:04 PM

I'm waiting for word to come back on an offer I made on a house today and one of the things I'd definitely like to do is upgrade the kitchen countertop and take out the existing 4" tile and upgrade a much nicer/modern tile.

So far, I think I'm wanting to go with quartz and looking to get a ballpark figure of how much it's going to set me back. Does anyone have any suggestions for particular brands of quartz or any other suggestions you might have?

Thanks!

pnoon · 02-19-2010, 06:08 PM

I would not go with tile but with a solid surface acrylic. We went with LG HI-MACS but Corian and Silestone are other good products, too.

forgop · 02-19-2010, 06:18 PM

Ok, thanks for the suggestions. I have ~ 58 sq ft I'd be looking at, so I'm trying to do this as reasonable as possible. Menards has Riverstone quartz currently on sale starting at $38.99/sq ft. Looks like I should be able to do all of this work myself.

BTW, the tile would be on the wall between the countertop splash and the bottom of the top cabinets, not an actual tile job like some people do.

captain53 · 02-19-2010, 06:23 PM

I have owned many different kinds and my current home has polished granite and it is by far superior to anything else I have tried. Yes it is expensive but looks great and very durable with little maintenance.

forgop · 02-19-2010, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by captain53

I have owned many different kinds and my current home has polished granite and it is by far superior to anything else I have tried. Yes it is expensive but looks great and very durable with little maintenance.

In a couple of brief conversations with my realtor and brother, they seemed to discourage granite because of the potential for staining and having to seal them. On the other hand, quartz seems to be resistant to pretty much everything, except a high price tag that is. I have no idea how granite and quartz compare in price though.

CasaDooley · 02-19-2010, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pnoon

I would not go with tile but with a solid surface acrylic. We went with LG HI-MACS but Corian and Silestone are other good products, too.

Last Nov. we went with a solid surface acrylic called Staron® by Samsung and we're very happy with it!

forgop · 02-19-2010, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CasaDooley

Last Nov. we went with a solid surface acrylic called Staron® by Samsung and we're very happy with it!

I'm reluctant to get solid surface acrylic because it's a bigger risk to stains from my brief research.

marge796 · 02-19-2010, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by forgop

In a couple of brief conversations with my realtor and brother, they seemed to discourage granite because of the potential for staining and having to seal them. On the other hand, quartz seems to be resistant to pretty much everything, except a high price tag that is. I have no idea how granite and quartz compare in price though.

We put a total 35 feet of granite in our kitchen & bar top 3 years ago. We spend a lot of time in our kitchen and at the bar with no issues of staining, as for the sealing goes it's takes about an hour every six months. One of the best decisions thus far with the upgrades we've made to our home. Granite is the only way to go IMO.

Chris.....

captain53 · 02-19-2010, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marge796

We put a total 35 feet of granite in our kitchen & bar top 3 years ago. We spend a lot of time in our kitchen and at the bar with no issues of staining, as for the sealing goes it's takes about an hour every six months. One of the best decisions thus far with the upgrades we've made to our home. Granite is the only way to go IMO.

Chris.....

About the same experience here, 9 years old and not a stain anywhere and we spill stuff on it all the time.

Ashcan Bill · 02-19-2010, 07:32 PM

If you go with a quartz tile, will you have grout lines?

The reason I ask is grout will stain or discolor over time. That may be a concern if you have lighter color grout.

We currently have granite, and I love it. Stains haven't been a problem for us.

mash · 02-19-2010, 07:58 PM

Have granite and love it. No recent issues with staining, though I did have one or two at the start, I think it may not have been properly sealed.
If it ever stains, it is easy to get out. Mix acetone and baking soda to the consistency of a snow cone (too Canadian a term?). Anyway, cover it with wax paper, tape the edges and leave for 24 hours. Next day, take off the wax paper. You will have dry powder with a stain-free countertop. No long term worries.

Rabidsquirrel · 02-19-2010, 08:08 PM

I like Silestone, but it's more expensive than granite. Then again, with granite at $56 a sq/ft and Silestone at $59 I guess the difference is negligible.

skibumdc · 02-19-2010, 08:15 PM

You get what you pay for in terms of beauty.
Nothing has the gloss and beauty of granite IMO.
Granite is natural, has a life of it's own. You can find VERY unique slabs but it will cost.

Quartz is not a solid surface but actually ground quartz mineral in a hardened resin . It is as hard/harder than stone and resists staining...but to me it just doesn't look as nice.

To me Silestone/quartz/Corian just look too uniform.

forgop · 02-19-2010, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ashcan Bill

If you go with a quartz tile, will you have grout lines?

The reason I ask is grout will stain or discolor over time. That may be a concern if you have lighter color grout.

We currently have granite, and I love it. Stains haven't been a problem for us.

It's not quartz tile. To me, it has the same appearance qualities, but I'm thinking the quartz may be cheaper. Just a guess as I have yet to step foot in a hardware store to compare pricing and actual appearance of each next to one another.

Guess I know what the wife and I will do tomorrow afternoon.

Smokin Gator · 02-19-2010, 09:10 PM

I really don't know a lot about this kind of thing... but when we recently remodeled our house my wife went with Silestone. The stuff is gorgeous and we are very happy with it. I know the check I wrote for the kitchen and bathrooms was a gagger, but it sure is nice.

68TriShield · 02-19-2010, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by forgop

I'm reluctant to get solid surface acrylic because it's a bigger risk to stains from my brief research.

Not true.We've had ours for years,it's still beautiful.No stains.

pnoon · 02-19-2010, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 68TriShield

Not true.We've had ours for years,it's still beautiful.No stains.

+1

markem · 02-19-2010, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 68TriShield

Not true.We've had ours for years,it's still beautiful.No stains.

We've had our corian counters for going on 11 years. Still look like new. Don't put a hot pan directly on it (it's plastic afterall) it the only caveat.

Fully integrated sinks with no seams, lips, etc. have been an especially cool feature.

pnoon · 02-19-2010, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markem

Fully integrated sinks with no seams, lips, etc. have been an especially cool feature.

Ain't that the truth?!?!?!?

E.J. · 02-19-2010, 11:16 PM

FWIW....another happy granite owner....

Think we did tile like you are saying.... This is a pic while we were putting it in.... Pre grout...

02-19-2010, 06:04 PM	#1
forgop Not a puffer Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Duane Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 2,869 Trading: (40)	Kitchen countertop suggestions I'm waiting for word to come back on an offer I made on a house today and one of the things I'd definitely like to do is upgrade the kitchen countertop and take out the existing 4" tile and upgrade a much nicer/modern tile. So far, I think I'm wanting to go with quartz and looking to get a ballpark figure of how much it's going to set me back. Does anyone have any suggestions for particular brands of quartz or any other suggestions you might have? Thanks!

02-19-2010, 06:08 PM	#2
pnoon YNWA Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Peter Location: San Diego Posts: 29,919 Trading: (20)	Re: Kitchen countertop suggestions I would not go with tile but with a solid surface acrylic. We went with LG HI-MACS but Corian and Silestone are other good products, too. __________________ Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are. -John Wooden

02-19-2010, 06:18 PM	#3
forgop Not a puffer Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Duane Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 2,869 Trading: (40)	Re: Kitchen countertop suggestions Ok, thanks for the suggestions. I have ~ 58 sq ft I'd be looking at, so I'm trying to do this as reasonable as possible. Menards has Riverstone quartz currently on sale starting at $38.99/sq ft. Looks like I should be able to do all of this work myself. BTW, the tile would be on the wall between the countertop splash and the bottom of the top cabinets, not an actual tile job like some people do.

02-19-2010, 06:23 PM	#4
captain53 Have My Own Room Join Date: Jul 2009 First Name: Dave Location: Lake of the Ozarks & Austin, TX Posts: 1,333 Trading: (3)	Re: Kitchen countertop suggestions I have owned many different kinds and my current home has polished granite and it is by far superior to anything else I have tried. Yes it is expensive but looks great and very durable with little maintenance.

02-19-2010, 07:32 PM	#10
Ashcan Bill Ol' Dude Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Bill Location: Henderson, NV Posts: 1,901 Trading: (6)	Re: Kitchen countertop suggestions If you go with a quartz tile, will you have grout lines? The reason I ask is grout will stain or discolor over time. That may be a concern if you have lighter color grout. We currently have granite, and I love it. Stains haven't been a problem for us.

02-19-2010, 07:58 PM	#11
mash Adjusting to the Life Join Date: Nov 2008 First Name: Kevin Posts: 435 Trading: (2)	Re: Kitchen countertop suggestions Have granite and love it. No recent issues with staining, though I did have one or two at the start, I think it may not have been properly sealed. If it ever stains, it is easy to get out. Mix acetone and baking soda to the consistency of a snow cone (too Canadian a term?). Anyway, cover it with wax paper, tape the edges and leave for 24 hours. Next day, take off the wax paper. You will have dry powder with a stain-free countertop. No long term worries.

02-19-2010, 08:08 PM	#12
Rabidsquirrel Moderately Confused Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Pennsylvania, US Posts: 576 Trading: (5)	Re: Kitchen countertop suggestions I like Silestone, but it's more expensive than granite. Then again, with granite at $56 a sq/ft and Silestone at $59 I guess the difference is negligible.

02-19-2010, 08:15 PM	#13
skibumdc That's what she said Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Balco Location: Smoke Less, Age More Posts: 345 Trading: (8)	Re: Kitchen countertop suggestions You get what you pay for in terms of beauty. Nothing has the gloss and beauty of granite IMO. Granite is natural, has a life of it's own. You can find VERY unique slabs but it will cost. Quartz is not a solid surface but actually ground quartz mineral in a hardened resin . It is as hard/harder than stone and resists staining...but to me it just doesn't look as nice. To me Silestone/quartz/Corian just look too uniform. __________________ The Dude abides

02-19-2010, 09:10 PM	#15
Smokin Gator Just plain insane! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: The Swamp Posts: 6,237 Trading: (106)	Re: Kitchen countertop suggestions I really don't know a lot about this kind of thing... but when we recently remodeled our house my wife went with Silestone. The stuff is gorgeous and we are very happy with it. I know the check I wrote for the kitchen and bathrooms was a gagger, but it sure is nice. __________________ Check out the Cigar Asylum Newbie Sampler Trade

02-19-2010, 11:16 PM	#20
E.J. I'm nuts for the place Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 3,218 Trading: (21)	Re: Kitchen countertop suggestions FWIW....another happy granite owner.... Think we did tile like you are saying.... This is a pic while we were putting it in.... Pre grout...