You know, inspiration images might be even more helpful than recommendations. What kind of cabinets do you have? Are they painted or stained? Modern white or stained Shaker? Google images of cabinets in kitchens, find the images that speak to you, then look at the counters they use. Inspiration images can really help point you in the right direction.

If you find your interest piques with stone, check out some of the karin_mt threads.

Eam is right--look at photos. Find a look you like and then find what materials accomplish that. Then compare the features of those materials and see which compromises you prefer to make....durability, price, feel, etc....

I am planning to have either Sapele or Walnut cabinets. Stained. I first want to research the function over form. In other words, are certain countertop materials recommended over the others? E.g., does granite hold up better than quartz? Is quartz easier to clean? Can one put down hot items or does one need to baby the countertop. I want to learn about these things first and then decide on the looks.

I first want to research the function over form.

This may be one of the reasons that countertops are a grey area. My definition of function may not be the same as yours. For example, I have soapstone. I can put a 500 degree pan directly onto the counter with no fear of damage, but opening a wine bottle can leave a scratch which would drive someone else crazy. You need to use a trivet for hot pots on quartz but you aren't going to see a mark if you use it as a cutting board.

What are your priorities, and tolerances?

All of that information is available online and in older threads. Google "counter materials" and start reading. There is no perfect material. Your choice will ultimately depend on how you use your kitchen and what you want it to look like.

Here is an incomplete, short overview:

Granite and quartz are similar in durability but granite may need to be occasionally sealed by rubbing a sealer on it - not a difficult task. Those are the two major countertops you see in pictures though others include quartzite, soapstone, marble, cement, Corian, laminate, wood and I am sure a few more. Corian is similar in durability to granite, quartzite and quartz.

None are indestructible. Marble is easier to damage than granite or quartz. Quartzite is supposed to be more durable than granite, but sometimes stones are mislabeled as quartzite and they are not. Granite, quartzite, soapstone and marble are natural stones. Quartz is an engineered product with about 93% natural quartz - some companies a little more, others a little less.

Whatever you are looking at, get a sample and try to" kitchen abuse" it to see how it holds up.

Thanks for the very helpful replies. I now understand the complexities of the choices here.

I would like to have the ability to put hot pots and pans. I don't care about cutting on the counter top [I have sharp Japanese knives and cutting on anything other than an end grain cutting board would destroy them anyway]. If possible I would like to get something that would not scratch easily.

As for quartz, what brands or companies should I be looking at?

The only counter surfaces you can safely put hot pots and pans on without trivets are soapstone, porcelain (and some ceramics), or metal (like stainless steel, and copper).

There are several reputable quartz companies. I have not heard a bad thing about any of them as a whole - occasionally we get a post here from someone who had a problem, but nothing consistent with one company over another. More problems with the customer service of different companies than with the products.

Quartz is very heat resistant, but I would not routinely set hot pots on it - or any of the choices mentioned. Most of the counters listed could crack or be scorched in the right set of unfortunate circumstances - though the soapstone sounds pretty good for hot pots.

I've had my quartz counters almost a year and they look as good as the day they were put in. I routinely throw down a hot pad - I was raised that way and I don't find it a difficulty especially considering the amount of $$$ that went into the purchase:)

actually a lot of granite is fine with hot pots - I had Raw Silk (the pink version) and had no issues with hot pots. Currently using a Blue Pearl granite tile (very thing) as a landing zone for hot pots!

The "big boys" in Quartz manufacturing - Silestone, Cambria, Zodiaq, Caesarstone, etc. - all use a manufacturing process by Breton. This Italian company sells the machinery and licenses the process. They are pretty much equal in quality. Some Chinese companies are now making quartz. If you are thinking about any of those, do be sure to see if they are using Breton machinery and process. It's a Buyer Beware situation.

What you put on your countertops is really a personal decision on what you want for looks. Marble may be the only choice that presents significant function issues. Despite it's obvious drawbacks, etching and scratching, it is much loved for its looks and accumulated etches and scratches are dubbed "patina." You can't go wrong with any choice that makes you happy every time you look at it. If you do a search on here you'll find people who are excited about lots of different choices - granite, quartzite, quartz, solid surface, butcherblock, stainless steel, concrete, laminate, you name it. Have fun looking!

I think if you are between quartz and granite, they seem to have a similar durability. I don't think there is necessarily a bad choice between the two. Like Suzanne mentioned, try to look at only reputable quartz brands. I think the biggest difference is the look. Granite is going to have more movement and visual interest. Quartz may have a pattern but it will be more uniform. Pricing will be similar - the quotes we have priced most of the quartz we liked to be similar in pricing to the middle range granites.

Can I get lighter colors (cream, gray etc) in granite or is quartz my only choice in this case?

@eam44: I am fairly sure stainless steel would not work with the overall feel we are shooting for. Soapstone is an interesting choice. Need to read up more about it.

@cookncarpenter: I am afraid concrete might also not be a candidate for us. We currently have tile countertop and it is built like a tank but ugly as *&%&#$.

@suzanne_sl jhmarie and lakeerieamber: Thanks for the great advice. Now I at least know which brands to look at and what I should pay attention to.

@new-beginning: Granite is definitely a intriguing choice. We have granite in the bathrooms and it has held up fairly well. Of course, there are not hot pots in the bathroom!

Cook, unsealed concrete can be vulnerable to heat shock as well. And if the counter is sealed (and most are) you can destroy or discolor the sealer with direct heat.

Yes, you can find light colored granites. However, granite varies so much that you need to go select your specific slab(s) so you know exactly what you are getting. Quartz is easier to pick from a small sample because each piece will be virtually the same.

Thanks. Now I have a better understanding of the complexity and the process. I guess once my cabinets are in place I can shop around for the countertop material.

If you want to put hot pots on the surface there are three choices. Soapstone, Stainless steel, or Neolith

[edit: cpartist types faster then me]

Another option is sintered materials (in my limited understanding, basically a huge slab of porcelain) like Neolith and Dekton. Very heat and stain resistant, and, at least in matte, resistant to scratching as well. We have Neolith Calacatta with a mitered edge and there are a couple of small chips in the edge which is disappointing, but, as mentioned up-thread, there's no "perfect" material.

In testing samples, I took a sizzling cast iron pan out of a 475 degree oven and set it on Neolith squares and tried to stain them with cumin, wine, etc., mark them with a Sharpie, and etch with lemon, but it came out fine. Our installer, however, marred the surface a bit cleaning off glue marks and seemingly with a pencil, of all things. A discount ensued and I really haven't noticed since.

Anyway, if heat, stain and scratch-resistance are your goals, these are worth a look.

Vish,

Most fabricators will be more than happy to cut you a couple trivets from scrap stone on your job for free, same color, place next to the stove (and I have one at my coffee making "shrine") - it is an easy habit to get into setting hot pots on the trivets. For me there are two big differences between granite and quartz. #1 The look; #2 Being able to sterilize the surface. I LOVE the look of many granite - the movement the colors....but you need to make sure that the granite has to be well sealed...usually they come out of the fab shop with a two or three year sealer - spend a few more dollars and have them put on a 15 yr sealer. Quartz doesn't have this problem - there are no pores in the surface for food particles to get into - you don;t have to seal it.

One last thing - many of the most striking kitchens that I have been in the last 10 years, the owner or designer has used multiple materials - maybe granite on the island and another color granite or quartz or even solid surface on the countertops. The advantage of doing this is that you can sometimes find the sizes you need in the remnant yard rather than having to purchase complete slabs of stone - it is always nice to save money! Have a great day!

If resale is of concern, look at what is typical in your area. In my area, quartz is now 60-70% of all new counters.

I got this call several days ago; he says it's granite.

@Leading Edge: Thanks for the tip. I will be sure to ask my counter top installer to make some trivets. Its a great idea.

@nosoccermom: We moved into the house a couple of years ago and don't plan on selling anytime soon (hopefully).

@Joseph: If such mishaps happen, what are the options? Do you have to refinish the surface?

"@Joseph: If such mishaps happen, what are the options? Do you have to refinish the surface?"

It depends. If the top is Corian or other solid surface and repair material is available, it will nearly disappear. If it's estone with a heavy particulate and no "movement", you've got a chance. Granite or estone like I pictured above? Replacement.

If I'm not too busy I might play with it after you've sent me an email acknowledging the top is wrecked and I can only make it better.

2 or 3cm stone or estone make poor trivets. If the plastic footie falls off, you've got raw granite or estone scraping against finished granite or estone and that's a guaranteed scratch. I'm not even enthused about Corian as cutting boards. Heat makes them deflect. They're only good for repairs. All are too heavy and dangerous for trivets and/or cutting boards.

If you like a cream colored slab, look at Taj Mahal Quartizite.

Repairs can disappear in certain colors of corian, not those with larger patterns like witch hazel etc.

I agree with Leading Edge Countertops above. What is the big deal with using a trivet? I usually just toss a good pot holder on my granite counter to set a pot on. Or, I use one of the unused burners on my rangetop to set hot things down on.

I feel like you are excluding the majority of all counters because of your requirement to be able to set hot things down on it. Seems like not a good rationale, sorry.

If you absolutely must set hot things on the counter, then soapstone is the surface you can use with 100% confidence. Some soapstones are harder than others; do some research on this. Soapstone can scratch, but there is a wide range on how soft different soapstones are, and there are some that will be harder to scratch.

Also, some hot things placed on a cold countertop will crack - like pyrex or porcelain baking dishes. So setting aside whether the counter will take it, think about whether your pans can take it.

You can always look at Pyrolave. You can thank me later:-)

Between Quartz and granite, is quartz much more stain-proof? I like the white marble looking Quartz counters. I'm more concerned about stains and scratches with my messy kids than the ability to set hot things directly down on the counter. We have laminate now.

wysel:

Certain granites and certain estones can stain, that debate could be endless, but what the stoners won't tell you is that you have to watch out for natural stones that rust.

I've had two calls this week for rusting tops. The stone is filled with natural iron deposits and the surface of the stone rusts and falls away slightly, especially in the sink area. Other than super glue and a razor blade or a plastic covering like Stoneguard, there is no cure. I superglued the first lady and wouldn't touch the second, pictured here: