Kitchen Countertop Materials: 5 More Great Alternatives to Granite
Get a delightfully different look for your kitchen counters with lesser-known materials for a wide range of budgets
Kathryn Peltier
March 15, 2014
Houzz Contributor
Sure, granite and quartz make for fine kitchen countertop choices. But they’re not right for everyone. Before you settle on the regular old mainstays, consider some of these alternatives.
Zinc
Zinc is an old material making a comeback. It has a soft, matte look that develops a dark gray patina over time, which is one of its biggest draws. Malleability is another. Zinc is a soft metal, which makes it good for detailing.
On the other hand, zinc is very expensive, so if the patina it develops is not important to you, consider stainless steel instead; it’s a much more affordable choice.
Zinc is an old material making a comeback. It has a soft, matte look that develops a dark gray patina over time, which is one of its biggest draws. Malleability is another. Zinc is a soft metal, which makes it good for detailing.
On the other hand, zinc is very expensive, so if the patina it develops is not important to you, consider stainless steel instead; it’s a much more affordable choice.
Here’s a beautiful hammered zinc island top.
Pros: Nonporous and antibacterial. Its softness means it can be easily fabricated, even with integrated sinks.
Cons: Easily scratches and can warp under a hot pot
Cost: $200 to $300 per square foot
Good for you if: You want a metal countertop with a rich patina
More about zinc kitchen counters
Pros: Nonporous and antibacterial. Its softness means it can be easily fabricated, even with integrated sinks.
Cons: Easily scratches and can warp under a hot pot
Cost: $200 to $300 per square foot
Good for you if: You want a metal countertop with a rich patina
More about zinc kitchen counters
Pewter
Like zinc, pewter is a warm-toned metal. It’s one of the softest metal countertop materials available and is prone to denting. So it’s probably not best for a heavily used work area. (It works well on this island.) But the softness also means it’s the most easily shaped, and it can be stamped to incorporate intricate artistic designs. Just be sure the pewter you choose doesn’t have any lead content. Like zinc, it’s expensive.
Pros: Can be stamped and shaped easily to fit difficult forms and accept intricate detailing
Cons: Prone to denting; some pewter contains lead; rather expensive
Cost: $400 per square foot
Good for you if: You want a metal countertop with lots of detail
Like zinc, pewter is a warm-toned metal. It’s one of the softest metal countertop materials available and is prone to denting. So it’s probably not best for a heavily used work area. (It works well on this island.) But the softness also means it’s the most easily shaped, and it can be stamped to incorporate intricate artistic designs. Just be sure the pewter you choose doesn’t have any lead content. Like zinc, it’s expensive.
Pros: Can be stamped and shaped easily to fit difficult forms and accept intricate detailing
Cons: Prone to denting; some pewter contains lead; rather expensive
Cost: $400 per square foot
Good for you if: You want a metal countertop with lots of detail
Slate
Slate is a natural material that’s popular for flooring but sometimes gets overlooked as a countertop choice. That’s too bad. It’s affordable, nonporous and durable, and it looks dashing. I just love the green slate counters shown here.
Slate is a natural material that’s popular for flooring but sometimes gets overlooked as a countertop choice. That’s too bad. It’s affordable, nonporous and durable, and it looks dashing. I just love the green slate counters shown here.
Black is a popular color choice for slate too.
Pros: Nonporous, durable, fairly inexpensive
Cons: Limited color range
Cost: $50 to $65 per square foot
Good for you if: You want a natural, earthy countertop
Pros: Nonporous, durable, fairly inexpensive
Cons: Limited color range
Cost: $50 to $65 per square foot
Good for you if: You want a natural, earthy countertop
Recycled Aluminum
Recycled aluminum scraps are suspended in a polyester resin for a deep, interesting material. This green (sustainable) material comes in classic (clear) and opaque options, as well as a honed finish. It’s fabricated similarly to solid-surface materials.
Pros: Recycled, green material
Cons: Limited color range
Cost: $65 to $100 per square foot
Good for you if: You want the look of a metal countertop without the upkeep.
Ecofriendly Materials: Kitchen Countertops
Recycled aluminum scraps are suspended in a polyester resin for a deep, interesting material. This green (sustainable) material comes in classic (clear) and opaque options, as well as a honed finish. It’s fabricated similarly to solid-surface materials.
Pros: Recycled, green material
Cons: Limited color range
Cost: $65 to $100 per square foot
Good for you if: You want the look of a metal countertop without the upkeep.
Ecofriendly Materials: Kitchen Countertops
Linoleum
A classic material found in vintage kitchens, linoleum is an interesting countertop choice today. It is a green choice, made from linseed oil and sawdust, and is very inexpensive. It comes in over 100 colors (solids and swirled patterns) from muted to bright. It’s warm to the touch, naturally antibacterial and antistatic, durable and repairable. Linoleum countertop edges can be rolled, or edged with either metal banding (as shown here) or wood.
Pros: Green, natural material; extensive color and pattern range; DIY possibility; antibacterial; antistatic
Cons: Can be damaged by excessive heat
Cost: As low as $5.25 per square foot for material and glue
Good for you if: You want a natural, durable surface and are on a tight budget. It’s especially great in vintage kitchens.
More: Your Guide to 15 Popular Kitchen Countertop Materials
A classic material found in vintage kitchens, linoleum is an interesting countertop choice today. It is a green choice, made from linseed oil and sawdust, and is very inexpensive. It comes in over 100 colors (solids and swirled patterns) from muted to bright. It’s warm to the touch, naturally antibacterial and antistatic, durable and repairable. Linoleum countertop edges can be rolled, or edged with either metal banding (as shown here) or wood.
Pros: Green, natural material; extensive color and pattern range; DIY possibility; antibacterial; antistatic
Cons: Can be damaged by excessive heat
Cost: As low as $5.25 per square foot for material and glue
Good for you if: You want a natural, durable surface and are on a tight budget. It’s especially great in vintage kitchens.
More: Your Guide to 15 Popular Kitchen Countertop Materials
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A countertop made of recycled aluminum in polyester resin is most definitely NOT a green or sustainable material. Combining aluminum, an infinitely recyclable and valuable metal, with polyester, also recyclable, makes both unrecyclable. It's a waste, a dead-end product that will inevitably end up in a landfill where it will degrade very, very slowly. Combining aluminum and polyester is not recycling, it's downcycling: producing a product of lower quality than its ingredients. It's the opposite of sustainable.
Why isn't Dekton mentioned ... It’s quartz, porcelain, and glass that’s been “sinterized” — intensely heated and compacted — to make it super strong.
I have slate countertops and an integrated slate farmhouse sink. I went to Sheldon Slate in Granville, NY to pick out my slabs and have the sink made. The owner took me around his operation and was awesome. I LOVE these countertops. Think chemistry lab in school. Best choice for me.