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by kathimark
7 months ago in Design Dilemma
What type of counter tops are the most durable?
I am planning a new kitchen and need a durable counter top that will not stain, can withstand high heat and is low maintenance. I do a lot of canning and baking and can really make a mess!
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olldbobbi Ceramic tile with very tight grout joints should work fine. If your grout gets stained you can clean it with fresh orange juice, works every time!
7 months ago · ·
Centaur Interiors Hello!

I have found that Corian is a very durable and beautiful countertop choice. While you cannot set hot pans directly on it, it is heat resistant and have very good stain resistance.
http://www2.dupont.com/Surfaces/en_US/products/corian/corian_care.html

Good luck!
7 months ago ·
Cabell Design Studio Hello KathiMark,

You might check into a material that is relatively new to the market of countertops, Quartz. You may know of it by some of the brand names that manufacture Quartz; Silestone, Cambria.

Quartz is a very hard, non porous stone. It is actually harder than granite and marble, and is not a composite of various stones and minerals, like granite and marble. As a result it is extremely durable, heat resistant and stain resistant. However, on the scale of countertops it can be expensive. You might try obtaining quotes from different manufacturer's and in differing colors to obtain a reasonable estimate. It is available in a few dozen colors.

Take a look at a few Houzz examples of Quartz countertops:

Cambria Bellingham from The Waterstone Collection

1960's Lake Oswego Home

South Lyon Traditional Kitchen

Custom Kitchen #1

Best of luck with your kitchen and please let us know if we can be of any assistance,

Elizabeth
7 months ago · ·
movethisnotthat quartz is a must have IMHO
7 months ago ·
City Cabinet Center, San Diego Sounds like you are looking for Quartz materials. As said above, this man made stone has all the upsides of granite and then some. In my opinion some quartz materials have dropped in price and are competitive with granite. Also it depends on the dimensions of your kitchen, but some quartz lines offer half slabs or jumbo slabs. Just try to use up as much material as you can to avoid wasting. Obviously, the style that you prefer is high priority, but making the kitchen work with limited waste is its own challenge and also very rewarding.
7 months ago ·
Ann Alderson Go Quartz! It's gorgeous, safe and comes in lots of colors. Good luck!
7 months ago ·
olldcan I have to agree and count another in on the vote for Quartz, you won't be disappointed.
7 months ago ·
Margaret Phillips Quartz!! All the beauty you want without the headache
7 months ago ·
Kitchen Mama quartz
7 months ago ·
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