Which Kitchen Countertop is Scratch-Resistant?
As someone who has finally decided to splurge on a new kitchen countertop, even I find it difficult to decide which material is the best.
12/10/2019
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Even as someone who has a lot of insight into trends and popular materials, I find the choice difficult when choosing the best countertop material for my kitchen. I've always been a Formica LifeSeal fan and it's only now when I finally have a dedicated place to work that my kitchen countertops are no longer in any danger from paint and DIY projects, that I can afford to splurge on something nice. But what's nice? What's practical? And what's affordable? I might be willing to splurge but I still have my limits after all.
After living with Formica for so long anything will be a luxury, but I still want to make sure that I choose a countertop that won't be easily scratched and that is easy to maintain. My current countertop is Formica in black with little, shiny white speckles. It looked oh so nice in the store, but after installation it always looks as through there are crumbs everywhere - not choosing that again for sure!
I know what my budget allows and have a fair idea of the pricing of all the countertop materials listed below, and they are pretty much in line with what you would expect. Do make sure to obtain quotes from reliable installers so that you know how much you're in for - whatever the choice you make.
While I like the idea of granite countertops, I find their look to be a bit too busy.
Granite
As a countertop, granite has always been at the top of the list, especially now when it is not quite as expensive as it used to be. Granite has a way of bringing a luxury finish to a kitchen, but I haven't yet seen a granite countertop that I like. I'm sure that there are many who love granite and the way you can introduce colour to a kitchen but it can also be a bit overpowering. Another con for this material is that it isn't entirely maintenance-free, and I have reached the stage where I don't want to have to bother about applying sealers and treatments.
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Marble
Similar to granite but more expensive, it's another countertop material that I'm not fond of. I must have cheap tastes all-in-all, since I don't fancy either granite or marble. Marble is not quite as durable as granite and can be scratched and stain unless treated, so another one off the list.
I do prefer the look of marble, but not that it requires maintenance and care.
Quartz
I have long admired the range of quartz countertops, and while they might be just as pricey (or just slightly cheaper) than marble or granite, you also have to consider that these countertops are maintenance-free. The only downside to quartz, according to my research, is that you have to be careful about chipping around the edges (pretty much what you have to be careful about with both marble and granite).
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The fact that quartz is impervious to stains makes this a more favourable countertop material, as is the fact that this material can't be damaged by heat and acid. There's also greater opportunity to select a colour or faux finish that resembles marble.
Quartz is maintenance-free, scratch resistant and comes in a variety of colours and designs.
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So, while there are plenty of options to choose from for kitchen countertops, there is only limited choice of materials when you want something scratch resistant. If you decide to rip out the Formica countertop and install something more expensive, make sure you do your research before you do. With a cost of anywhere upwards of R10 000 for an average kitchen, this is not an improvement you want to get wrong.