Choosing the perfect countertops is a surprisingly personal process. While some idealistic part of us may covet those pristine, bright white Pinterest kitchens, the reality of the situation is this: your countertops are both a practical and aesthetic focal point of your home. It’s not enough that your countertops look great right after they’re installed — they have to keep working for you, standing up to stains, heat, kids, and time.
If you’re looking to keep things simple, these three easy to maintain countertops will keep your kitchen beautiful and functional for years to come.
Granite
Perhaps the material most-loved by modern day homeowners, granite countertops provide a high end look without any overly-fussy maintenance needs. In general, manufactured quartz is easy to clean and fairly resistant to heat. While natural granite offers more exotic patterns than manufactured quartz, its uniqueness can sometimes make finding a perfect match difficult in the event that you need repairs or replacements. Natural granite is also a porous material. This means spills should be wiped up immediately, and that you’ll need to follow a regular resealing regimen. The resealing process is inexpensive and simple. CTS offers multiple cleaning and sealing solutions.
Marble
If you’ve ever watched one of HGTV’s many interior design oriented shows, you’ll undoubtedly recognize marble as the current darling of the design world. Timelessly attractive the veining in natural marble helps disguise light signs of wear and discoloration over time, helping your countertops age gracefully. Like granite, however, marble is a porous material. Therefore, your marble countertops will need to be regularly resealed and spills will need to be addressed immediately.
Quartz
One of the most popular countertop materials for both kitchens and bathrooms, quartz countertops are an industry favorite for good reason. Similar in appearance and performance to marble or granite, quartz offers the same classic look without any inherent weaknesses. As quartz is a non-porous material, clean up is a cinch and you’ll never have to worry about stains.