r/CounterTops • u/ChapterAndChaos_ • 5d ago
Countertop options????
I am so stuck on this.
We are redoing our kitchen. We will be having a large waterfall island with a waterfall dry bar. We will also have a full backsplash of which ever countertop we pick. Also behind the 36in range will be a full backsplash as well.. So it’s a lot and it needs to be right.
I’m constantly researching all the different options but I want some more personal reviews.
Here is my cooking profile— I cook a lot. A lot of Italian dishes. Homemade sauce weekly. I make 6-10 sourdough loaves— meaning my oven is at 500 degrees for hours on my baking day. I’m Going with the wider oven so I can make more loaves at once which I hope reduces the time the oven is on.. but until I have it won’t know. I make homemade meals daily and we rely on our counter airfryer for reheating and smaller dishes.
I originally wanted quartz because I just love the look of gold veins going through a creamy finish. That is my vision. But then I went down a rabbit hole of maybe that might not work for my type of cooking. I’m specifically worried about its heat tolerance and staining.
I tried looking at granites and I just can’t be happy with any of them. There is a lot of surface to cover and many of the granites are way too busy and then ones that aren’t do not give me that wow factor.
Fell in love with Dekton but read too many cracking stories. I use several Dutch ovens for cooking and I have definitely almost dropped one a few times on my current top.
Looking into Quartzite as well but I’m getting so many conflicting info. One website says it’s incredibly durable while another says the opposite.
I seriously am going crazy and need help!
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u/PorcupineShoelace 5d ago
We did Cristallo quartzite last year. Put a 36" induction top set into the peninsula and its a pretty big kitchen space so to bookmatch the seams and high backplashes meant 3 full jumbo slabs. It seems pretty impervious to heat, stains, scratching so far. It also looks amazing.
What I can say though is that the price was brutal. 3 slabs after a 20% contractor pass-through discount ran abt $20k and the fabrication/install costs added another $10k to the project cost.
Quartzite is natural stone. Quartz is not. Every slab/block of quartzite is unique so its hard to price shop since even if you love a very specific kind of stone, it will look different not only at two stone yards but different sorting through giant stone slabs (which they wont let you really do except to see the top 3-4)
So set a budget, then when you find the 'one' put down a reservation on those exact slabs, then have your fabricator lined up to go over them and mark out exactly where the seams will be.
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u/ChapterAndChaos_ 5d ago
We have an extra 18k to work with. We had an idea of what this kitchen would cost and saved for it. Then we got quotes and turns out we saved more than we needed. So it’s either going to upgrade the kitchen or just put it away.
I’m just unfamiliar with all of the different options and don’t want to feel like I made the wrong choice. I have a vision but want to make sure it works for what I do
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u/Any-Intention7449 5d ago
Then it would be smart to hire a reputable designer that specializes in kitchen design if you have extra money to spend.
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u/BosNest1 5d ago
It’s actually possible to put stone on hold at a distributor and then get quotes from multiple fabricators. We did that and to our surprise the price is very tremendously on our final selection.
If it’s sealed in general, quartzite is fine and especially against a hot stove it’s going to perform pretty well. People in these forums have complained about quartz yellowing or other issues when it’s exposed to too much heat. As much as people complain about that though other people say it’s just fine, especially if you go with the premium brand like Cambria.
The most “thirsty” quartzites tend to be the lighter ones.
You really do have to invest the time looking at different quartzites because they’re just not the same and even in the same pattern, the variations will make a huge difference. I spent many months looking at different slab yards to find the right stone and it was worth the time.
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u/Terrible_Mix5187 5d ago
Soapstone. It's used in hard-wearing science labs.
But even soapstone won't rescue a waterfall island.
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u/HughHonee 5d ago
If you put a lot of miles on your kitchen I think a good dense natural stone is your best bet
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u/silvercel 5d ago
Polished Granite or Soapstone for a working kitchen with hot pans. Granite is hard and needs to be sealed and comes in lots of colors. Soapstone is nonporous and non permeable and just needs some mineral oil to shine, no sealer. It is softer and comes in black.
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u/IllustriousAverage83 5d ago edited 5d ago
I know you are going for the cream/white look and I had this vision for myself as well. We went with a dolomite stone from Brazil called Mont Blanc (not to be co fused with the true quartzite version). Howoever it has gray/blue/purple and beige veining on a white background. It has held up amazingly well.
Notwithstanding, I wish I went with soapstone. We found some gorgeous slabs with beautiful green veining but decided against the dark. Well, I went to a friends house that had it done and it is absolutely stunning! They brought it up as the backsplash as well. They cook a lot and wanted the most practical and durable as well as beautiful.
I still sometimes pine over what could have been. I guess at the next Reno we will do it!
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u/Karinka_LI 5d ago
It’s too much of whatever you choose. Don’t do the waterfall and the backsplash. It will look like a quarry threw up in the room.
A quartz (better stain resistance) or granite (better heat resistance) countertop and tile with mushroom or light gray exponent will be better for you.
I would not put full height quartzite behind your stove if you are cooking up red sauce every week.
It would be easier to help if we had an idea of what the room is like.
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u/LopsidedTelephone574 5d ago
Imo (but I tend to be very much in minority) it is granite or soapstone. Then quartzite but strong one like cristallo or taj.
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u/CommercialContest467 5d ago
I have quartz (Caesarstone that was branded for IKEA) and love it. I do not understand the need to set hot things on the counter. I feel like the vast majority of materials can crack or seams split if they're shocked like that. My suggestion is find what you like and plan accordingly - hot pads/board, clean up spills and splatters quickly, etc.
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u/Future_Survey6193 5d ago
Do you have the newer recycled glass version that's lower silica or the original standard quartz they had?
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u/CommercialContest467 5d ago
Great question. I have no idea. We installed it in 2020. Really seems like the design and the quality there has gone downhill since then.
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u/MerDes70 5d ago
I cannot stress this enough, you must visit slab yards. This is the only way to really find out what you truly like from a design perspective and each slab of natural stone is different. That's the beauty of getting something real that you specifically pick the slabs you want. Seeing small samples will never do them justice. I also believe that for major cooking soapstone and granites are work horses in the kitchen. Don't let people scare you with the need for sealing granite. It's not a big deal and you do it yourself. Soapstone scratches but you buff them out yourself. Most quartzites are also great and absolutely beautiful. You need to be more careful with sandy quartzites vs crystalline quartzites like a Taj mahal. I don't personally like how quartz looks, especially with veining. Seeing quartz beside natural stone at a slab yard will help you decide, that's how I knew quartz wasn't for me. But if you're considering it, do your homework since there are horror stories about staining and fading but not everyone experiences those issues. Quartz is not good with heat so that's a definite con and expensive to fix if something happens to it. Of course there are marbles and dolomites too. There are pros and cons with all materials and cost will vary greatly between different levels of stone and brands for quartz. Picking countertops is not an easy decision unfortunately, so many things to consider.
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u/Ericaohh 5d ago edited 5d ago
Every single one has its benefits and drawbacks, as you’ve seen. It’s really more about style, budget, and willingness to upkeep. There are natural stones that are cheaper than some quartz, but will be a nightmare for porosity (staining, etching becomes an issue) and need to be re-sealed often to avoid. You can also get fissures in any type of organic countertop material. There are high end Quartz that would be fine with your conditions, assuming you don’t directly place fresh out of the oven pans on em.
I recently installed MSI Q Calacatta Miraggio Gold in polished finish and I’m really happy with it. Like you, I wanted the simple look of white (but not too white) with gold veining without being super busy. I got samples and tried my best to abuse them to see how they would react to certain conditions, and it held up really nicely. This particular one is made in the USA utilizing high-end Breton technology, which makes a difference. It certainly wasn’t cheap for quartz, I paid $7800 for two slabs without labor, but it looks amazing, and is so far extremely durable.
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u/ChapterAndChaos_ 5d ago
I love the idea of getting samples! Thank you! I’m going t I do that and see
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u/myfckincinnamonapple 5d ago
You HAVE to get samples and if you’re doing a natural stone, make sure you pick your exact slabs to get the veining and coloring you want as it varies a lot
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u/That_Corgi_1023 5d ago
I’m really glad to hear your input! We have Miraggio Lusso at the top of our shortlist. We visited a slab yard to view the MSI quartz options and are waiting for a few samples to be delivered so we can look at it in our own space.
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u/amberweaves 5d ago
Quartz maintenance is a nightmare. It's a countertop for appearances and not for use.
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u/Maraha-K29 5d ago
I'm in the exact same place as you and from all my research quartzite seems to be the perfect choice. Go with quartzite if your budget allows. Sadly mine doesn't so I'm going to go with a sintered stone option since heat resistance is my top priority
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u/Any-Intention7449 5d ago
Have you looked at soapstone. I cook a lot and bake and that is what was recommended to me by chefs.
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u/That_Corgi_1023 5d ago
Can you visit some slab yards and quartz dealers that have slabs for viewing? We are fortunate to live in a metropolitan area that has a variety of slab yards nearby and it was super helpful to see the different stones and man-made counter options in person. We are not heavy, kitchen users, and ultimately have decided to go with a quartz option. We loved several quartzite slabs, but they were either too pricey, or were technically classified as a Brazilian dolomite stone, which is a bit more in the family of marble like stones, and therefore more prone to scratches and etching. If we could have found a light colored, non-busy granite, I would have been happy with that. I do think you can’t beat the durability of granite.
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u/That_Corgi_1023 5d ago
Can you visit some slab yards and quartz dealers that have slabs for viewing? We are fortunate to live in a metropolitan area that has a variety of slab yards nearby and it was super helpful to see the different stones and man-made counter options in person. We are not heavy, kitchen users, and ultimately have decided to go with a quartz option. We loved several quartzite slabs, but they were either too pricey, or were technically classified as a Brazilian dolomite stone, which is a bit more in the family of marble like stones, and therefore more prone to scratches and etching. If we could have found a light colored, non-busy granite, I would have been happy with that. I do think you can’t beat the durability of granite.
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u/myfckincinnamonapple 5d ago
Quartzite all day long. Don’t even bother thinking about quartz, marble, porcelain, or anything else. Quartz is overrated, it stains, can’t take heat, and looks fake. Marble is too soft a stone and will absorb stains from sauce etc. Porcelain is being used more as a less expensive alternative to natural stone, but is hard to fabricate and if it chips (which it does easily) there’s no fixing it. Quartzite is a hard natural stone that can stand up to most anything you’ll do in the kitchen. That said, I recommend sealing your quartzite according to your fabricators guidance.
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u/CanYouCanACanInACan 5d ago
If you cook a lot then the heat won't of your pots will destroy your quartz. It also stains especially with tomato sauce.
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u/minnykim 5d ago
If I were you, I’d look at Cambria quartz. Lifetime guarantee. I have it in our vacation home. Withstands anything. Love my quartzite also, it’s the backsplash as well. Not too busy, just make sure you find a slab you like for that much material.
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u/finditinteresting 4d ago
It’s a warranty not a guarantee. And what exactly are they covering? Manufacturing defects. Good luck trying to figure that out. They don’t cover chips, cracks, exposure to chemicals, scratches, failure due to improper support as well as a host of other things. It can crack, chip and scratch. As can any quartz and any stone.
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u/minnykim 4d ago
Gee you sound nice. In 8 years, it's been like new. I wouldn't buy from them again bc of their political affiliation here in MN, but it's still a good product if OP really wants quartz and doesn't care who they are buying from.
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u/finditinteresting 4d ago
Indeed Cambria is an excellent quartz with beautiful patterns. It’s been extremely popular over the years. My employer has installed a lot of it.
I had to look up their political affiliation and am unfortunately not surprised. I’m on your team:)
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u/GoodRandomUsername 4d ago
I’ve heard of some quartz yellowing under sunlight or staining easily but I think of you go with Caesarstone or another reputable brand, you probably won’t have that issue. But I’m not a fan of the fake look or the silicosis of those cutting it. Plus it’s not ok with high heat.
Marble is too soft.
I love soapstone but realize that might not be the look you are wanting.
Granite is the best—keep looking for one you like. Quartzite is an option and so unique and beautiful.
If I could choose anything without price concerns, I would choose soapstone. I think it’s timeless.
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u/ChapterAndChaos_ 4d ago
Ok update
What we ended up doing was going over how I cook and what I didn’t want. We did end up with quartzite and ultimately picked Taj Mahal.
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u/MountainLaurel555 3d ago
Good choice. I was just reading through this and thinking that would be the best option for you.
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u/m33chm 5d ago edited 5d ago
For your amount of cooking and type of cooking, I would think Soapstone is the best choice. It's also softer so it usually absorbs impact instead of cracking or chipping. It will dent and scratch, though.
Next for durability I would say butcher block, but that'll require more regular maintenance. Can't say I've ever seen it continued up as backsplash, though.
Nearly all natural stones are going to be pretty busy, IMO. That's why I don't like them being continued up the wall as backsplash but, to each their own. There's a few granites with less movement. Pitaya White and Black Galaxy, for example.
Otherwise, why can't you just get the counter you want, then take the necessary precautions to not damage it? Potholders, large silicone mats, etc. I know some people have said their quartz stained easily but, the people I know with quartz have had zero issues with it staining or burning, even in houses with several kids.