Countertops: Consumer Reports

Our tests reveal the looks that last

Last reviewed: August 2010

All countertops look good in the showroom, but keeping them pristine requires durable materials or high maintenance. We stained, scratched, sliced, scorched, and pummeled leading brands of 11 materials and found long-lasting, attractive countertops no matter how muchor littleyou want to spend.

You can't get a more classic look than natural stone. But only granite aced most of our tests. Marble was at the bottom of our Ratings (available to subscribers) and limestone didn't do much better. Quartza man-made combination of stone, color, and resinedged out granite because of slightly better overall performance. And you don't need to reseal it.

Laminate, another kitchen countertop staple, excelled at resisting stains, heat, and impacts. Plus it's inexpensive. Choose nature-inspired colors or crisp whites for a classic touch. While we found differences among materials, there were few brand distinctions, so our Ratings (available to subscribers) are by material. We also found:

Download DuPont's free mySurface app to an iPhone or iPod Touch to view screen-sized swatches of their solid surfacing and quartz products and to order samples. DuPont also has an online design guide. Match quartz countertops to paints at Cambriausa.com; mix surfaces and cabinets at Formica.com.

We haven't found a material that's completely green. The Richlite countertops we tested are made of paper from certified, managed forests, but the resin is petroleum-based. Check "green" credentials by how much recycled content a material contains and whether it's made of renewable sources. Another option: Scout home salvage yards for stone or wood countertops that can be refinished or recut to suit your space.

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Countertops: Consumer Reports