Favorite Countertop Material?

[kati]

We closed on our new house last week. One of the updates I'd like to make to the kitchen are new counter tops.

I have granite in my current (rented) kitchen and am ready for a new experience It's lovely, but a little too fussy for me.

Do you have Corian? How do you like it? What about Zodiaq or Silestone? I'm in the kitchen a lot and am hard on my counter tops. Whatever I choose needs to be dependable, but the warranty is important also.

Thanks!

[3timemom]

My favorite is granite solid slab.
Other than remembering to not leaving acids on the surface and using a granite cleaner, it's easy.

I love that with granite that you can put a hot pan or cookie sheet anywhere.

I'd avoid any tiling (granite, stone) etc because of grout is too hard to keep clean.

I'd avoid marble - it's too porous.

Some of the man-made materials (Corian, etc) you have to be careful of not burning.

Having gone through a number of kitchen remodels the other consideration I'd have for countertop is having enough of a pattern or color variation.

A solid color with no pattern is impossible to stay pristine looking.

[kati]

Thanks. I'm in the thick of it now and will be deciding in the next week. Then getting the final measure and installation scheduled. But right now I'm refinishing my oak cabinets. Now THAT is a lot of work!