When designing your dream kitchen, you need to make sure you’re selecting the right surfaces. You gather around your countertops, prep food there, even eat there. But making the right choice for that surface can be daunting.

According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), 64 percent of new homes feature granite kitchen countertops. But granite isn’t the only material on the market.

Here’s a look at some of the various countertop options you have for your kitchen design.

Popular Kitchen Countertops

Materials on the home renovation market run the gamut of purpose and price. Choosing the right kitchen countertop can be a tricky, and expensive, proposition. Even narrowing your options can be a task when prepping for your perfect kitchen.

Butcher Block

Butcher block checks in as a trendy style option these days. Wood countertops often provide a warm feel for your home, and they come in a variety of colors and finishes. What’s more, this material can be used as an accent piece in your kitchen design, especially when mixed with other countertop styles.

Butcher block is ideal for islands or small areas near your sink. Although the surface can be scratched or damaged by water over time, it’s easy to clean and long-lasting. However, it can be expensive.

Ceramic Tile

Ceramic tile might be the way to go for cost-conscious kitchen designs. It’s considerably less expensive than many of the other kitchen countertop materials. It’s also suitable for do-it-yourself (DIY) installation.

Ceramic tile comes in a huge variety of styles and colors, making it a versatile design element. That said, the grout can stain and be difficult to clean, and custom tiles can be very expensive.

Granite

Granite stands as the most popular kitchen countertop material, but it’s also the most expensive. Although it’s impervious to heat, granite isn’t really suited for a DIY installation.

This porous stone requires sealing to avoid stains. However, installing granite countertops adds value to your home. It comes in a variety of shades and no two slabs are identical.

granite countertops

Marble

Marble is another very popular natural stone option for your kitchen design. Although no two pieces of marble slab will be alike, the price tag marble carries is a hefty one.

This stone provides value for your home, which is definitely a plus, but it’s not suitable for DIY installation. Repairs can be difficult on marble, but there’s no discounting the beauty of marble’s unique veining.

Quartz

Quartz differs from granite and marble in that it’s not a natural stone. Quartz is an engineered stone shaped into slabs and bound with resins. This makes the slabs uniform, with no imperfections.

Quartz remains suitable for DIY installation, although the slabs can be very heavy. This material is expensive, but it’s relatively easy to maintain.

More Dream Kitchen Designs

Construction Resources product specialists can help you select and design your dream kitchen. We can even take care of scheduling the installation.

Remodeling kitchen countertops can be demanding and stressful. With so many design options, these projects overwhelm very easily. Sometimes, consulting an expert is the best way to go.

Contact us today and find a showroom nearest you.