| WHY TO LOVE IT | WHY TO HESITATE | TREND ALERT | COST | |
| Granite | "Granite is the big dog on the block," Forbes says. Its sleek look is often the focal point of the kitchen, he says. It is heat, cut and stain resistant and requires less maintenance than most other stone counters. | Practically everybody has it. Professionals recommend resealing it once a year. | Go for the exotics, "sweeps and swirls as opposed to a very homogeneous, salt-andpepper look," Forbes says. Tone down nearby materials to avoid a too-busy look. A matte finish, also called honed, offers a more modern feel. For less frequently used spaces, designers like the textured finish known as leathered. | From $45 to $100+ per square foot If you want blue granite, it will double or triple the price because it's rarely found in nature. |
| Engineered Stone* | These products look better than they used to. Many include bits of lightreflecting quartz baked in, plus color choices not found in nature. It requires virtually no maintenance and is capable of withstanding some heat, scratches and acid spills. | Colors subject to fading if used outdoors. | Frequently the material of choice for hospitals, physicians' offices and office kitchens that value durability and function over showplace looks, Norwood says. | $70 to $120 per square foot Price includes installation. |
| Marble | "A lot of people are sick of granite," says DeMent, whose clients ask: "Italians have been using marble for years; why can't I?" Classic colors and natural styles such as white Carrara are less likely to change with color trends. | Marble is soft and likely to show dents, gouges, scratches, scorches and stains. It requires diligent maintenance, including cleaning up spills immediately and occasional buffing. Acidic liquids such as coffee, wine and lemon juice are particularly damaging. | Rarely do Americans choose this as an overall countertop, preferring instead to use it on just an island, Norwood says. Europeans pour olive oil over marble counters to stain and age them on purpose, Norwood says. Marble maintains a cool surface temperature, so it's an ideal surface for a baking station. | $69 to $79 per square foot Cost similar to mid-priced granite. |
| Limestone | The draw: The ability to brag to your guests that it's not granite. Newer styles are more dense and less porous and have sealers baked into the stone, making them more durable for the kitchen, DeMent says. "They do have that wow factor," Forbes says. | The highly porous French styles so popular a few years ago require high maintenance in the form of constant vigilance for stains and heat marks and the application of wax-based sealers once a year. Acids can be damaging. | The hot look is a consistent gray-green color with a surface that's undulated, like ripples on water. Limestone is popular for small spaces less frequently used for food preparation, although designers are beginning to seek countertops and backsplashes in solid limestone to cover an entire kitchen. | About $100 per square foot Depending on quality. |
| Soapstone | "It should look like a good bomber jacket," says Forbes, who likes the rustic charm of this natural material. Extremely heat resistant and stain resistant. | Soapstone is warm and soft because of its high talc content, and it scratches easily. Suppliers suggest weekly to monthly applications of mineral oil, particularly near the sink. | Elegant and unique, it's a bluish-gray to greenish-gray color that darkens with oiling and normal use. Soapstone is at home in a kitchen or bathroom whose owners like a broken-in look. | $55 per square foot Plus installation and sink openings. |
| Poured Concrete, Glass (Icestone) | This product can be poured into practically any shape and tinted any color and includes bits of recycled Budweiser bottles and Noxzema jars diverted from landfills for that eco-chic look. It's sustainable, heat and scratch resistant, and made in the United States. | The speckled-egg look is not for everyone. Needs to be resealed every one to five years, depending on use. | Bright blue and lime green styles are big sellers for countertops. Custom sinks, tiles and outdoor pavers are made with the leftovers, Norwood says. | About $80 per square foot |
| Enameled Volcanic Lava Stone** | Bright enamel-coated volcanic rock from France creates a custom look. This is "for someone who's going to do something really modern, sleek and they like color," DeMint says. Scorch-proof and acid-proof, it requires little maintenance. | It's pricey and can be hard to find in the United States. Some might not like the cracked-looking finish of the enamel. | Designers like it as a bold indoor and outdoor kitchen countertop in a glossy finish. | Starts at $250 per square foot |
Sorting It Out: Stone Countertops
BY APRIL FULTON | SEPTEMBER 11, 2008
Granite, the preferred countertop choice for high-end kitchens, has received a lot of bad publicity in the past two months. News reports say lengthy exposure to the stone countertop may pose a health risk if it emits elevated levels of radon. Old wives' tale or valid health concern? No one is sure. Some homeowners are choosing to have their kitchen countertops tested for radon or radiation. But kitchen designers say the reports don't seem to have dampened enthusiasm for granite countertops. Wayne Norwood of Norwood Marble and Granite in Brentwood said just one customer has inquired about the possible problem, but he has asked his suppliers to provide official radon testing information with their products to help consumers. Thinking about a granite alternative? We asked Norwood and two other local experts, Richard Forbes, who owns Absolute Kitchens in Tysons Corner, and Marilyn DeMent, co-owner of DeZahra in the Washington Design Center, to compare countertop choices.
*Quartz, resin and epoxy blend products (Silestone, CaesarStone, Zodiaq, etc.)
**Pyrolave, Catherine Lagot Artisans de France
© 2008 The Washington Post Company
