ShirlinAZ

I'm a Corian fan. I used to design kitchens including selling countertops. I got a huge education on all the available products. Granite is a natural product with all the same flaws a mountain has - cracks, wear channels, etc; if you leave a lemon on a granite countertop mold will grow on the under side of the slab. Quartz is mostly natural stone with a chemical bonding agent. Granite and quarts (also other stones) are very hard, but are unrepairable if broken or cracked. Formica@ and other laminate countertops are paper sealed with thin plastic. Eventually the plastic and paper wear resulting in stains and soaked particle board (the substrate). If you are a germophobe go with stainless steel or corian, the only 2 materials approved for use in operating rooms. Neither will absorb bacterial agents, and both are repairable if damaged in any way and the repairs, when done properly, are invisible. I had a customer with 17 year old corian countertops who decided she wanted them to look new again. Our installer spent a little time buffing them out and - yes - they did look brand new. Cleaning with a soft cloth and a quick buff will prevent most scratches.

fangman

I have Formica counter tops, which I just love. Like DACO48 said, I get lots of compliments. The new Formica out now is so much better and lots more patterns than years ago.

Teri D

I LOVE my Corian and feel that it was a good investment. Everything is seamless -- the backspash is coved and the sinks are molded right in. There's no place for grime to accumulate and it's a breeze to keep clean. I still use hotpads and cutting boards, however, because those habits are "ingrained" -- and my vacation house has snarky Formica that I have to be careful with.

sak658

When we built our home in 1967, they used Corian for the bathroom vanities and the kitchen counters...they are still just like new...no scratches, nothing...I did change my kitchen counters to Formica 15 years ago, and they have held up fantastic...just wanted different look in my kitchen...my neice has granite and it does not impress me at all..

judee0624

We went with quartz because it is easier to clean and less expensive than granite.

bignan 1935

I have had new counter tops and allways wanted ceramic tile and didn't get it but two years ago redone kitchen and got white tile with blue glass trim and I love it.

lynnie

my bathroom counter top is granite, I didn't know our wather was so hard. it's it terribly stained. the color is uba tuba, it's blakis with specks in it. it looks like comet is around the handles. it needs to be sealed 2 times a year, and to dry for 24 hours, otherwise, it will get stained like ours. I need to re do it again. complications with natural rock granite. it's a pain in the butt, but pretty.

msdayton

We had quartz put in about 5 years ago. I really like them, no upkeep at all. The only thing I suggest is if you can see a large sample of what you think you like, that would be really good. I had picked out what I thought I wanted from one of those small square samples, I had to go to the installer to take my sinks so they could cut them correctly. On the wall when you entered were large sample of all the different patterns, I realized I would have hated what I originally picked out...just a thought.

Material Witness

I agree with Lynnie. We just remodeled our kitchen, and I decided that quartz was the easiest to care for. Just washes clean with Windex. And if someday in the future I get poor, I don't have to spend money for sealing.

quiltjoey

I've had our granite kitchen counter tops for about 6 years now. Bought them from Home Depot. They are specially treated/sealed and have never had to be resealed. I brought the samples home before I bought it and tested them over the weekend with wine, dye, beet juice, etc. to see if they would stain. They did not and never have. I never use cleaners or cleansers, bleach, or anything like that on them. I just wash/wipe them with a damp sponge/cloth. They still shine like a "dime".

I have put hot pots have not burnt them. I haven't tried to light them on fire (LOL) as anything will burn if is the fire is hot enough. Remember 911 and the towers of concrete and steel.

I know marble has to be sealed very frequently as my sister has those. I love my granite counters and wouldn't trade them for anything else.

I think you would love granite… imho