What is the best surface for kitchen counters
 

I am planning to replace the turquoise formica kitchen counters (house was built in 1963) Do any of you have recommendations?

truly I would stay with formica. Granite is beautiful but expensive as is marble (which stains) If you want it to last and last stay with a laminate finish.

If I were to do it again I would probably opt for quartz. I have granite now and really like it, but you are not susposed to put hot pots or pans on it as it damages the sealer. Granite needs to be cleaned and resealed every year or two; its not hard to do but it is a bother. Quartz does not require sealing and hot pots and pans do not damage it at all.

Quartz. No maintenance and beautiful.

I'm having a new kitchen installed as we speak. I much prefer laminate like Formica or Wilsonart, but it is not in style these days. If you dropped a glass on the hard stone surfaces that are popular now, it would shatter. The hard surfaces are VERY expensive. And I just don't care for the cold hard feeling.

If I had to choose a hard stone, I'd go with quartz because it is more maintenance free.

It took a while to find a company that still makes the laminate counters, but that is what I'm going with.

I vote for quartz.

I have off white corian,I love it. The only thing I wish I didn't have was the off white sink. I like stainless sinks so much better, no stains.

I have quartz on my island and just love it.

I finally decided to stay with laminate and I am happy with it. Wilsonart had a beautiful pattern that was similar to a black granite. We had a carpenter make the edges of the counter out of wood that matches our cabinets and put in a black granite sink. I love my little kitchen!

In my condo, which I sold last month, I replaced the counters with Wilsonart formica. They have several patterns that look for all the world like granite. I did the formica in the condo as I did not want to "over improve" and still stand by that decision. Where I moved has granite. I do like it but it IS hard. I'm reminded of that every time I put down a coffee cup. :D If I were making the decision (I wasn't) I would opt for quartz or corian.