kathdavis

I don't think you can go wrong with either granite or quartz. I have granite and love it, but have seen beautiful quartz kitchens. Go with what colors you like best. Sealing granite is not big deal once a year. Don't let that sway you.

sewmom

There are a lot of amazing countertop options out there- I would do lots of research and hands on interviews. Then go with the best material you can afford. Remodeling yout kitchen adds value to your house. We remodeled our kitchen in '08 and fell in love with a pattern of granite called Sagebrush. We actually went to the warehouse and picked the actual slabs that we wanted and after the installers made the counter templates, I got to pick which granite went where I wanted it to go to take advantage of the best pattern. If you decide on an all over pattern with the same look all through it then go with Corian or quartz or what is cheaper than granite. Our granite has different colors and patterns all through it- a look we couldn't get with the man made materials.
There are also concrete countertops too- no idea on cost. Anyway I love my granite and treat it with respect- no hot pans directly set on it, don't cut on it etc.
good luck with your choice.

lots2do

Question for granite owners: do you seal your own or have a pro do it for you? If you do, how do you go about doing it? We bought a condo with granite and are first time users of it so I have no idea about this. Thanks!

sewmom

I bought a bottle of sealer from the dealer we bought the granite from, but you can also get it online or from home improvement centers like Lowes or Home Depot. I just brush it on, let it sit for 5 minutes and then you buff off the excess. It's really easy and helps keep it from staining. The lighter granites might need it more often than the darker ones. Hope this helps.

sash

Thanks again for responses. A lot of great information and a whole lot of thinking and planning to be done. Thanks again.

quiltjoey

Haven't had to seal mine.

Hcim55

Solid surface from Lowes.......luv luv luv luv it!!!!! While looking and making decisions, check it out. We have a kitchen that is 50+ years old...but small budget. So we kept the cupboards...new engineered vinyl flooring and solid surface counter tops. Solid surface is in the middle of Formica and granite, as pricing goes. We found coloring and pattern that matched cupboards great. People ask if we got new cupboards.