You can select many types of countertops for your kitchen, but what is most important is not how they look but how they function for your space and lifestyle. The last thing you want is to install marble if you drink red wine, have kids spilling lemonade all summer, and want a pristine-looking counter. You should have gone for quartz that looks like marble to avoid the mess and destruction.
So, we want to understand the countertops characteristics, including hardness, price, and appearance. If you love the look of marble but want something incredibly durable, you’ll need to find an alternative.
Durability and price
One area we need to look at is the Mohs Hardness scale (1-10): a 1 is talc, and a 10 is a diamond. We won’t see a counter at 10, but soapstone is a 1, and quartzite is a 7. In my research for the hardness scale of counters I found contradicting information so I found the most accurate information from a countertop supplier. The hardness can also depend not only on the type of counter (granite, etc) but the specific makeup of a piece of stone and how it was made by the Earth.
Counters are priced in levels 1-7, which are placed in those levels by a few factors like what kind of stone it is, how abundant, or rare. Level 1 is the least expensive, and level 7 is the most expensive – up to 5x-10x the price of a level 3 countertop. It should be noted that level 1 counters are often the most undesirable colors and textures, with a few exceptions, which it seems is true for most things.
Granite
Granite countertops have lots of movement and texture and are durable with a Mohs hardness scale of 6.5. But how does that translate to real life? Because the texture is complex, it hides crumbs and stains well and is one of the most durable countertops. It comes in various colors, and you can typically find granite in your budget, but be aware that there are expensive granites out there so don’t assume its inexpensive because its a certain type of stone. I’m a fan of my granite counters because we’re a busy family, and I don’t always have the time to clean them daily. If I had white counters, I would constantly be stressing about the mess.
Marble
Marble is a beautiful and expensive stone with many applications. Tile, countertops, and fireplace surrounds. So when I say expensive I mean it. Marble can be about 5-10x (depending on the variety) the price of level 3 counter or porcelain tiles if your interesting in marble floors. Marble is porous, which gives it a hardness of only 2-3, but it will age and wither away beautifully. If you want your space to feel vintage and worn and feel like it has stories to tell, then marble is for you. But marble is a definite no if you like a clean look and drink coffee regularly. It stains so easily! There are marble counters that don’t look like what we think of marble, like fantasy brown marble, the most popular countertop in the US, which has a hardness scale of 4.
Quartz
Quartz can look like marble or granite because it’s man-made. It’s durable, at 6 hardness, but can get up to a 7 depending on the stone. The best feature of quartz is it’s durability and the wide variety of designs, like quartz made to look like marble. Or a lot of texture and color like granite. Many people use quartz counters in their kitchens, and we always see them on the cover of magazines, but be aware that granite remains the most popular choice.
One thing to keep in mind about quartz is that since it’s man-made, it poses a significant health danger to the people who cut and shape the stones, as it plumes tiny silica dust into the air when cut and causes people to become sick with silicosis, a deadly disease requiring lung transplants to survive. Natural stones still have silica dust, but much less.
Porcelain
Yes, like porcelain pots or tiles, porcelain is making a play in the countertop department. You can purchase whole slabs of porcelain for your countertop. It’s durable and comes in many varieties. Porcelain has been around for a long time and is an excellent option for floors and counters. You can place hot pots right on porcelain counters; it’s nonporous, so you won’t have to worry about food stains.
It has a Mohs hardness scale of 7. One of the disadvantages I see often is it can scratch and chip, but all counters, regardless of hardness, can chip and scratch, so don’t cut with a knife on them, and be careful taking pots out of the cabinet to ensure you don’t hit the counter and chip it.
Soapstone
Soapstone is a gorgeous matte charcoal stone with white veining. It looks great with modern or old homes. It will scratch, so be prepared for that; the Mohs hardness scale is only a 1. It’s suitable for a home with no kids or for someone who doesn’t mind something looking lived in like marble. It’s definitely a charming look to have it wither away with the home, but it’s only for some. I want my counters to function, so even though I love soapstone, I don’t recommend it to clients and will not install it in my kitchen.
Quartzite
What I love about quartzite is its organic and wild patterns. It’s beautiful and strong, a 7 on the hardness scale. It looks like a slice of nature in your kitchen or an abstract painting. These stones resemble drone footage like an overhead shot of the ocean, rivers, ice crystals, or mountain landscapes, making a great focal point in any kitchen, bar, or table. And with the natural textures, they will hide crumbs well. Remember that quartzite is a natural material, but quartz is man-made from quartzite, color and resin.
Onyx
Onyx is another beautiful stone known for its natural patterns and colors, and looks similar to quartzite, but onyx is much softer, with a 2-3 on the Mohs hardness scale. Onyx is translucent, which makes it perfect to back light, if you’re into that. The backlit stones make a statement for sure, but frankly, the look you get is not worth the expense. I’d rather see onyx without the lighting to enjoy the stone without any other element distracting from it. Remember, onyx is about as expensive as marble and is very soft, so I recommend both for bathrooms or bar areas to minimize scratching and staining.
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