Q&A: What's the most popular countertop for kitchens?

We plan to replace our kitchen counters and are interested in using stone. Is granite still a hot choice?

Granite remains the biggest seller, having accounted for 56 percent of kitchen-countertop sales in the past year, according to the NPD Group, a market-research company. Quartz (Caesarstone and Silestone) and laminate (Formica), each with 13 percent of the countertop market, trail granite in popularity, followed closely by solid surfacing (DuPont Corian).

Granite remains a popular kitchen countertop.

It will be interesting to see whether granite's dominance holds. Consider that about 75 percent of certified kitchen designers specified quartz, according to the National Kitchen & Bath Association's "2010 Kitchen & Bath Style Report," as we recently reported in "What's Cooking in the Kitchen: 7 Trends in Remodeling and Design."Granite earned its spot as the most popular counter courtesy of its good looks and durability. Indeed, in our countertop tests (watch this video of how we test), granite was the only stone that could resist heat, scratches, and, when properly sealed, stains.

When it comes to natural stone, marble and limestone also offer aesthetic appeal but have their drawbacks. Marble, more porous than granite, is not as stain or heat resistant and scratches and chips easily. Limestone withstands heat very well, so scorch marks aren't a problem, but this soft, porous material is easily sliced, nicked, and scratched; it also stains easily, even when properly sealed.

When you're shopping for a granite countertop, remember that veining and pattern can vary enormously from slab to slab, so be sure to visit the store or stone yard to find a piece you love. You can save some money by using ³/₄-inch-thick stone instead of the typical 1¹/₄-inch-thick material. (Note that our test results are based on a thicker stone.) Granite costs about $45 to $200 per square foot, including installation.

—Kimberly Janeway

Essential information: Learn how to maintain your stone counters. Read more about different countertop materials and look for our latest review of countertops in our annual kitchen special section in the August 2010 issue, on ConsumerReports.org and newsstands On June 29.

Comments

[kay iversen]

I am surprised that this review of countertop materials, "Is Granite a Good Choice?" does not address granite's potential for radon contamination, an issue which has been well known for more than two years now.

"A physics professor at Rice University is warning of a radioactive threat found in some kitchen countertops. Some granite countertops contain levels of uranium high enough to be dangerous to humans, said Rice professor W.J. Llope.

“Using a spectrometer, Llope tested 25 varieties of granite bought from Houston-area dealers. In some cases, he said, he found countertops that could expose homeowners to 100 millirems of radiation in just a few months — the annual exposure limit set by the Department of Energy for visitors to nuclear labs."

Is your research so shallow that you can afford to dismiss a life-threatening issue in preference to details such as aesthetics & durability?

What an injustice to the readers of ‘Consumer Reports’!

Sincerely,

Kay iversen

[Mike Smith]

I rejoined today while looking for reviews on high end gas grills. ie.
Alfresco, and Viking. I have spent 20 minutes on the site and get no help. I used to think too much of your bias goes to cost not performance. I wish you would review higher end goods even if the price difference doesn't seem to be valid to you. I tend to not look for the cheapest decent goods. Perhaps I need to rethink joining?

Am I missing where to find this?

thanks,
CMS

[Octavia Graystone]

Granite remains popular because people are still watching 5-year old reruns on HGTV. What does Consumer Reports have against soapstone? It is totally non-porous, doesn't stain and can't be burned. Someone who likes the look of slate or black marble would certainly be better off with soapstone but Consumer Reports never mentions it.

[John]

Octavia Graystone - My name is Stone Thurston, Esquire, MD. I disagree with you about granite countertops. Granite remains a popular choice because it has so much going for it. No other surface combines granite's ability to resist wear and staining, with its simply amazing array of color and "pattern" choices. Soapstone looks fine, and it may be non-porous, etc, but what colors are available? Any color you like, as long as it is gray.

Plus, shame on you for being such a style-of-the-minute follower. For heaven's sake, pick something you like, that will last, and stick with it.

[Roger]

I am ready to move into the new house I had built AND I have Granite counter tops BECAUSE I like them AND I am not worried about at all about "radon contamination" of any amount in my Granite counter tops. I live around the Houston, Texas area and I choose a Houston area builder to build my house. I saw how beautiful the Granite counter tops were in one of their model homes that I immediately chose the exact same counters for my home. The builder is 82 years old and this is what he has done his entire life so I trusted his expertise AND I'm glad that I did, HE has Granite counter tops in his home. When it came time to select appliances along with other items in my home I went straight to CONSUMER REPORTS and the builder for advise. I TRUST BOTH FOR THEIR VALUED ADVISE AND THEIR KNOWLEDGE. By the way I am not new to CONSUMER REPORTS I have relied on them for years and I will continue to do so, I have'nt seen anything that they have been wrong about yet. I don't have to "rethink joining", or should I say "RENEWING" when it's time.

[Carol Lundgren]

Responding to Kay's comment. This was inaccurate information ... that's why the New York Times ran a story on it... and the Today Show.Radon is NOT an issue with granite - studies show there is more radon in the air than the natural stone. See this geiger test. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szj3sd4ZpiM

[Darrel Boyd]

I must address the comments made about Radon in Granite for they are at best, inaccurate. I will state right now that I import and supply Granite, Marble, Soapstone and Engineered Stone. You cannot measure Radon with a geiger counter. A geiger counter will go crazy when waved over a potato. The only reliable test is a Radon Test Strip that you attach to the granite for 48 hours and then mail to a lab for results. Radon is a gas. If you are worried about Radon most suppliers like myself will encourage you to test the slabs you pick out. I would also encourage testing your entire house because there are most likely other sources of radon you should be much more worried about. By the way, in the past two years only two customers have actually tested our slabs and in both cases the results were negligible. They love their granite.

[Michael Hale]

We installed quartz/engineered stone kitchen countertops two years ago and are completely convinced they are the best choice. Very easy to clean, don't stain, relatively uniform appearance. The only problem (if you want to call it a problem!) is that it's very hard to see small crumbs on our variegated brown counters; we find them by feel.

[Melanie Alcorn]

Just a personal observation here: Granite. Well, I haven't particularly cared for any of my friends' granite kitchens, appearance wise. And if I werelooking for a house, granite would be the deal killer. Let it be known that I live in a tract home and nothing is oversized. The last thing I want is for the counter tops to overwhelm my kitchen!

My choice 5 years ago was Corian, a beautiful light jade color and the kicker was the sink is molded right into the corian: no more disinfecting around the sink WhooHee! It is light and bright and gorgeous, and makes me want to stay in my kitchen. I think I will go there now :o)