Mommie_Jen Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 And I don't know what I want, but I do know I don't want the crappy laminate things we have now. I need low maintenance and durable. I'm open to suggestions of unusual materials. Mid range price. I'm currently pondering soapstone. I tried to talk DH into concrete, but he said no, too much work. :) Suggestions/ideas? We are hard on our stuff, so it needs to hold up to wear and tear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 I would *love* to have soapstone. There are two kinds: one which is softer, one which is harder. Guess which one goes in kitchens? :-) It's the same kind that goes in laboratories, so it must be pretty durable. Don't ask stores which sell granite about soapstone, because they're not going to give you an unbiased answer. OTOH, soapstone (at least where I live, where it's uncommon) is more expensive than granite or other hard surfaces. Bamboo is supposed to be very durable, and it's certainly unusual. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebecca VA Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 Soapstone is lovely, but I've heard it's very heavy. My husband won't even consider using it for our kitchen remodel. I think we might end up with butcher block. Corian is horrible -- it's probably the worst material I've encountered. I'd rather have almost any other surface than Corian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairfarmhand Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 If I did this, I'd end up with ceramic tile. Mostly because I am SO hard on countertops. We farm, so I am processing milk, canning, spilling junk constantly...yep. Need low maintenance. I like this... http://pinterest.com/pin/125608277078970213/ and this http://pinterest.com/pin/125608277078970214/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 you can get pieced granite online. cheaper than dealing with a slab. tiles for less has 18" x 25" granite tiles, so you "almost" have slab for a fraction of the cost. (and fewer grout lines than most tile counters) darker granites are harder than lighter, and thus more "stain" resistant. I love being able to put pans fresh from the oven or stove top right on the counter. quartz might be a cheaper alternative. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali in OR Posted February 25, 2013 Share Posted February 25, 2013 If we ever take this step I'm going to look closely at Silestone or other quartz material. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chocolate Rose Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 Corian is horrible -- it's probably the worst material I've encountered. I'd rather have almost any other surface than Corian. I'm considering Corian as I've heard the new Corian is awesome. Now, you've got me rethinking this. What was the problem with your experience? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebecca VA Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 There's something plastic and unnatural about Corian. It doesn't feel "real." It scratches easily, melts or scorches easily, and it's not satisfying to clean. By that, I mean water and cleaners slide over the surface of it and don't really get in there and clean it thoroughly. It takes forever to dry, too -- even if I'd try to dry it with paper towels it didn't dry off nicely. I've also heard that it chips, though we didn't use our basement kitchen (in our old house) enough to do that level of damage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.