Shopper's Guide: Countertops

Comparing Countertops

Chop on it, knead on it, serve from it: you ask a lot, every day, of your kitchen countertop. No one material is best for all purposes, but each of these types looks distinctive and has specific merits.

The principal countertop materials currently in favor for kitchens are plastic laminate, tile, solid surface, wood, and natural stone -- including granite, limestone, and slate. Also showing up on kitchen counter are soapstone and concrete, along with manufactured materials such as quartz-based surfaces and woodlike compressed composites. Stainless steel, too, draws fans for its contemporary, commercial-kitchen ambience.