July 15, 2010

6 Great Countertops: How to Choose the Best Material

» Get beyond the brand names and your countertop options really just come down to a handful of materials. The choices can seem overwhelming, but the truth is that there's never been a better time to be in the market for a new counter. Once upon a time, you were lucky to have some faded laminate as a small prep area beside the sink. Today, you can choose from hundreds of colors, patterns and textures, in materials ranging from natural stone and acrylic sheets to quartz composites and stained concrete. Here's a detailed look at the six most popular countertop materials: natural stone, solid surfaces, plastic laminate, ceramic tile, wood and concrete.