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ANSWER:

For decades plastic laminate has been the knee-jerk choice for kitchen counter tops. It’s practical and economical and comes in a wide variety of colours and finishes to suit any décor. One major drawback of laminate, however, is that it can become damaged and worn fairly easily through everyday use.

Traditionally, more durable countertop options have been solid surface materials such as Corian by DuPont or natural stone such as granite.

Over the last few years, quartz-composite surfaces, also known as engineered stone, have gained significantly in popularity. Quartz composite is made of natural stone combined with resins and pigments. It has the durability and low maintenance of stone, but offer a wider range of colours and more uniform look than granite. It’s non-porous and does not need to be regularly sealed like natural stone, making it almost maintenance free.

In terms of cost, quartz composite is more expensive than laminate but comparable to granite. For more information on countertops, see HRG’s Countertops article here.

Expert's Bio

Charles Bull manages a design build construction company in Toronto, Canada, spending his days looking into everything from permits to the latest green building methods. With more than 15 years of experience in residential real estate, construction and renovation under his belt, Charles knows the answers to your home renovation queries — or will find them out if he doesn’t!