When you’re renovating your kitchen and have resale in mind, it’s not uncommon to receive the advice that you “have” to do granite for your countertops. I don’t know about you, but I hate being told that I “have” to do anything in my own home.
That said, granite is popular because it looks good, has a high-end feel and reputation, and holds up well against the elements (like hot pans, chopping and some food spills). Granite is hardly perfect, though. Many people who have granite have to reseal it every three or four years in order to maintain it. Granite, which is more porous than people realize, can also stain if you’re not careful – wine, olive oil, coffee and other liquids can set in. Plus, you can’t always guarantee a particular “look” with granite. The veins and speckles within the rock is unique to the piece you select. A sample of granite you see won’t be what you receive.
So, if you’re a control freak (like me), prone to many a wine spill (definitely like me) and want to ensure your kitchen impresses potential buyers of your home (like everyone!) – what are you to do?
We found a product called CaesarStone that we think you’ll like.
CaesarStone is a brand of engineered quartz that is gaining popularity (and making more and more HGTV appearances) for a lot of reasons. Take a look at this comparison chart from CaesarStone’s website that compares it to granite, laminate, and marble:
Hail, CaesarStone!
No staining, cracking, or scratching – and all without having to seal it! It will take 23 stabs from a dagger and keep on ticking (and no, that’s thankfully not the company’s slogan).
There’s also greater consistency in your color choices. The samples you receive from the company are basically what you get. You can order a countertop that looks like natural stone (with color variations within it) and you can also look into countertops that are essentially a solid color throughout. Glossy and matte finishes are also available, as are several edging options.
Because it’s engineered you can actually do more than just create a countertop – the sink can be made of CaesarStone as well if you’re going for a complete look.
Now, if you go for CaesarStone, your countertop (provided it’s more involved than one straight slab) will have seams – however, from most accounts, the look of those seams are fairly minimized. A small sacrifice for a great countertop, says we.
CaesarStone Quartz Countertops run from $50 – $90 per square foot (installed), which isn’t too far off the cost of granite. You greenies out there can also look at their enivro-friendlier options – CaesarStone made up of recycled materials.
