The Perfect Low Maintenance Surface
Whether you are looking to customize your soon-to-be-built condo unit, or remodeling your current kitchen selecting the right countertop can make all the difference. While stunning granite and marble can add a glamorous touch to a kitchen, these slabs can be quite expensive and require a fair bit of maintenance to keep from staining and cracking.
For those who are a little more care-free in their kitchen counter choice, there are plenty of alternatives that won’t require as much attention, but will still add that polished touch to your kitchen.
Quartz: Approximately $40-$90 per square foot (installed)
Crafted from resin and quartz chips that are tinted with colouring. This material is also known by popular brand names including, Cesarstone or Hanstone.
Pros:
Because they are engineered, Quartz countertops can be made in a range of colours and patterns
Extremely low maintenance
Resistant to stains
Non-porous and therefore do not require sealing
Cons
Susceptible to scratches and burns (which can be sanded out by a professional)
Soapstone: Approximately $70-$100 per square foor (installed)
This natural quarried stone has a subtle powdery appearance due to the talc content. Soapstone will darken in time, which can be considered both a pro or con.
 Pros:
Soapstone is non-porous, no sealing required
Burn and stain-resistant
Cons:
Can’t handle nicks and scratches as well as other natural stone materials (though these can be sanded out)
Requires a polishing with oil approximately every 3 months in order to keep it from cracking
Stainless Steel: Approximately $65-$125 per square foot (installed)
A popular choice in restaurants, this surface offers an minimalist, industrial finish.
Pros:
Stainless, resistant to heat and bacteria
Completely customizable to fit every nook and cranny of your kitchen
Cons:
Finger prints and other smudges are highly visible
Prone to denting
Can be noisy as dishware clangs against it
Affected by chemical reactions
Be prepared for scratches
Laminate: Approximately $10-$30 per square foot (installed)
Don’t dismiss laminate, it has a bad reputation for being unstylish, but contemporary laminate is engineered to more closely resemble natural stone. While many homeowners these days prefer granite or quartz, especially in the Toronto Real Estate market, the new contemporary laminate would be a great option for basement apartments.
Pros:
One of the most inexpensive surfaces on the market
Available in a wide range of colours and finishes
These countertops are very lightweight and don’t require the support of a thick cabinet
Cons:
Laminate is prone to scratching, burns and peeling as a result of wear
Because laminate is fabricated from particle board you shouldn’t use it with under-mounted sinks