You may have a color in mind, but which type of countertop is best: concrete, quartz, acrylic, or corian? Other than the importance of walking into a showroom that includes many different materials – or more fun, taking home tours of friends’ homes – there is no better way to understand why you might want one or the other to occupy the very necessary, horizontal plank position in your residential or commercial space. This week, we take a look at ten different solid surface countertops on the market whose staples of both beauty and strength make them one of the most important decisions you’ll make for your project.

Not Exactly Counter-Intuitive, Choose the Best Non-Porous Countertop for Your Project Given the Facts

1. HI-MACS Volcanics Collection

MANUFACTURER: LG Hausys Ltd.
PRICE: Available upon request
Dimensions: Custom sizing

This wide range of acrylic counter tops was created for the ambitious designer. Containing large translucent chips, the HI-MACS® Volcanics Solid Surfaces provide dazzling color options to any project that give surfaces “breathtaking beauty, clarity, and depth”. Besides their beautiful aesthetic, the non-porous surface is easy to maintain – as if they have tapped the ingenuity of the project itself.

2. Zodiaq
MANUFACTURER: DuPont
PRICE: approx. $94- 196 / sq. ft (with installation)
Dimensions: Custom sizing

“Engineered with pure quartz crystals, the quartz countertop from DuPontâ„¢ Zodiaq® let you bring the best of both worlds - nature and science — to your kitchen, bath and throughout your home.” Made from quartz, these non-porous countertops are incredibly durable to daily wear and tear – including heat and scratching – and are guaranteed with a ten-year limited warranty.

3. Vermont Slate
MANUFACTURER: Evergreen Slate Company
PRICE: approx. $80/sq. ft
Dimensions: 2′ x 3′ to 3′ x 8′ with a 1″ thickness

If you’re not familiar with Vermont Slate, its known for its extremely non-porous nature among all stone countertops. Warming up a space with its natural feel and color options, the rich depth and warmth created by the natural feel of Vermont slate provides kitchen countertops, sinks and backsplashes an anti-bacterial, stain resistant and non-combustible solution. For the home or office, Vermont Slate by the Evergreen Slate Company is presently offered in five colors for all of your structural, roofing or flooring needs: black, dark green, green, mottled green-purple, and red.

4. Concetto Collection
MANUFACTURER: Caesarstone
PRICE: starts at $400/ sq. ft
Dimensions: Custom sizing

The new masterpiece collection by a favorite in the surface field, the Concetto line by CaesarStone is a quartz countertop made from unique semi-precious stones. Its elegance comes from the natural colors of illuminated stones and a backlit effect matched only by the latest technology used by Caesarstone to create a gorgeous, durable surface for use in any type of project.

5. Concrete
MANUFACTURER: J. Aaron
PRICE: $85- 95/ sq. ft of 1.5″ thickness
Dimensions: cast up to 9′ long; 1.25″- 2″ thickness

If unsure about concrete as your non-porous countertop, check out the J. Aaron website for answers to every question imaginable. Concrete by J. Aaron can be color-matched to any Benjamin Moore paint color, offering designers an entire spectrum unthinkable to natural stone materials. The product is cast, meaning it leaves no waste behind, and its overall look both is sturdy and calming. The only maintenance needed is a resealing with a dry-treat stain every 5-10 years and you’re pretty much set for life.

6. HanStone
MANUFACTURER: HanStone
PRICE: Available upon request
Dimensions: 55″ x 120″ with a thickness of 0.47″, 0.59″, 0.79″, or 1.18″

Beauty and “twice the strength and durability of granite” are what HanStone confesses they’ve been perfecting over the years. Their story begins in 1952 and has since evolved, building natural quartz countertops with a continued dedication to superior strength and color combinations that work wonders. Lovely for use in upscale applications for any project you’re working on, the HanStone solid surface countertop comes in 30 colors and patterns.

7. Jewel Collection
MANUFACTURER: Cambria
PRICE: Available upon request
Dimensions: Custom slab dimensions with 1, 2, or 3 cm thicknesses.

If you like the look and structural integrity of quartz but want a bit more pizazz, Cambria’s 2011 Jewel Collection of pure, natural quartz is your best bet. Available in light to dark natural stone (quartz) colors with a hint of glam, they mention that the “pattern, size, shape and shade are inherent and unique characteristics to be expected with this product”. All Jewel Collection are available in the nominal 1, 2 and 3 cm thicknesses and come with a lifetime limited warranty.

8. Silestone
MANUFACTURER: Consentino Group
PRICE: $62- 89/ sq. ft
Dimensions: Custom sizing

Created by Cosentino Group, which is "a family-owned and wholly Spanish group focusing on the design, production, and distribution of surfaces for kitchens and bathrooms”, this quartz (also known as crystallized silicon dioxide) surface, like the Zodiaq, is resistant to everything. The difference: Silestone contains 94% quartz but is the only quartz work-top with anti-bacterial protection. Talk about a one-two punch in uniform design and performance – this countertop is hard to beat.

9. Swanstone
MANUFACTURER: Swanstone
PRICE: Available upon request
Dimensions: Custom sizing

Recommended as a solid surface, acrylic countertop infused with natural minerals in a patent-pending formula, Swanstone is no ordinary stone or granite surface. In fact, it gives you the beauty and toughness you desire for any residential or commercial project since its color runs all the way through this flexible countertop design. Additionally, scratches buff out of this matte finish easily with household cleaners, it is easy to sterilize, and hot pots, boiling water, and cooktops won’t harm the warm colors of this NSF-approved surface.

10. OKITE
MANUFACTURER: Okite
PRICE: $50 to $100/sq. ft, depending upon thickness
Dimensions: 120"x55" slabs with a 3/4″ or 1-1/4″ thickness

Following its “as adaptable as you need it to be” motto, the OKITE® quartz solid surface countertop comes in slabs that can be cut to your preference, or shaped into curves. Their many bright and subtle shades offered have helped finish projects in over one million residential installations around the world. Not just known for their residential kitchen and bathroom surfaces, they have also been seen in numerous commercial projects that include the Genseler offices in Houston and the City Center in Las Vegas, among many other hospitality and healthcare projects.

Hope you enjoyed our roundup of the Top Ten of Non-Porous Countertops!

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