Countertops: how the leading types compare in toughness and cost.(Buyers Guide)

Publication: Consumer Reports

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COPYRIGHT 2002 Consumers Union of the United States, Inc.

The right countertop for your kitchen depends on your needs, tastes, and budget. Here's a rundown of the leading types, in order of their overall toughness, based on performance in our tests.

Engineered stone. These new materials are made primarily of quartz combined with resins and pigments. Engineered stone can look much like granite but has a more uniform appearance. It's resistant to stains, heat, and abrasion and never needs sealing. But it doesn't withstand impact (especially on the edges) as well as real granite.

Real stone. Granite and marble are still among the most expensive countertop materials, although the price has come down. Granite or marble tiles are less expensive--and lighter weight--than slabs. Granite is the toughest and least porous; when...

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