countertop surface

Re: countertop surface

Just fyi, you shouldn't chop directly on granite or any of the ones you mentioned because you will damage the knife. They just won't show cut marks like a laminate countertop will.

Are the solid surface that much better for breaking stuff? You mean like Corian? I get some of those mixed up -- I thought some were made of quartz components. I'm just starting to look again. I think the chances of damaging granite or quartz are slim but it can happen. I got a very small hairline crack on my granite countertop that had to be repaired (they did it for free and it took a few minutes).

This old house is a good idea for tile. I would look at tile stores rather than Lowe's or Home Depot because you'll get a better selection. I'll see if I can find bookmarks of my tile stuff from the last remodel. A friend did a tile mosaic that looks a little Arts and Crafts to me. I'll see if I can find a photo. It is a painting she did but gives you an idea (one in the top left). I can't get it to attach. I'll have to email it to you.

[poky]

Re: countertop surface

Saw this today, remembered this thread, and thought I'd pass it on - apparently some granite countertops are letting off radon in potentially harmful levels:

http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/granite.asp

[Flynn]

Re: countertop surface

We have granite in the kitchen and butler's pantry, and marble in the master bath. I love the look of both and because of where we lived it was cheaper to get single slabs of this material than do Cesar stone or Silestone because we didn't have to ship it in.

For the laundry room and all the other bathrooms we did this surface suggested by my decorator friend:

http://www.lghi-macs.com/about_news.html

It was much less expensive than marble or granite but it looks good and is extremely practical. I didn't feel the need to spend 3500 dollars on a granite slab for my kids' bathroom -- so this was a great suggestion. I think we did four large surfaces for about 5,000 dollars when we built our house.