Fiber-cement countertop material, sold as Fireslate2, SlateScape and other names, has a slablike quality that recalls slate. The material, imported from Germany, is fabricated into finished countertops by several retailers around the country. Sheets are 98 in. Various edge options are available. Fabricators work from drawings or templates, machining the material into just about any shape you want and adding details such as cutting-board recesses or integral drain boards.
Fiber cement has high compressive strength and is strong enough to serve as a support-free overhang.
It is heat-resistant, and scratches and other surface defects can be sanded and buffed out. Installing one of these countertops is as easy as setting it in a bead of silicone caulk and sealing field seams with tinted epoxy. Like other cement-based products, it is porous and will stain if not sealed regularly with mineral oil or pure tung oil. If you're the kind of person who loses sleep over slight stains, or are seeking a maintenance-free countertop, look for something else. High demand has slowed fabrication and delivery in some areas.