Installation may also require special reinforcement of walls and cabinets to help bear the weight of the countertop. Home Depot markets an engineered stone product, Silestone, made from 93 percent quartz. DuPont has countered the competition by introducing a 93 percent quartz surface called Zodiaq, says Kevin Wentzel, salesman for Counters Plus. Unlike Corian, engineered stone can't be constructed with integral kitchen sinks. Despite its toughness, engineered stone is not totally impervious to damage and can scratch.
Some people also say tile requires too much maintenance.
We had white tile counters, which were really hard to clean. Scratches may be removed by sanding and refinishing. But because stone tends to be more porous than other materials, it therefore is prone to staining without applications of a sealant every year or so. Granite is hard but porous. Though resistant to heat and scratches, it is not totally impervious and, therefore, rarely used for countertops.