Engineered stone combines natural quartz and silica sands under extreme pressure at very high temperatures to create a product that looks like granite, marble or travertine but is more durable and flexible. 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. Butcher block counter tops are usually made from maple, oak and cherry woods. Cleaning is necessary to remove bacteria - the same as wooden cutting boards. Scratches may be removed by sanding and refinishing. Counter tops made of natural stone, such as limestone, granite and slate.