most popular countertop material
Marble is one of the most glamorous materials for kitchen countertops. Bakers love cold marble because it's perfect for kneading dough; however, it's a soft natural stone so it can stain easily, chip and needs to be sealed periodically.
Replacing a scratched, scorched, stained, or just plain unattractive countertop can transform any kitchen. Happily, there are lots of options in a wide range of prices. A new laminate countertop can cost as little as $10 per square foot. Or you could easily spend 10 times that on quartz, granite, or recycled glass. Consumer Reports tested more than a dozen popular types of countertops to see how well they resisted stains, heat damage, cuts, abrasion, and impact, and found seven that passed muster. Here are the details.