[Velvet]

I also had butcher block a long time ago. The cons are: difficult to match color floor and cabinet. Too much upkeep (for me). I can live with it but not my preference specifically.

[MightyDog]

Originally Posted by airstreamingypsy

I have white laminate countertops, I love them. I was quoted $4,000.00 for quartz, counters were $200.00. I got them at IKEA, my handyman cut and installed them for me. 9 years later I have never regretted getting them, never wish I had gotten quartz. I like them because they don't have the laminate edge...... you couldn't give me granite, I have never liked it..... I have never seen a granite counter I didn't think is ugly.

Very nice! In my opinion, you just can't go wrong with clean, uncomplicated surfaces. And, ten years from now they will still look exactly that. An owner can always use painted walls and fabric in the kitchen to add color and pattern. Those are easy and inexpensive to change in the future, if desired.

I've never liked granite either - much too busy for my tastes but, I did see two versions I liked in houses of people I know. Both were a subdued, mossy green with light veining atop warm brown, wood cabinets. Quite classic. And in houses of their price points, it made sense to install an upgraded surface.

[Two Bills]

Granite is not as tough as it sounds, in fact it can be quite brittle.
Knocked a water glass over on a granite top we inherited with a previous house, and the glass chipped a lump off the granite edge.
Glass was unharmed.
Have Quartz now, mainly because I have a nasty habit of putting hot things on laminate.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by Two Bills

Granite is not as tough as it sounds, in fact it can be quite brittle.
Knocked a water glass over on a granite top we inherited with a previous house, and the glass chipped a lump off the granite edge.
Glass was unharmed.
Have Quartz now, mainly because I have a nasty habit of putting hot things on laminate.

Quartz does not like hot things being placed on it. However much more user friendly than Granite

[photo1902]

Originally Posted by Two Bills

Granite is not as tough as it sounds, in fact it can be quite brittle.
Knocked a water glass over on a granite top we inherited with a previous house, and the glass chipped a lump off the granite edge.
Glass was unharmed.
Have Quartz now, mainly because I have a nasty habit of putting hot things on laminate.

I've had granite in two homes (current one for 10 years, previous home for 5 years). I've literally placed pans and pots (right from the oven and cooktop) directly on them with absolutely no issues. Of course, others might have different experiences.

[Two Bills]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

Quartz does not like hot things being placed on it. However much more user friendly than Granite

Definitely takes heat better than laminate!

[Dusty_Star]

Originally Posted by photo1902

I've had granite in two homes (current one for 10 years, previous home for 5 years). I've literally placed pans and pots (right from the oven and cooktop) directly on them with absolutely no issues. Of course, others might have different experiences.

I currently have granite. Quartz looks nice, but it is starting to get a bad reputation.

Quartz countertops linked to deadly lung disease in workers who fabricate the material

Quartz countertops linked to deadly lung disease in workers

[Two Bills]

Originally Posted by photo1902

I've had granite in two homes (current one for 10 years, previous home for 5 years). I've literally placed pans and pots (right from the oven and cooktop) directly on them with absolutely no issues. Of course, others might have different experiences.

Never had a problem with granite and heat as its a natural stone.
Liable to chip or crack if hit in wrong place.

[oldtimes]

Originally Posted by Marshlanding

I believe a previous poster was actually referring to Solid Image in Leesburg, www.solidimageinc.com , not far from the Villages off Rt. 44.
I recommend that anyone doing a countertop project go and see them before going with anyone else.
We recently did all our kitchen, bathrooms (2) and laundry room countertops with them. All their work is done in-house, very reasonable pricing, excellent selection, great workmanship, quick installation and just nice people to work with. Go see Karen the owner, you won't be disappointed.

We had a similar experience with them.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

Originally Posted by Velvet

Ah, but we learn from each other, sometimes we don’t even know what we don’t know. So some people answer “above and beyond”. At university we sometimes used to say, it is answering the question that is under the question.

maybe, but lets not insult the OP's intelligence by ignoring the fact that owning a house in TV, being of retirement age in today's world, and have life experiences, that the OP hasn't considered other types of countertops. To me, too many people insult other people's intelligence by answer the question with other options, as if the person just dropped in from siberia and has never seen anything modern on TV, in other people's houses and in stores in a 50 mi radius of their residence.

[Nell57]

Originally Posted by nynic

Just wondering if anyone has considered (or had experience with) butcher block and/or 'faux' type. I too am redoing my kitchen counter tops and have already ruled out the quartz/granite options. Sorry to get off the main subject but butcher block is a possible option to either laminate or the other. Any thoughts?

MY daughter installed butcher block several years ago, and is very happy with them. They were extremely well priced at IKEA.
Now she’s looking to replace bathroom counters. IKEA had some very nice options.

[La lamy]

Originally Posted by CoachKandSportsguy

I would stay away from Home Depot with their contracted installers, and go with a local firm who also does the installation. They make their living and reputation on their sales and installation, and will most likely do a better job than a low cost contracted installer.

Just my experience for this type of custom high visibility to you job.

No comments on laminate versus others, as it doesn't add value to the OPs question.

YMMV

Good point about local installer. If anyone has experience with that versus Home Depot, I'd love to hear about it.

[La lamy]

Originally Posted by nynic

Just wondering if anyone has considered (or had experience with) butcher block and/or 'faux' type. I too am redoing my kitchen counter tops and have already ruled out the quartz/granite options. Sorry to get off the main subject but butcher block is a possible option to either laminate or the other. Any thoughts?

I have butcher block in my northern home and it's BAD.It's even more upkeep than all others IMO to keep it from staining. Unless you polyurethane it really thoroughly (we didn't), it might be constantly stained.

[La lamy]

Originally Posted by Two Bills

Definitely takes heat better than laminate!

Previous granite counter of mine became permanently stained by water ring from a hot lid. I'm not interested in resealing counters every year to prevent this.

[Bwanajim]

If you have to replace them, you might as well go with quartz or granite, it’s not gonna be that much more money and it’s much more durable