Pros and Cons of Popular Bathroom Countertop Materials
Discover the Pros and Cons of Popular Bathroom Countertop Materials
When searching for bathroom countertop materials, most homeowners are looking for something durable and beautiful. With so many materials to choose from, how do you know which one is right for your bathroom countertops? To help you choose the right countertop material for your bathroom, let’s explore the pros and cons of the most popular material choices.
Popular Countertop Materials
Quartz Countertops
Quartz is one of the most popular bathroom countertop materials. Made from a combination of quartz and resin, quartz offers exceptional durability, consistent coloring, and a beautiful appearance. Let’s dive into the pros and cons of using this popular material for bathroom countertops.
Pros of Quartz
One of the biggest draws to quartz countertops, particularly for a bathroom application, is that it’s a highly durable material. Quartz countertops are extremely scratch, chip, and crack resistant. This is great for high-traffic areas like the bathroom that also experience daily changes in temperature and humidity.
Another pro to having quartz countertops in your bathroom is that they are non-porous, which makes them naturally resistant to bacteria and stains. In wet and germy places like bathrooms, like is a big bonus. Also where makeup, toothpaste, mouthwash, and other personal care products might spill on a bathroom countertop, quartz is going to be naturally stain-resistant. This is great for high-traffic areas like bathrooms.
Standard Supply & Lumber proudly carries Cambria Countertops, a trusted high-quality quartz provider. Manufactured in America, Cambria Countertops is known for its excellent craftsmanship, superior customer service, and unmatched durability. To learn more about how Cambria Countertops could work in your home, contact our countertop experts here.
Cons of Quartz
One of the cons to having quartz countertops is that they are difficult to install, meaning it’s best to leave it to the professionals instead of trying to do it yourself. It’s also a heavy material, meaning your bathroom cabinets will need to withstand the weight, Again, this is best left to the professionals to ensure that your quartz countertops provide you with a beautiful and durable surface in your bathroom for many years to come.
Another con to having quartz countertops in your bathroom is that the resin used to bind the quartz particles together is not naturally heat resistant. This means that curling irons, straight irons, and hair dryers can cause damage to quartz countertops when left for a significant amount of time. If you’re someone who forgets to turn your hot tools off and leaves them on the bathroom counter for hours, you’ll want to factor this into your decision. If you’re set on having quartz countertops in your bathroom, alternatively you could consider using a heat-protecting pad when using hot tools as a way to protect your countertops.
Granite Countertops
Another very popular solid surface countertop option, granite is a natural stone that’s available in uniquely beautiful patterns. In addition to being a beautiful option for your bathroom, let’s explore a few of the pros and cons of granite countertops.
Pros of Granite
Similar to quartz, granite countertops are a great option for bathroom countertops because they’re highly durable. However, unlike quartz countertops, granite countertops are also heat resistant. This means that you can still have the beauty and durability of a solid surface product for your bathroom countertops while also adding heat resistance. Depending on your needs for the space, this might be an important factor when deciding which bathroom countertop is right for you.
When properly sealed each year, granite countertops are stain-resistant. This is a benefit to bathroom countertops because makeup, toothpaste, and other beauty products that make their way onto bathroom countertops and leave a mess won’t leave a permanent stain.
Cons of Granite
One of the cons to having granite countertops in your bathroom is that they do require routine maintenance in order to maintain their stain-resistant and scratch-resistant properties. Granite is a naturally porous material, and this routine sealant protects the surface from bacteria, scratches, and stains. If you don’t see yourself keeping up with the routine maintenance it requires, granite countertops might not be the best choice for your bathrooms.
Similar to quartz, granite countertops are also heavy and difficult to install. This means that if you’re choosing them for your bathroom, it’s most likely not going to be a DIY project. Granite countertops for your bathroom are best when left to the professionals.
Laminate Countertops
Laminate countertops are made from layers of kraft paper, decorative paper, and a top protective layer of resin that’s been compressed together to make a durable product with a beautiful finish. The laminate is glued to a core material like particleboard, MDF, or plywood to create the slab-like appearance required for countertops.
After exploring two solid-surface options, let’s explore the pros and cons of using laminate for your bathroom countertops.
Pros of Laminate
One advantage of laminate countertops in your bathroom is the cost. Laminate countertops are a significantly less expensive option than their solid-surface counterparts. In addition to being an inexpensive material, they’re also less expensive to fabricate and install since they are so lightweight compared to quartz or granite.
Laminate countertops are also more accessible for DIY projects, meaning if you’re handy and have the right tools, you can probably cut, glue, and install them yourself. This also saves you money on your bathroom project overall.
Standard Supply & Lumber proudly carries laminate countertops from Wilsonart and Formica. In addition to offering long-term durability and easy maintenance, Wilsonart has a large portfolio of designs that are strikingly beautiful and realistic. Formica also offers a wide range of beautiful designs that are easy for homeowners to maintain. To view laminate samples for your bathroom countertops, contact our countertop experts here.
Cons of Laminate
While the material itself is durable, one of the drawbacks to having laminate countertops is that the material can delaminate from its core after a period of time and extended use. In a high-traffic area like the bathroom that also involves water, this can be a deterrent for some homeowners.
Another con to having laminate countertops in your bathroom is their weight or lack thereof. While being lightweight is a pro during fabrication and installation, it might not be what you’re looking for after it’s installed. If you’re looking for a heavier, sturdier option for your bathroom countertop, laminate might not provide you with the weight you’re looking for.
Tile Countertops
Tile countertops are typically seen as a traditional design choice, however, recently they are beginning to rise in popularity again. Let’s explore the pros and cons of installing tile countertops in your bathroom so you can make the best choice for your home.
Pros of Tile
One of the pros of having tile countertops is that it’s a cost-effective option. Depending on how handy you are and if you have the proper equipment, you can probably install them yourselves. Not only can the material be inexpensive, but being able to install them yourselves can also save you money.
Another pro of tile countertops is that there are a seemingly endless variety of design options and materials to choose from. It’s a low-cost material, meaning on top of installing them yourself, you can save money on your bathroom renovation overall.
Cons of Tile
The cons of having tile countertops are that the tiles can be prone to cracking and chipping, particularly in high-traffic areas like bathrooms. The grout can also discolor over time, which can be difficult or impossible to correct. This discoloration can leave a negative physical appearance after working so hard to have them installed.
Tile countertops can also be perceived by homebuyers are lower quality and lower value, meaning you might not get as big of a return on your investment in renovating your bathroom as you would like.
Explore Bathroom Countertop Materials at Standard Supply & Lumber
Ready to start your bathroom renovation? At Standard Supply & Lumber, we carry a range of high-quality products from trusted suppliers to help you start your next project. From bathroom cabinets to countertops, we’re here to help. Contact us today or visit us in-store to explore countertop options for your bathroom!