Granite vs Corian vs Silestone

[franksdad]

I have Formica

laminate countertops in my kitchen along with a Corian sink.  The countertops are 15 years old now and still, aside from just a few light scratches from normal wear, look like new.  We have been very pleased with these countertops.  We are in the process of installing new countertops in the main bathroom next week and are going back with Formica.  The Formica currently in the bathroom is 50 years old and has held up very well.  We plan to go back with Formica when we update our kitchen again.  When we paid $500.00 for the Elkay Corian kitchen sink when we updated our kitchen 15 years ago we thought we really had something!  We did, an expensive eyesore.  Even when you scrub it and soak it with Clorox it never looks "clean."  There is no way you can keep it clean and it is permanently stained.  Would never consider Corian countertops because of the sink - and will never own another Corian sink. 

 

[firedome]

We had granite, hate it, cold and unforgiving, seems more appropriate for the bathroom floor, and maybe not even then, too slippery! We went back to old school Formica or Wilsonart in the summer place for its amazing durability (with just minimal common sense), and infinite pattern and color selection, even the '50s BOOMERANG pattern is still available... way cool! We also like the butcher block top that we have on the island. Never tried concrete, a newer choice, but friends with Silestone seem to like it much better than those with Corian.

 

[lordkenmore]

One minus to granite which concerns some people is the environmental issues. Granite is not renewable, and pretty energy intensive to ship any distance. While I'm not a far out environmental freak, I don't think I'd feel comfortable with choosing granite myself.

Past that, I frankly dislike the look of modern kitchens. I don't honestly care if it's the style, or what's expected. It's unlikely I'll ever redo a kitchen, but if I did, it would be with the idea of getting what I'd like. Right now, that would mean going back several decades.

It's funny, but the kitchens that I have liked in recent times have not been trendy--they have been something crafted to meet the vision of the person or people using them. Kitchens of the past that I remember fondly I remember mostly because of the people who used them, and the love and care they had with cooking for others.

 

[kimball455]

When I remodeled the kitchen a few years ago I selected Wilsonart for the counters. Friends have a Bed and Breakfast that they have the same product for their kitchen counters, counters that get tremendous wear and usage. The Wilsonart at the Bed and Breakfast has held up well for over 10 years of hard daily use. Also, if I decide I don’t like the surface it’s relatively easy to replace.

 

[chuffle]

Granite and Corian

When I worked on this house prior to moving in (it had been vacant for twenty years), I went through the various choices for a small kitchen counter top and a vanity area in the bathroom. At first, I was opposed to granite, as I was so tired of seeing it everywhere - on TV, in homes, and so on. I then thought about Corian, and in talking with various friends who had the material in their kitchens, every single one of them complained about the scratching (and one woman is fastidious in her upkeep of the kitchen).

Living in a small town, I only had one outlet for counter tops, a local builder's supply store that carries granite, Corian, and Formica. I didn't feel pressured, but the gentleman who assisted me refuses to sell Corian for kitchens. Living in a century-old house, I didn't want the brighter, heavily grained granite, but the guy showed me a Hawaiian green granite that from a distance looks black. Only when the under-cabinet lights are on, does one see a hint of a dark green color.

I chose the granite (I only have one counter - 70 inches in length) for the kitchen, and Corian for the bathroom.

Five years later, I am pleased with both decisions. The granite shows no sign of wear, I clean it with the dishrag when doing the dishes (greasy spills sometimes get a dose of Fantastik), and always make sure that any water or liquid is dried immediately. Pots come off the stove right onto the counter top, the pizza in its pan does likewise. I have never used any special cleaners or sealants.

The Corian has held up well in the bathroom, though the finish has dulled, just from daily use, and if one really looks, there are many little and fine scratches from simple things like toiletry bottles and guests sliding their toiletry kits on the counter when visiting.

So, this long-winded story made short - being mindful of simple care, I am totally happy with both surfaces.

Joe

 

[surgilator1]

we have red granite countertops that are 8yrs old. windex and a damp towel cleans it up every time. never resealed it or given it special treatment of any kind. looks brand new. after all these years of heavy use and no resealing i would buygranite again.

 

[swestoyz]

Formica branded Corian countertops here

Almost two years ago I had 45 square feet of new counter tops put in my recently renovated kitchen. I couldn't shell out the cash for a comparable shade in granite, so I went with the cheaper of the two. I wanted the granite look and found if I spent a few extra dollars per square foot, I got a share very similar from Formica at Lowes.

Now, later on down the road, I couldn't be happier with my decision. While it does scratch, it have had good success keeping the haze away using Hope's Countertop polish/wax. Also, most say black shows off the scratches more than other shades - I'd disagree with this particular sample. I also keep anything hot away from the countertop with leveling racks or hot pads and have not had issues with burning.

For my next house I do plan on going with a similar shade in granite, however, I truly feel the 'budget' wrap Corian has received from builder shows is ill-deserved.

Not a great shot, but good enough to show the finish.

Ben[this post was last edited: 11/30/2011-22:03]

 

[xraytech]

For me I would choose something from Formica, he woe family here has it ranging in age from about 57 years old to the newest being 15 years old, they have all held up very well with only minor scratching, I did however burna spot in our 19 year old formica by accidentaly setting a very hot cast iron pan on it.

I was wanting to replace my grams counters with a solid surface counter by Formica they carry at Lowes, the pattern I want is terrazo and I liked a cream background.

Ipersonally dislike granite or other stone counters as they seem so cookie cutter now and I didnt care for it before. If I hada large kitchen with an island I would have an island with a marble top for rolling and kneading dough

 

[tolivac]

At my 40+ yr old place-have almond color formica in the kitchen and white in the bathroom-holding up just fine after the years.and the cabinets are WOOD--not particleboard-I think its kinda dumb to put super el expensivo Granite or other stone countertops on crappy particleboard furniture.The kitchen was redone at the transmitter---so wished they kept the GE metal cabinets and the GE pushbutton-lighted buttons at that range.worked just fine and it was like my house 40+ years old.Now we have UGLY grey cabinets (Particleboard and plywood)tops with dark redtone coultured granite-not the surface I want at home-May be OK for at work.I just like good ole FORMICA at home.And--yes-use a cutting board so as to spare my knives and counters.No matter what countertops you have-for its sake and that of your knives----please use the cutting board.
The nicest countertops I have seen are at my sisters house-REAL GRANITE-and a pretty pattern.If you have to use granite-spend the money and get the real stuff.Its natural beauty just can't be matched by manmade ones.She picked it out herself at the stoneyard!And a fine beautiful choice she made.

 

[lordkenmore]

cabinets are WOOD

This reminds me of something else I hate about modern kitchens: the cabinets. Oh, yes, they have the fancy looking oak door--but open it, and you find that the interior is particle board. Like you find in dirt cheap flat-pack furniture at KMart.

I grew up in a house that had wood cabinets. The wood was painted, which wouldn't fit today's standards. And who knows if the wood would have been good enough for a natural finish. But the cabinets were tough and very functional.

One thing I've noticed about modern kitchens is that it seems like it's all about image over either reality or practicality. And there is a huge irony in that people are paying more and more attention (it seems)to kitchens, and yet cook less and less.

 

[hunter]

Boy you've nailed it on the head.

The thing that describes that I saw in a kitchen reno magazine a few years ago. There was a black-and-white picture of a woman in a 1950s kitchen, a black and white woman in a pictures of a 1930s kitchen, and a third picture. The first two pictures had captions of "My Mother's Kitchen," "My Grandmother's Kitchen" and "My Kitchen." The first two showed women cooking up a storm.

The third one? A woman in a kitchen that must have cost 100,000 dollars, and she was eating out of a chinese takeaway cardboard container, using disposable chopsticks.

Huh?

(We're thinking to do kraftmaid cabinets with plywood boxes when we redo our 1962 house's kitchen. And using laminate counter tops. Personal preference only, of course, but we both like formica-type surfaces. And white painted wood.)

Hunter

 

[lordkenmore]

The funny thing is that the best cooking period of my life was when I was stuck with a limited kitchen--limited counter space, bad lighting, and a stove that only partly worked. Less importantly, the kitchen was not HGTV type quality. Yet, I managed to get by, and did the most cooking--and most adventurous cooking--of my life.

 

[hunter]

If I had the world's perfect kitchen I'd probably ne

I hear ya on that one; at the moment I have an electric range. The under counter oven is sitting on a chrome storage rack next to the stove and I have to unplug the range and plug in the oven manually when I use it. The counter tops need redoing and the cabinets are 1980s horror.

But it's a fun place to cook.

Goodness knows we do enough cooking, freezing, and canning in it.

I'd go nuts if I had one of these 200,000 kitchens mostly because they'd probably be so busy with molding and fancy cabinets and stuff they're impossible to clean!!

Hunter

 

[cadman]

Granite?

Only if it comes in Skylark Boomerang!

 

[firedome]

Hunter

You'll be pleased with the Kraft Maid solid plywood cabinets, it's not a real expensive upgrade, and they are very well made. We have them in our VT house in a burgundy painted finish, and in Hickory in the last new house we built. They are a very good company to deal with, and when one came damaged they promptly replaced it no questions, and even did so twice because the finish color didn't match exactly since every paint run varies slightly, again they didn't hesitate to re-do it two times no questions asked.

A good way to save some $ is to use the particle-board box version on the hanging wall cabinets as there are no drawers or counters to take a pounding, we saved some considerable bucks by doing that in the summer place and they've been entirely satisfactory, the new glues in the particle board stuff is much improved and KM assembly is top notch in all their cabinets even the cheapest, nothing like the junk from Loews etc. The one place not to cut any corners is the base cabinets however.

 

[cornutt]

We have granite. It's called Black Galaxy and it's about the blackest thing you've ever seen, with little flakes of quartz in it. It's extremely dense and doesn't need sealing. Every few weeks I hit it with some granite polish. You can set hot pans down on it. You can cut on it, but we don't because it dulls the knives.

Our appliances are black too. The cabinets are maple veneer, flat fronts, with black bar pulls. The floor is bamboo. We like it.

 

[michaelman2]

Stainless.....yes, can be industrial or institutional looking...kitchen is contemporary so it worked great. Had back splash and counter as one continuous piece...heavy as hell and was a bitch to install, but love it.

 

[hunter]

firedome..

Thanks for the info AND the tip!

Hunter

 

[whirlcool]

I remember the time before granite started to become popular, Corian was considered all the rage.
I have seen some formica that looks a lot like granite, from a distance. Same look, many $$ less.
Our neighbors have that quartz countertop material(Silestone). It looks like granite, but looks and feels like plastic. They bought it for safety reasons. It does not allow microbial growth to occur on it. But it's just about as expensive as granite.

 

[cornutt]

I remember when Corian was the thing to have, but we planned to eventually have granite long before it was popular. Granite is quarried around here, so in this area the cost of granite and Corian is about the same.