Help with Counter surfaces

Misippi Egger

My cabinets are finished and now we must decide on counter tops. I have a bid from a granite supplier - $1700+, installed.

We went to a different store today where they sell "manufactured granite" (my term). It is 95% granite and 5% polymer - nonporous and heat & stain resistant. Quote - $1700-1800, installed.

I called the contractor and he suggested ceramic tile. We went to Lowes got some samples and decided on a color. Rough estimate from the contractor - $400-500 installed.

This is for my counter tops, not specifically under my eggs - I have pavers and little green feet for that.

Now, the question - yes, the granite looks good, but it there any good reason to choose granite or ceramic tile? My main concerns are heat resistance (setting a hot adjustable rig down or a platesetter - will try to remember to use a trivet) and stains (like Carnivore spills, grease).

In your collective experiences, will the tile (sealed, of course) hold up to this?

Thanks for the opinions!!!!

Panhandle Smoker

I would use a trivet or hot pads. Tile is heat resistant to a point. A plate setter or a C/I Dutch oven hold heat long enough to crack the tile I would bet. Sealed grout still stains, I would use a dark color. It will be a durable surface but it will have it's limitations. Granite would be my pick but it to might would crack under those conditions. I used Wilsonart solid surface in my kitchen 5 years ago and now I want granite again. The Wilsonart is good stuff and looks great it is just hard to copy Mother Natures beauty.

Pork Butt Mike

If your looking to save a lot of money and still look good the tile IMO is fine. Before I had my stanless steal table I had tile and put hot ADJ Rig on it my grates and no problem. I used a dark tile. Good luck what ever you decide on. I sure it will look awesome.

Little Chef

Clark....I can only speak from my own experiences. I had tile countertops ONCE. (I will never do it again). There really is no easy solution with tile...light grout stains dark....dark grout stains darker...No matter how well it's sealed, there always seems to be that little spot that didn't....and that's where the grease lands. Uggh...the memories. :blink:
IMHO, I would opt for the polymered granite, BUT, first find out exactly what they mean by heat and stain "resistant". Ask them if you can give it a Carnivore spill and messy grate test before committing....LOL!! :woohoo: :woohoo:
Good luck!! :laugh: (IMHO....not tile.... :S )

ps...Have you considered stainless? It can scratch, but is always clean, and heat proof.

Misippi Egger

Thanks, LC. We are having the grout issues with the floor in our indoor kitchen. It is 18" light-colored tile with white grout and it is impossible to keep the grout from looking dirty! Jana is wanting to have it re-grouted darker, or worse have it all replaced with something darker.

The polymer granite is resistance to 600* and being nonporous, is 'supposed' to be stain resistant.

The porch has an overall rustic appearance, so stainless might not be the way to go.

Misippi Egger

Thanks, Eddie. Good suggestions.

Misippi Egger

Thanks, Mike. Plan a rustic colored tile with dark grout.

Slick

There was an episode a while back on This Old House about cement counter tops. The factory they were visiting mixed in recycled colored glass. The end result after polishing was beautiful. I did a google search and the company is called Icestone. Here's a link to their web page.

http://www.icestone.biz/

SSN686

Morning Clark:

I ended up using Silestone for my countertops (both outdoor and indoor kitchen). It is a "man-made" type item that is probably similar to the "manufactured granite" you mention. I am very happy with it so far. It is "heat resistant", but I never put a platesetter or anything very hot on it for more than a second or two (then usually only to get a better grip of whatever it may be).

I had ceramic tile on the table I used before building the ODK and it worked fine also, but the grout did get stained (even with it being sealed). I didn't have any tiles break in the 4 to 5 years I used the table, then again, didn't put real hot items on it.

My opinion (and just my opinion) would be to go with either the granite or man-made stuff if the funds allow it. I believe it will look better and probably last longer. Costs more up front, but (like the Egg) will last a long time.

HTH

crghc98

Pick a natural granite with a swirly pattern that has a few different colors in it.....You won't have to worry about any small stains in that case....

PWise

I have granite inside... and although it is porous, it is black and stains don't really notice...

Heat resistance is great... I never "protect" it...in fact I had some leftover granite and used that to make a square to set hot plates coming directly from the oven...

My 2 c...

Cheers!

tjv

Clark, I have corian. When setting something hot, I use couple pieces of rod to keep the hot piece off the corian. One nice thing about it, if it burns or stains, couple passes with sandpaper to sand out the mark. tom

Bob V

I'd ask whether there is any warranty on the polymer against sun fading. That Mississippi sun gets awful hot in mid-summer and many (most) polymers are u/v sensitive. You'll end up with a faded, clouded surface. Most of the countertop materials are made for an indoor kitchen market, so they don't think about outdoor BBQ's in their specs.

Just an option, you might consider finished concrete. There are some very impressive stained and polished concrete surfaces out there. They range from pre-cast slabs to cast-in-place, but the prices are rarely over $20/sq.ft and can be as low as $8/sq.ft.

Bob V

Bob V

I'd ask whether there is any warranty on the polymer against sun fading. That Mississippi sun gets awful hot in mid-summer and most epoxy polymers are u/v sensitive. You'll end up with a faded yellow, clouded surface. Most of the countertop materials are made for an indoor kitchen market, so they don't think about outdoor BBQ's in their specs.

Just an option, you might consider finished concrete. There are some very impressive stained and polished concrete surfaces out there. They range from pre-cast slabs to cast-in-place, but the prices are rarely over $20/sq.ft and can be as low as $8/sq.ft.

Bob V