Decor

Designer Lisa Worth goes beneath the surface to bring us the hard facts on the top countertops.

MARBLE

Pros

• Perfect for the traditionalist.
• Natural stone boasts beautiful organic veining.

Cons

• Not for the faint of heart: It's the most fragile material!

Cost

• From $60/sq. ft. for Carrera to $150/sq. ft. for high-end white marble, installed and templated.

Maintenance

• Popular white and gray marbles (e.g. Statuario, Calcutta, Blanco Carrera) will show signs of wear and tear more readily as lighter stones are more porous.
• Test for sealing: Splash water on the counter and if it beads, you're good; if it absorbs, you need to seal.
• Sealing should be done every few months but is easy to do: Just wipe on and leave overnight.
• Nano seal is a professional seal that only needs to be applied every four to five years.

GRANITE

Pros

• It's the most popular/biggest seller for a variety of reasons, including its durability and natural quality.

Cons

• Granite makes a statement, and if that's what you're looking for, then it's the perfect material for you! But if you're going for a more subtle and delicate feel, you'll be hard pressed to find a granite that works with your look.

Cost

• From $55/sq. ft. to $95/sq. ft. for high-end granite and beyond for exotics, installed and templated.

Maintenance

• Granite must be sealed every year.

QUARTZ

Pros

• Quartz is the hardest substance known to man; in fact, it's bulletproof!
• Engineered products contain over 93% quartz and very few fillers, which used to be common in other composite materials.
• Offers a contemporary, modern look and feel.

Cons

• Comes in 120-in. x 56-in. slabs, so it won't work for a large countertop surface, such as an island. (Seams are a big no-no!)

Cost

• $80/sq. ft., installed and templated.

Maintenance

• Requires no maintenance at all!

GLASS

Pros

• The latest up-and-coming material to hit the countertop scene.
• Extremely eco-friendly.
• Contains very little filler.
• Comes in a variety of colours.
• Non-porous material, which means it won't stain.

Cons

• May scratch easily, and high temperatures (e.g. hot pot on counter) can cause cracking.

Cost

• $150/sq. ft. (on par with Calcutta), installed and templated.

Maintenance

• No maintenance necessary.
• Scratches can be polished out.

Decor diva Lisa Worth is president of Worth Interior Design, where she consistently delivers creative, intelligent design solutions for a growing roster of clients. A native of Toronto, Lisa lives in Aurora, Ont.

A special thanks to Stone Edge Marble & Granite Inc. for supplying the countertop samples featured on the show and to architect Monica E. Kuhn for letting us tour the kitchen space she designed.