The Kitchen Store

Which is better: a natural stone or engineered kitchen countertop? Well, it depends on your needs and preferences. To help you make the best possible choice, The Kitchen Store, your local kitchen remodeling expert, elaborates on the pros and cons of each option below

The Pros of a Natural Stone Counterto

• Unique patterns – If you want your new countertop to stand out, choosing a natural-stone countertop would be a good choice. No two natural-stone slabs are alike—each slab has a unique pattern that was formed by a combination of molten rock and various minerals that accumulated in the earth’s crust over time
• Easy to maintain – Countertop spills can be a pain to clean, especially since they can stain porous materials. Fortunately, manufacturers apply sealants to natural-stone countertops to make cleaning up spills easier
• Higher resale value – The unique slab patterns and the ease of maintenance make natural-stone countertops an attractive feature to prospective home buyers

Things to Consider

Keep in mind, however, that natural-stone countertops are quite heavy, so you might need to reinforce your kitchen floors and cabinets before installing a new countertop

The Pros of an Engineered Ston

• Uniform look – If you want a more uniform look to your kitchen, an engineered stone countertop would be the more ideal choice. As the name suggests, engineered stone is manufactured, ensuring all stone slabs have a uniform pattern. To make sure the kitchen design remains coherent, having a contractor do some kitchen cabinet refacing work would also be a good idea
• Spill-proof – Thanks to their natural-stone-and-polymer-resin composition, engineered stones are spill-proof
• Cost-effective – On a tight budget? Engineered-stone countertops are usually priced mid-range. Given their features, engineered-stone countertops can certainl give you value for your money

Things to Consider

Engineered stone is sensitive to abrupt temperature changes, so it’s best to cover the countertop with cloth before placing hot cookware on top of it

Still can’t decide? Consult your local contractor

The Kitchen Store has been providing professional kitchen remodeling services to local residents since 1965. To request free in-showroom consultation, you can call us at (310) 572-7515 or leave us a message here. We serve homeowners in Los Angeles, CA, as well as the surrounding communities in California.