When the time comes to give your kitchen a facelift, one of the best places to start is with your countertops. The options available to you today are vast. From various materials and colors to assorted finishes and edging profiles, the choices on the market have grown exponentially. But with so many possibilities, where do you start?

“I advise my clients to think about function first and then consider the design impact of their countertop material choice,” says Anne Keene, a designer with Cornerstone Design Inc. in Atlanta. Fortunately, when it comes to today’s most popular countertop materials, performance and beauty go hand in hand. The key to deciding which type of countertop to have installed is educating yourself about the current surface options and selecting what’s right for your unique needs. “Choosing the right countertops can transform your kitchen into a dream kitchen,” says Richard Schaeffer, a design consultant with AA Marble & Granite LLC.

Engineered Stone
Over the last several years, engineered stone, a man-made material, has grown in popularity among homeowners. Made of natural quartz, one of the world’s strongest minerals, this surface option offers some of the same benefits of natural stone, as well as some unique features. There are many engineered stone options, including Cambria, DuPont Zodiac, CaesarStone and Silestone.

Maintenance
In addition to being scratch-resistant, stain-resistant and heat-resistant, engineered stone is non-porous, so you don’t have to seal it. Soap and water are ideal for routine cleaning purposes, while ammonia- or vinegar-based products can be used to clean other marks and common spills.

Some companies offer unique features, such as Silestone’s built-in Microban, an antimicrobial product that fights the growth of odor-causing bacteria for the life of the stone. “For a family with children, this is a perfect product,” says Luther Bellinger, sales manager for Silestone of Atlanta. “Parents love it because the Microban helps fight germs and bacteria. Even restaurants and hospitals are using Silestone now because of the germ-fighting product in it.”

Color and finish
Clearly functional and highly durable, engineered stone is also a very inviting product, with tons of colors from which to choose. The finish can be glossy like polished stone or matte. Furthermore, the edge profile possibilities are virtually endless. There may be seams in the countertops because of how the product is made; however, since the templates are cut from very large slabs, seams can be kept to a minimum.

Cost
The cost of engineered stone starts as low as $35 per square foot, but homeowners will typically spend $50 and up per square foot on average, once the color and edge profiles are chosen. As with natural stone, the countertop replacement process is rather quick, usually taking about 14 days from start to finish, including installation.

Natural Stone
Natural stone is not one of the newest options on the market, but it is still one of today’s most sought-after countertop materials. And for the kitchen, homeowners typically select granite. “It’s practically indestructible,” Schaeffer says. “You really can’t scratch it. And it’s stain-resistant and heat-resistant.”

Maintenance
Maintenance is fairly simple—using mild soap and water will do the trick. Granite is porous, which means it must be sealed to remain protected from bacteria, stains and general everyday use. “People make a big deal out of sealing granite, but it’s actually a process that takes about 10 minutes,” Schaeffer says. Spray sealers are available at any hardware or stone store; all you have to do is clear off your countertops, spray on the sealer, wait 10 minutes and then wipe the countertops down. You don’t have to seal every month, because oversealing can make your countertops cloudy, but it’s something you should do once every eight months to a year. For homeowners seeking a maintenance-free option, Granite Transformations offers granite slabs cut to fit precisely over your old countertops, and they come permanently sealed.

Color and finish
Granite’s polished finish undoubtedly is one of its most alluring features, especially since it helps play up the color of the stone. According to Angelica Arias, sales manager for Marmi Natural Stone, there are more than 100 color variations from which to choose when it comes to granite. Many people are looking for light colors to accent their kitchen cabinetry, wall color and flooring. Claire Pettys, of Inman Park Marble & Granite, says that more homeowners are combining colors, as well, mixing lights and darks in the same kitchen or throughout the home.

Cost
According to Brian Knapp of Atlanta Marble Manufacturing, granite countertops for an average-size kitchen can be done for between $2,500 and $5,000, depending on the type of granite you choose. In addition to the $50 to $100 per square foot for the granite itself, the bottom line will include fabrication, the edge profile and installation, among other services. The entire process of replacing your countertops with granite usually takes from eight to twelve business days, with the actual installation taking less than
one day.

Wood
More and more homeowners are taking a closer look at wood countertops because they add a certain something to the kitchen. “It provides a magnetic focal point because people are naturally drawn to the wood,” says Ken Williamson of Craft-Art Wood Countertops. “The warmth that the material provides is magnified and simply feels more inviting.”

“They make a great accent piece and can really break up a space, which is especially good for large spaces,” says Dan Weidmann of Weidmann Remodeling. He also suggests wood countertops are best if you like the aged look. “Be comfortable with the dings, because it’s not the right choice if you want a pristine, always new look, especially with children.”

Maintenance
Wood can vary in hardness, even within traditional hardwoods. In the skillet test (hold a cast-iron skillet about a foot-and-a-half above the wood and drop it), will it form a larger or smaller dent? American cherry, for example is a softer hardwood, but Brazilian cherry or tigerwood will leave a much smaller dent. If you think of wood as a living antique, those dents can become part of its character over time.

You can consider waterproof finishes, such as a penetrating tung-oil-based varnish, to prevent mildew from setting into grooves and cracks. The tung oil in these products waterproofs and prevents staining, and you need to reseal one to two times a year. Also, using a water and vinegar solution on a regular basis kills almost all bacteria. Most wood countertops can handle a mild, non-ammonia-based detergent diluted with water. Then, you can spritz a water and vinegar solution over the top.

Color and finish
Wood color changes over time, depending on the finish and care. For example, iroko starts out very yellow but mellows to mocha brown over time. As with copper or other metals, patinas can also add to the personality of the space. See the sidebar (Which Wood?) to help you choose your color and strength.

Cost
Prices start around $85 per square foot and go up to $250 per square foot, with an average of $110 per square foot, depending on the thickness and construction style, such as checkerboard, edge-grain or plink styles where different species are often used.

Concrete
The genuinely warm appearance of concrete countertops attracts many homeowners today, according to David Akers, owner of Amelia Concrete Fusion Inc. The use of chemical stains, coloring pigments, lightweight aggregates and epoxy coatings give concrete a look and feel comparable to that of quarried natural stone.

Maintenance
An average concrete countertop is 12,000 psi, which means that it is four to five times harder than the concrete found on the interstate.

In the past, you would have to seal concrete once every eight months to a year. However, the new reactive, food-grade sealers on the market allow concrete fabricators to seal the concrete only once, and it lasts for the life of the surface.

Color and finish
“The colors we can use are unlimited,” Akers says. “You can tone them up and tone them down and have different hues.”

Because concrete countertops are custom-made and commonly quite thick, you can choose just about any edge profile you like. You also can request a variety of inlays, having everything from fossils to marbles placed in the concrete mix before it dries. “I can make a one-of-a-kind countertop in terms of design,” Akers says.

Cost
On average, Akers says, these countertops usually cost about $90 per square foot. The process to replace your existing surfaces with concrete countertops does take a bit longer, at anywhere from four to eight weeks, but installation still only takes one day. It also qualifies as green, or eco-friendly, construction.

Stainless Steel
While stainless steel might seemingly hearken back to the days of diners and drive-ins, it actually offers homeowners a very sleek and contemporary look in today’s kitchens.

Maintenance
Stainless steel is impervious to germs and can withstand heat very well, although it can dent easily. It won’t stain, rust or chip, and clean up is a cinch with warm water and a mild soap. Of course, acidic foods can stain the surface if left for a long time. Use a non-abrasive cleanser to tackle any stains that do appear. Non-abrasive pads also help remove any surface scratches.

Color and finish
With its neutral color, standard one-and-a-half-inch-thick edges and square, bullnose or angled-back edge profile, stainless steel will most likely blend well with any style of kitchen.

Cost
Stainless steel countertops cost around $50 to $75 per square foot, not including installation, backsplashes, integral sinks and cutouts.