Kitchen Counter Tops: Silestone Quartz or Granite?
- Thread starter Bob_Skurka
- Start date
Personally, I'd go with natural stone rather than the manufactured stone, but that's because I like the natural veining and coloration more than the more uniform pattern of a manufactured product. I like Silestone more than Corian, but both are too uniform for me. Seams are a problem, of course, but an expert installer can get the seams almost invisible.
In addition to granite, I'd also look hard at soapstone and especially at slate. I've seen some slate countertops at the national Kitchen & Bath show that can cover a very large area of counter without a seam. Slate is supposed to be more stain resistant. I also one did an outdoor kitchen cabinet that had Jerusalem Stone counter tops, but as beautiful as it was, my understanding from the stone installer was that it was softer than granite.
Notice that even though we did a lot of cabinets with stone countertops of one sort or another, primarily granite, we never tried to install it ourselves. That's strictly a job for the expert specialists.
All of that said, I'll be using a mix of stone and hardwood counter tops in my new house. They won't actually be counter tops in the traditional sense, because we aren't going to have any traditional cabinets. It will be a farm house kitchen with a stand alone soapstone sink on legs, with a sideboard and a cloth drape under, a stand alone stove, and furniture such as hutch, dry sink and a strategically placed dresser or two with stone tops, and a large counter-height table with hardwood top for an island, and maybe a butcher block. The fridge will be a small, 40's period unit, and the microwave will be hidden. This will not be in a separate area, but in one corner of our great room, part of the living area.
To make it work, there will be a separate utility kitchen with the dishwasher, stainless clean-up sink, food prep counter, commercial refrigerator/freezer, pantry and storage cabinets for the Tupperware, cookie sheets and such. It will be hidden behind swinging cafe doors behind the open kitchen, and will probably have inexpensive laminate counter tops because no one will see it.
All of the messy food prep and clean up will be in the utility kitchen; only my dazzling displays of cooking skills and serving will be in the open kitchen. There will also be an exterior door in the utility kitchen so it will serve the same purpose for my outdoor kitchen, which will be on the other side of it, part of the rear porch.
Attached is one of the granite-topped jobs we did, squeezed into a small area.
In addition to granite, I'd also look hard at soapstone and especially at slate. I've seen some slate countertops at the national Kitchen & Bath show that can cover a very large area of counter without a seam. Slate is supposed to be more stain resistant. I also one did an outdoor kitchen cabinet that had Jerusalem Stone counter tops, but as beautiful as it was, my understanding from the stone installer was that it was softer than granite.
Notice that even though we did a lot of cabinets with stone countertops of one sort or another, primarily granite, we never tried to install it ourselves. That's strictly a job for the expert specialists.
All of that said, I'll be using a mix of stone and hardwood counter tops in my new house. They won't actually be counter tops in the traditional sense, because we aren't going to have any traditional cabinets. It will be a farm house kitchen with a stand alone soapstone sink on legs, with a sideboard and a cloth drape under, a stand alone stove, and furniture such as hutch, dry sink and a strategically placed dresser or two with stone tops, and a large counter-height table with hardwood top for an island, and maybe a butcher block. The fridge will be a small, 40's period unit, and the microwave will be hidden. This will not be in a separate area, but in one corner of our great room, part of the living area.
To make it work, there will be a separate utility kitchen with the dishwasher, stainless clean-up sink, food prep counter, commercial refrigerator/freezer, pantry and storage cabinets for the Tupperware, cookie sheets and such. It will be hidden behind swinging cafe doors behind the open kitchen, and will probably have inexpensive laminate counter tops because no one will see it.
All of the messy food prep and clean up will be in the utility kitchen; only my dazzling displays of cooking skills and serving will be in the open kitchen. There will also be an exterior door in the utility kitchen so it will serve the same purpose for my outdoor kitchen, which will be on the other side of it, part of the rear porch.
Attached is one of the granite-topped jobs we did, squeezed into a small area.
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jinman
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Bob, I've had a Silestone counter-top in my house for almost two years (since it was built). My cost was in the mid-50s per sq ft, and I have a plain 1-1/2" bullnose edge. I would say that if you can see some of the installers work beforehand, you should really do that. I have two joints in my counter, and although neither is really obvious, one is far better than the other. The guys who installed mine had only been doing Silestone for three weeks. I was a little ticked about that, but essentially my counter looks pretty good and I wouldn't have any complaints unless I saw one that was better.
The Silestone is very, very rugged. It can take straight bleach for up to 10 minutes without staining and it also can take acetone and a lot of other solvents. It actually looks best when coated with a light covering of oil furniture polish. I've found it to be easy to clean and maintain, but I'm single, so it's not like it gets a lot of wear from me cooking all the time everyday. I see no reason it wouldn't take it though. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
I'll attach a photo of my little kitchen just after it was finished. If you have any other questions, I'll try to answer what I can.
The Silestone is very, very rugged. It can take straight bleach for up to 10 minutes without staining and it also can take acetone and a lot of other solvents. It actually looks best when coated with a light covering of oil furniture polish. I've found it to be easy to clean and maintain, but I'm single, so it's not like it gets a lot of wear from me cooking all the time everyday. I see no reason it wouldn't take it though. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
I'll attach a photo of my little kitchen just after it was finished. If you have any other questions, I'll try to answer what I can.
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Bob_Skurka
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Jim. . . From the looks of your kitchen shape, if you have 2 seams then I will have 3 seams because I have more of a "G" shape to the kitchen. What you wrote is pretty much what I have been told locally. What surprises me is that Silestone (at least the patterns we like) actually costs more than much of the granite I am seeing!
kokopelli2
Gold Member
i am in the business....get silestone if you never want to have trouble. it wont chip, fade, stain....nothing....hit it with a hammer and you are fine....cut food on it and clean afterwards....you are fine.
just my 2 cents. oh yeah go to expo. you have 5 in chicago. they will replace it as often as you need. and thos 50 dollar per square foot prices are installed prices.
just my 2 cents. oh yeah go to expo. you have 5 in chicago. they will replace it as often as you need. and thos 50 dollar per square foot prices are installed prices.
jinman
Rest in Peace
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I have a seam on either side of my sink. I don't think they make the slabs big enough to cut a 90° section out. Can you imagine the waste on a job like that? I also like my 4" backsplash.
I'd say that everything good you've heard about Silestone is true. Make sure you like the pattern you choose because you will have it around for a long, long time. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
I'd say that everything good you've heard about Silestone is true. Make sure you like the pattern you choose because you will have it around for a long, long time. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
I have granite, and the only disadvantage is that you have to seal it a few times a year. Not a horrible job, but it takes a little while. My wife does it /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif !
If you are looking at granite in a store STOP!
Find a few semi-local granite yards and go on a sunny day. You canot imagine the variety of colors etc. It was awesome. One or two counters in a store and a few selections in 1 sq foot pieces is like reading the bible and trying to imagine heaven . You just can't imagine it until you see it. We have two good yards in the whole Pittsburgh Area (that I know of) and Modena is the better of them. They have hundreds of whole slabs out there to look at.
That said; take your wife too... No way you can pick one out that you BOTH will love. My wife and I agree on everything, and it too 3 trips to Modena to select ours. Uba Tuba is BORING and EVERYBODY has it cause Home Depot and Lowes push it. Don't get me wrong, its pretty, but c'Mon. It's like a red corvette.. too common. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
If you are looking at granite in a store STOP!
Find a few semi-local granite yards and go on a sunny day. You canot imagine the variety of colors etc. It was awesome. One or two counters in a store and a few selections in 1 sq foot pieces is like reading the bible and trying to imagine heaven . You just can't imagine it until you see it. We have two good yards in the whole Pittsburgh Area (that I know of) and Modena is the better of them. They have hundreds of whole slabs out there to look at.
That said; take your wife too... No way you can pick one out that you BOTH will love. My wife and I agree on everything, and it too 3 trips to Modena to select ours. Uba Tuba is BORING and EVERYBODY has it cause Home Depot and Lowes push it. Don't get me wrong, its pretty, but c'Mon. It's like a red corvette.. too common. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
