When you have a large family and love to cook or you just want to stay occupied with your passion for cooking, you’ll want a countertop that can tolerate you or someone else constantly using it. That means you’ll need a countertop that requires limited upkeep and is resistant to scratches, abrasions, heat, stains, and blunt force.

Here’s a look at six unrivaled countertops for a busy kitchen. They’re considered the best in the business concerning countertops, plus they’re rated according to stain resistance, heat damage, abrasion, and impact. Included are both natural stone and non-stone surfaces.

1. Granite

If you’re seriously thinking of replacing your countertops and running a busy kitchen, granite is an outstanding choice, and if you’re on a limited budget, you can look at everyday granite slabs as there are those available that are of comparable quality to higher-end pieces.

Most granite slabs are unique and those with scarcer colors and veining will always be more costly. Granite is not only a hard stone, but it’s resistant to stains, scratches, cuts, and heat. Whether you choose polished or matte granite, both will resist stains when correctly sealed. You want to pick the look that you prefer, as both will still require the right amount of care in intermittent sealing to keep stains at bay.

Any of the edges of a granite countertop are susceptible to chipping, which requires professional repair. Granite is the right replacement for kitchen countertops because of its durability, but it requires repeated resealing to maintain it. The material is also perfect for replacing kitchen counters because of its resistance to heat, scratches, and stains. You’ll want to talk with granite companies nearby your residence to get further information on granite.

2. Quartz

Though quartz looks like a natural stone and has significant hardness, it requires less upkeep than natural stone materials. It’s a man-made stone that consists of quartz chips or dust that are held together with resin bonding agents and selected pigments. A quartz countertop that’s made from chips has a speckled look, as you can see separate stones floating in the resin. Other quartz selections can be brightly colored, have patterns, and appear similar to granite and marble.

When you work in a busy kitchen, you want a countertop that’s low-maintenance and quartz fits the bill as a suitable replacement. Quartz is not only durable, but it’s also resistant to stains, hot cookware, and abrasive pads. The variety of colors and different finishes fit in with almost any kitchen style and theme. Also, if you like the way granite looks but prefer quartz, there are quartz countertop choices that imitate the look of granite. Be careful with chipping on the edges and corners of quartz, as you’ll need professional experts to repair them.

3. Soapstone

Soapstone is a material that offers several benefits, which makes it a suitable candidate for your busy kitchen. Soapstone is resistant to any damage by heat that can happen almost anywhere in a kitchen, particularly with a lot of baking happening. Though stains, scratches, nicks, and cuts can appear, they’re easily diminished with sanding and a bit of mineral oil. Soapstone is susceptible to scratches, which makes upkeep with it more of a priority, but if you use a cutting board, you can eliminate problems with scuffs and scratches; however, some stains won’t simply disappear.

4. Laminate

Laminate countertop materials aren’t what they used to be as they are more adaptable to the appearance of other surfaces, plus with new edging and printing processes, laminates are entirely different than they were years ago. They’re also less costly, easily installed, and resistant to stains and heat. It’s not wise to cut directly on a laminate surface as cuts and scratches can occur, so it’s best to use a cutting board, especially if you are active in the kitchen with prepping and cutting food.

Laminate surfaces have come a long way over the years. So, if you want an affordable way to replace your countertops, a laminate is a good choice.

5. Solid Surfacing

If you want a seamless clean look, think about solid surface material for your busy kitchen countertops. You can use it for your counters, sink, and backsplash and create a seamless look with no visible joints. The material is available in several colors and patterns that don’t vary from samples you get, plus solid surfacing is resistant to most any stain and any small nicks and you can repair any scratches or nicks that appear. Just remember to use a cutting board before you prepare food. You want to avoid any scratches or cuts.

6. Butcher’s Block

Butcher block countertops bring warmth to a busy kitchen and give the area a homey and traditional appeal. It’s both easy to install and repair and a finish is important to keep the wooden surface free of stains. Whether you varnish or oil butcher block, you can both improve and diminish possible stains.

Nicks and scratches can happen as butcher block is a wooden surface, but they’re a durable kitchen countertop and varnishing can eliminate nicks, dings, and scratches that can occur. You can also buff out scratches though some homeowners like the rustic appeal of a more used kitchen countertop, particularly when they’re into baking and cooking. You need to be careful with nicks and scratches, though you can sand them out for a cleaner look.

Get a New Countertop From Marble Concepts

Any of the countertop options listed here would be good choices for homeowners interested in heavy-duty cooking or baking. Or maybe you just want limited upkeep with your countertops. Any of the six selections reviewed here would be good, but you want to consider the upkeep involved with any of the choices.

Marble Concepts will be happy to accommodate you with any of these countertop choices. We’ve been in business for over 30 years and offer a complete selection of materials and the services that go along with them. Give us a call at 215-396-7393. Our knowledge and experience will change the way you look at home improvement.