In any home, the kitchen is the one room the sees the most activity – from preparing and cooking food, to dining, entertaining, and even working. It is obvious that your kitchen countertops should be able to withstand all that activity without having to compromise it’s aesthetic appeal. Since buying new countertops can be a rather large investment, you should know your options and their advantages and disadvantages before making any decisions.

The most common factors in choosing a type of countertop are aesthetic appeal and cost. However, there are many more factors that should be taken into account ­– things like durability, edging, easy maintenance, and resistance to heat, water, chemicals, scratches, and stains. Looking at each option available on the market today, we’ll see what materials stand out as the ideal countertop for your kitchen.

Formica
Formica is a laminate synthetic material composed of a thin layer of plastic joined to a particleboard or wood. It comes in attractive colors and designs, simulating materials like granite, and is relatively inexpensive. Being made of wood, or compressed particle board, it is fairly durable and has edging options. It’s easy to clean, has a smooth surface, and is stain resistant.

It meets a handful of the aforementioned criteria, but is that good enough? Few people find Formica aesthetically pleasing. Moreover, hot objects placed on it will melt the surface, and it is extremely susceptible to water damage. Cleaning materials used in the kitchen damage Formica, scratching it and leaving it dull. Knives will certainly leave marks. Be advised, Formica cannot be repaired. Additionally, it will fade and warp over time and with prolonged usage.

Ceramic Tiles
Ceramic tiles come in an array of designs and colors. Tiles are fairly common in the modern household. They are durable, stain, water and heat resistant and practically scratch-proof. Though they are slightly more expensive than laminates, they are attractively priced, and can even be repaired with little difficulty.

However, tiling needs frequent cleaning because grouting easily gathers dirt, a situation not desirable in a kitchen. Cleaning grouting is not only time-consuming, but can be very tiresome. Additionally, ceramic tiles are prone to chipping and cracking.

Ceramic tile counters fare well on most counts, but its major drawback –that of maintenance –makes it an impractical solution for kitchen use.