Corian
Corian is made using acrylic and/or polyester plastic. It comes in many colors and designs, including granite look-alikes, and is available in a matte or glossy finish. It is water resistant, does not usually stain and is easy to clean. It is unaffected by chemical use in cleaning agents and is repairable.

However, Corian is not heat resistant. Placing hot pans on it damages the surface beyond repair. It is expensive, and scratches easily, though the scratches can be removed through repair. Additionally, being manmade, Corian is not eco-friendly. But most of all, Corian is not aesthetically appealing to the discerning consumer. Corian is essentially synthetic, and its finish cannot match the timbre and antiquity of natural stone.

Corian meets some of the criteria of a good counter top, but its lack of resistance to heat and scratching, and its synthetic finish do not offer a conscious customer a justified purchase.

Wood
Wood counter tops, made using strips of thick wood joined together, are durable with care, attractive and functional, especially if you chop a lot. They are easy to clean as well and you can remove scratches with sandpaper.

However, wood counters do not offer much scope in color or design and need a lot of care. Compared to other counters, they do not last as long. They are neither heat nor water resistant and scratch easily. Additionally, their edges warp over time and need treatment. Wood is not environmentally friendly either.

Furthermore, wooden tops are expensive. The question facing consumers is, “is the extra care and drawbacks worth the extra money?”

Granite
A natural stone of immense beauty, granite is available in many colors and finishing styles, from polished to matte and textured. It is strong, very durable, easy to clean and doesn’t gather dirt. It won’t stain or scratch and is resistant to heat, water, and chemicals. Granite is one of the hardest materials in existence, it does not usually chip or crack, but is repaired with little difficulty in the event of a mishap.

Granite is expensive but offers many benefits in a high usage area like a kitchen. Additionally, its aesthetic appeal is unmatched by any alternative.

Marble
Marble is also aesthetically pleasing and hygienic, but can stain and scratch more easily. It is not as hard as granite and therefore not as durable and does not react well with chemical cleaning agents.

Considering the facts at hand, granite provides the best option for a kitchen countertop. The cost of granite is an investment, which more than pays off over the decades, in terms of ease, cleanliness, low maintenance costs, durability and aesthetics.