Building a home comes with plenty of options to choose from and decisions to be made, and that includes choosing the material for your kitchen countertop. With so many options out there, it’s easy to get the look you want for your kitchen and still stick to your budget, but looks aren’t everything!
It’s just as important to look for something that’s durable enough to outlast all the meal prep, parties, and holiday dinners you’ll have in your new home. In this post we’ll list some of the most popular countertop options and how they stand up to heat, stains, and scratches. We’ll even tell you how to get a free granite countertop from Carolina Custom Homes of Burlington!
Top 10 Kitchen Countertop Materials

Granite
Perhaps the most popular countertop material, granite is valued for its durability as well as its beauty. Cut from igneous rock into slabs, granite comes in a variety of colors and patterns, and is resistant to scratches, heat, and heavy impact.
Marble
Marble is quickly becoming a popular choice for high-end kitchen designs due to its natural beauty. Although not as durable as granite or quartz, marble is heat-resistant and can be buffed to remove minor scratches and nicks.
Quartz
Practical yet stylish, quartz countertops are extremely durable and require very little maintenance to keep it looking like new. Quartz is resistant to stains, heat, scratching, and impact.
Soapstone
Soapstone countertops have been used in scientific labs for years due to being nearly impervious against chemicals. In the kitchen, soapstone resists stains, acids, and high heat from pots and pans.
Laminate
Starting at around $5 per square foot, laminate countertops are much more affordable than other materials. Laminate is available in a variety of finishes that can mimic almost any material such as granite or wood, but isn’t heat resistant and can be prone to scratching.
Glass
Sleek and modern, glass is becoming popular in kitchen design. The non-porous surface is heat and stain resistant, and one of the most sanitary countertop options available.
Concrete
Perfect for a kitchen designed with a more industrial look in mind, concrete is another durable countertop material. It can be poured directly in place so you won’t have to worry about broken slabs or mismatched patterns. Concrete can even be dyed for a gorgeous finish!


Stainless Steel
Following the popularity of stainless steel appliances, these countertops are especially popular for kitchens where heavy prep and hot pots and pans are common.
Recycled Materials
“Going green” has never looked better! Countertops made with recycled materials tend to be budget-friendly. Made with reclaimed glass, wood, or even paper, recycled material countertops are typically bound with a heat-resistant resin.
Butcher’s Block
Add some warmth to your kitchen design with a natural wood or butcher’s block countertop. When properly sealed, this durable material is safe for food prep and highly heat resistant.
Everyone wants a kitchen that looks great, but it’s just as important to pick a countertop that will continue to look great no matter how you use it!
When you choose to build a modular home with Carolina Custom Homes of Burlington, we’ll include a FREE granite countertop upgrade as part of your design! Learn more about it by clicking the button below!