<p>Another funny thing I’ve noticed…we have friends who chose a quartz that looked like granite…other friends who chose a granite that looked like quartz. No one I know has any issues with the maintenance of their granite. There ARE folks who used a dark marble in their bathrooms and HATE it. </p>
<p>A number of friends who have gotten darker granites or quartz counters have noted that they show every little crumb…particularly the dark (and uniform) quartz countertops.</p>
<p>I DO, however, think this is personal preference. I don’t agree that granite “is on the way out”. I think there will always be room for a variety of counter material choices in homes…some folks I know actually prefer their laminate counters.</p>
<p>That is, unless there’s not already granite countertops and SS appliances. We got the granite countertops about four years ago, and my SS appliances are coming this Wednesday!</p>
<p>But yea, the realtors on those shows always point out when granite is already installed, along with SS appliances. And if they’re not, the buyers always complain that they’ll have to redo the kitchen so that they have that.</p>
<p>The home buying shows exemplify what’s wrong with America. They feature first time homeowners who have tastes way above their budget who are earning starter salaries and have no plans in case they are laid off. And they cannot live in a place without top notch appliances and countertops??? Sigh!! My Corian countertops will just have to do until the last tuition payment. Correction - we now have a wedding on the horizon! Hopefully we have brought our S (and his future wife) up to settle for a reasonable starter home!</p>
<p>My sister has the black granite in a bathroom and really hates it.</p>
<p>I installed Zodiac quartz 5 years ago. I wish I had done granite. I am a really picky person and people kept telling me the seams might be more noticeable with granite. That’s why I went with quartz. The installers did a great job and I think granite seams would have been fine. It’s personal preference–I prefer the shiny look of granite.</p>
<p>My quartz has tinsy nicks by the sink where small flecks of it have come out. I am very very careful with it. I’m sure normal people can’t see that. It also has a small chip on the edge where a large glass fell out of a cabinet.</p>
<p>The color is a mixture of grays, with white and black flecks. I will say it hides most anything. Wish I’d gone lighter–it is too dark with glazed oak cabinets and gray slate floors.</p>
<p>I think it really depends on the style of your home. Homes that are newish -20yrs old look fine with either quartz/granite/marble. Our home is 110 yrs old & we currently have formica counters, which we are probably going to replace with tile.</p>
<p>In our kitchen, the NEXT owner will have to put in Stainless steel appliances. We went with white. And a white sink too.</p>
<p>And if they don’t like the granite…they can replace that too. This renovation was done to please US…not the next buyer. I don’t care if we move in a year…I am enjoying these new things.</p>
<p>AND we did wait until the last college tuition payment was made. Counters were a bargain compared to the cost of college.</p>
<p>We are so very out of date. We still have something that looks like butcher block. I know we need to update but need to get these kids through college first. Hope we don’t have to try to sell any time soon.</p>
<p>(Edited: just clicked on that ikea link above…maybe if we wait long enough butcher block will become trendy again LOL! Those counter tops are gorgeous!)</p>
<p>Another comment - when we first got the granite we broke quite a few dishes and a glass pyrex bowl because we weren’t used to laying things down a little more gently.</p>
<p>I love soapstone, but when I investigated as part of a potential kitchen remodel found that it was significantly more expensive than granite. My kitchen has granite in part of it, and I put hot pots and pans on it all the time, and have never sealed it. It doesn’t stain and looks fine. If you like the look of soapstone but can’t afford it, consider honed granite.</p>
And that’s why we have Corian counters! I dislike the hardness of stone surfaces–both in look and feel, and since I’m a klutz, I think I would have smashed stuff continuously on granite. I also think the very strong look of many granites (color, striations) means that there’s a good chance that whoever buys your house will have different taste and want to replace it, so it’s best to just buy to your own taste and enjoy.</p>
<p>Still have formica here, which I have had to reglue a couple of times. DH is loath to renovate, not that we could do it before college is finished. Cabinets are white thermo-covered, are 20 years old and falling apart. HGTV would have a field day with us!</p>
<p>I’d like to knock out a wall and open the kitchen out to the living room/dining room (which are sorely underused now). Has anyone had issues with grease getting into the furniture? Our kitchen trim and blinds get gunky and I would hate to have that happen in an expanded kitchen/living room.</p>
<p>I checked out Ivory Fantasy, and it’s the same granite I have in one of the bathrooms - and my favorite. It’s been in for about 15 years and I still really like it - very soft and neutral. The counter, floor, walls (up to chair rail height), and the shower are all covered with it - sort of an Ivory Fantasy cave!</p>
<p>The paperstone is interesting - is it durable? Comparable to stone? I really do like the soapstone with the slight veining.</p>
<p>Someone mentioned that young buyers demand granite in their kitchen, or they will need to “rip out the entire thing”. Just the other night, on HGTV, a young buyer commented that the granite was not to her taste, and she would need to “rip it out” and replace it with something of her liking.</p>
<p>I agree that granite can be a very personal thing, much like wallpaper was many years ago. I think if we were planning to buy a house, and it already had granite countertops, there’s a good chance I wouldn’t like what was installed.</p>
<p>My sister had quartz installed and hates them. She has major issues with chipping.</p>
<p>Depending on the outcome of D’s college apps (merit aid), we might remodel our kitchen this year. I’ve been struggling with the countertop decision and can honestly say I don’t know what to choose. I’m willing to spend the money for something perfect. I just can’t find it among the fashionable options.</p>
<p>Believe it or not, the only material that meets all my criteria is…formica. Really. If I can’t find the color or features I like in one of the other surfaces, I just might go with one of the bazillion laminate choices out there. There a few that I like and at least one that I love.</p>
<p>It’s OK to laugh or gasp. I’m used to it by now. :p</p>
<p>DougBetsy, I understand. I have 16 year old formica countertops and they are in wonderful shape and no maintenance required. Formica comes in many colors and patterns. I know when we do replace this, I will look at high end formica as well as these other choices. I do worry about where all this granite and quartz is coming from.</p>
<p>We built a house 9 years ago and didn’t really see a granite that we loved for the kitchen counters. Kitchen designer suggested honed slate–we loved it and choose a green/gray colored slate. Also used honed black slate as a counter for cherry cabinets in the family room. The slate has been wonderful. It wears really well (if it gets scratched you can rub it out with steel wool). Sealed it the first year, but didn’t see the need to do it again.</p>
<p>There are some WONDERFUL formica choices now. I think I might have considered that myself except that my counters need to be fully replaced…not refaced. They had wood trim (yelled loudly 1995!!). </p>
<p>To the OP…get what YOU want. Don’t worry about anyone else. The next owner of your house can do whatever they want to do to your house. Get something you will enjoy!!</p>
<p>Choose what you prefer, not what you think a future buyer would. We renovated our entire home last year and chose a beautiful granite for our kitchen. The beauty of natural stone is like a work of art. I didn’t like the look of quartz. Soapstone is pretty but everyone I know who has it, has regretted the decision. Too soft and difficult to maintain. As an aside, I’d never choose black countertops, in any material. They show every crumb or fleck of dust. We lived in a house while our reno was being done that had black granite and it was a PITA.</p>