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Quartz And Solid Surface Countertops
Quartz Countertops
 This relative newcomer is a manufactured material made by combining bits of quartz with binders and colorants. It's sometimes called engineered stone and is marketed under names including Caesarstone, Zodiaq, Silestone and Viatera.
Quartz countertops have the look of a fine-grained stone and can
resemble marble, granite or concrete. They have all the qualities of granite without the maintenance, Nairn said. And like solid-surface countertops, they have no visible seams.
One type of quartz countertop, Silestone, even contains Microban protection to inhibit the
growth of bacteria and other microbes.
Quartz has a large color palette, but there's not much choice in patterns, Nairn noted. What's more, light can fade it, she said.
Quartz is slightly more costly than solid-surface materials — about 2 to 5 percent higher, Kieft said.
Solid Surface Countertops
 Solid-surface countertops — Corian is probably the best-known type —
are made from polymer or acrylic resin that's nonporous and tough. As its name implies, the countertop is a solid piece of the material with the
same color throughout. It won't stain permanently or absorb bacteria, and it's easy to renew, making it a good choice for hard-working kitchens.
Unlike many countertop materials, solid-surface countertops have no visible seams. The material also lends itself well to being shaped into curves and intricate patterns, so the design
possibilities are great, Kieft said.
''If there's something that can be done with wood, it can be done with Corian,'' he said.
Solid-surface countertops will scratch, Kieft said, but scratches can be buffed out with a Scotch-Brite scrubbing pad. And although the material is heat resistant, hot pans shouldn't be
placed on it directly, Nairn said.
Figure to spend roughly what you would for granite, the kitchen designers said.
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