Formica or granite...

**mombottoo** · 03-11-2009, 05:35 PM

I have always had formica countertops, but I love the look of granite. Are granite countertops harder to take care of? What are the pros & cons?

**IntlMom** · 03-11-2009, 05:44 PM

I;ve always had formica.....but the houe we are going to buy has granite - all I know is I never ever EVER again want tile!

(sorry, didn;t answer your question.......)

**nancycg56** · 03-11-2009, 05:50 PM

When we redid our kitchen I chose Caesarstone (quartz) over granite because there is NO upkeep, it cleans like a dream, never has to be resealed, and it won't crack. I LOVE setting a hot pot or dish right on the counter without worrying. We just like the look of the Caeserstone over granite but there is some very nice granite out there. Make sure that you look at the pieces you are going to use.

**redhead68** · 03-11-2009, 06:05 PM

The house we bought last summer had granite kitchen counter tops. So far, they're fine. I understand that granite must be sealed annually and it's important to wipe up spills immediately, especially acidic ones that will etch the stone. It wipes clean with water, and I occasionally use a granite cleaner and microfiber cloth to polish it. I use a large cutting board for food prep, so keeping it sanitized isn't really a problem.

Other than breaking a couple of dishes on it, I haven't had any trouble.

**craftypam** · 03-11-2009, 07:17 PM

Originally Posted by mombottoo

I have always had formica countertops, but I love the look of granite. Are granite countertops harder to take care of? What are the pros & cons?

I was just talking to a friend who has granite and doesn't like it because it is very loud. Also if you drop anything on it; its broken.
Formica is reasonably priced and there are many choices. You can also get the edges in wood. Check it out

**stinkbug** · 03-11-2009, 07:25 PM

It also depends on the price point. You don't want to invest in granite unless you are going to upgrade your kitchen drastically....you will never get your money back. Around here...at a certain price point, granite is expected. I have granite now....our house was new and that was what it had. I like it....but more so because I just love my kitchen. I'd look at all teh optionsand the price you are wanting to invest. It IS expensive! Dd has granite tile counter tops, which I do not care for at all.

**Thevail** · 03-11-2009, 07:48 PM

I have formica countertops, and I have to say..I love them. They're basically indestructible.

I don't think I'd go for granite myself, but that's just because it would look wierd with the 1950's diner theme.

**Grainlady** · 03-11-2009, 08:15 PM

1. If you are going to sell your home in the next 5 years (or so), you will benefit from having granite over Formica.

2. Due to EPA regulations, Formica is no longer as long-lasting and strong as it once was. If you use your kitchen a LOT, Formica may not be a good choice unless you are willing to replace it within 5-7-years. With a lot of use, you will see noticeable wear in 3-4 years.

3. If you have simple straight runs, a small amount of space to cover, and your counter tops aren't too complicated, granite will not be as expensive as when you have a lot of difficult angles. You will pay dearly for anything complicated when done with a natural materials. The price of granite also varies greatly due to location.

4. There's a whole world of counter top materials between Formica and granite, you might want to take more time looking at the full sprectum.

Personally, you couldn't give me any natural materials when it comes to countertops. The other horror story is anything with grout, such as tile, as IntlMom mentioned....

I should qualify my post by saying I have a husband who is a Certified Kitchen Designer and VP of a Cabinet Manufacturing Co. and has been in the cabinet business for over 34-years. I can't even tell you how many counter tops we've replaced over the years or the number of different surface types....

**FreesiaE** · 03-11-2009, 09:07 PM

We have a quartz composite countertop and love it. It needs no special anything!

**fixer** · 03-11-2009, 10:22 PM

We replaced our counter top last year with granite. We liked it because it was a natural material. We keep it sealed and use it every day. The only thing is how cold it gets. We keep our house at sixty degrees during the winter. If you set a plate of hot food or cup of coffee on it, it will suck the heat right out of it. We use potholders to keep this from happening. If you keep you house at a more normal temperature, it might not be a problem.

**savvymom** · 03-11-2009, 10:35 PM

We like to look at Home Depot Expo Design Center (just for fun) and we went into the counter top section one day. They weren't busy so we were chatting with the sales lady and I asked her the difference between all the different countertops. Her answer was the best choice is Silestone, because it is indestructable and lasts forever. She had a client that took a knife to the countertop display and the only shavings were from his knife.

Maybe this was her spill, but if it's true it's not too bad. It's cheaper than granite, more expensive than Formica. I cannot speak from experience on this kind of countertop, but thought I'd share anyway.

**AmyBoz** · 03-11-2009, 10:44 PM

We have granite and they are no maintenance. I've had them for 5 years, but I've never re-sealed them and they are still beautiful. Easy to clean, looks good, I can set a hot pot right down and not worry about burning the counter. I love them and think they were well worth the money.

**PrairieRose** · 03-12-2009, 09:52 AM

We put granite in our kitchen year before last and I absolutely love it. It's easy to clean up, no fuss or worry......I just *lurve* it.

**Persimmon Lace** · 03-12-2009, 10:50 AM

We are going to go with 2 types of countertops. In my baking center I will have a marble slab and in the rest we are looking at the Vetrazzo recycled glass tops or concrete. I am hard on my kitchen countertops and I don't want anything that has to even moderately babied. I have friends who put in granite, high dollar and very high quality, that have already sustained damage to their countertops. What I'd really like to have is stainless steel like we have in our church kitchen. Easy peasy.