Sintered stone consists of a composite of blended stones, compacted under extreme pressure and heat. Particles are bonded together permanently, without a need for resins or bonding agents. The end product is non-porous, extremely easy to maintain and highly resistant to stains. 

Differences between brands are usually color and pattern options. Durability and quality between well-known vendors are indistinguishable. 

Common Brands: Dekton, Neolith, Vulcan, Gardenia, Arkstone

• Scratch resistant
• Heat resistant
• UV Resistant (Color won’t fade and turn yellow over time under sunlight)
• Anti-microbial properties (vendor specific)

• Cracking – If countertop is not properly leveled during installation, it can place pressure on the countertop, resulting in cracking.
• Chipping - Sintered stone does damage if exposed to impact, particularly on edges. The impact of items such as a pot or a plate falling on the surface can result in damage, particularly along edges. 
• Difficult to repair -  Because of how they’re made, repairs can be more difficult and noticeable than granite, marble and quartz.
• Printed designs and textures do not run through the full thickness of the slab. This means that on the cut and polished ends of the stone, the finish and texture will not be the same as the top surface. Workarounds like mitered edges are required and will cost slightly more.
• Cost is generally costlier than the other options.

Quartz countertops are a form of engineered stone, made from ground-up particles of stone bound together with plastic resins. They’re usually made from around 90% ground quartz with 10% resins, polymers, and pigments. 

The resins and polymers bind the quartz together, making it hard and durable while pigments are added to give the countertop color. In some cases, recycled glass or metal flecks are added to spice up the design.

• Stain resistant
• Crack resistant
• Non-porous, does not require sealing or resealing
• Seams between slabs are less visible than between slabs of concrete or natural stone

• Not heat tolerant
• Seams are inevitable for large countertop designs
• Direct sunlight over an extended period of time will cause color fading

Granite is a naturally durable igneous rock and occurs in many natural colors. Granite countertops are made from full natural stone slabs from granite quarries. 

Countertops are typically made from a single slab so that the color and veining pattern will match.  

Some granite is more porous and needs to be sealed more often than others. Sealing helps the stone resist damage from spills, which can cause staining and dull the appearance.

• Extremely strong and durable
• Highly resistant to scratches and damage from heat
• Stain resistance and easy to clean when sealed correctly

• Granite is porous. Improper sealing can lead to staining and can harbor bacteria in its pores
• Fewer color varieties and patterns in granite than in engineered stone countertops.
• Corners can chip or break

Marble is a natural, metamorphic rock which has been physically and chemically transformed over time due to intense heat and pressure.  

It is a hard, crystalline form of limestone and  is often white with streaks of grays, although there are many color variations. 

Marble countertops and tabletops are not as hard as granite or quartz countertops and are much more porous with many natural veins and fissures.  

Thus, Marble surfaces are more susceptible to staining. Any acidic or alkali substance that may come in contact with the marble tops will cause a chemical reaction that will etch and remove the polish of the marble.

• Elegant vein patterns
• Lots of colors and styles
• Heat resistant

• Marble’s porous nature makes it prone to stains, scratches and etching from acidic substances
• Requires periodic sealing
• Stain easily when not sealed correctly

Solid-surface is a man-made material that combines alumina trihydrate (ATH) as filler with acrylic or polyester resins, along with added pigments.

With polyester or acrylic solid surface materials, each type has some advantages and disadvantages. Polyester solid surface is high-gloss yet fairly brittle. Acrylic solid surface has more of a flat, matte texture and is relatively durable.

Most solid-surface manufacturers do not make the resin content obvious. You will need to search the technical specifications to learn if a particular manufacturer's solid-surface material is based on acrylic or polyester.

• Edge Profiles -  It’s hard to create curves with natural or engineered stone, but is fairly normal with solid surface top.  With themaforming,  rounding curved edges are possible.
• Easy to Repair:  Burns can be sanded out; deep gouges can be filled easy
• Seams are fused together to create undetectable joints. 
• Durability – Although both custom granite and quartz are more durable, solid surfaces are hard and impact-resistant.
• Non-porous surface – This countertop material is non-porous and resists stains and food-borne bacteria.

• Weak (Impact, Scratches) - is relatively soft and can be scratched by knives and sharp utensils.
• Heat Deformation: Solid surfaces will begin to deform at higher temperatures. Hot, dry pans (e.g frying pan) and wet pans (such as a pot of pasta with boiling water) should not be placed directly on a solid surface counter.
• Vulnerable to strong chemicals – If exposed to nail polish remover, paint thinner, lacquer, over cleaner or other harsh chemicals, solid surfaces can become damaged.

Laminate, or HPL is produced with multiple layers of kraft paper bonded with resin and topped with a printed decor layer. These layers are then stacked between laminates before being compressed under high pressure and heated to permanently meld together. 

The high temperature used in the manufacturing process creates very strong bonds that make for a very durable product.

• Lower cost compared with other options
• Emulates the look and texture of natural materials, including wood and marble
• Non-porous and durable
• Resistant to heat, stains and spills

• Can scratch easily
• Susceptible to burns and chipping. Direct contact with hot objects can result in cracks and melt
• May suffer from delamination or warped over time, especially from water damage
• Relatively shorter lifespan compared to other options
• Limited edge profiles - due to the stick-on nature, the number of edge profiles are limited
• Visible joint lines but usually only in corners
• Prolonged exposure to sun can lead to discolouration

Compact laminates are a class of HPL, and are made in the same way. The key difference being that compact laminates have a thickness greater than 2mm, compared with 0.7mm for HPL. 

This added thickness comprises further layers of phenolic resin-impregnated kraft paper, giving Compact laminate its superior impact resistance.

Common Brands:  Formica compact, EDL compact, KompacPlus

• Lower cost compared with other options but higher than HPL
• Better resistant to heat,  impact, moisture, scratch than HPL
• Emulates the look and texture of natural materials, including wood and marble

• Susceptible to burns and chipping. Direct contact with hot objects can result in cracks and melt
• May suffer from delamination or warped over time, especially from water damage. 
• Relatively shorter lifespan compared to other options
• Limited edge profiles - due to the stick-on nature, the number of edge profiles are limited
• Visible joint lines but usually only in corners.
• Prolonged exposure to sun can lead to discolouration