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Natural Stone makes the cut

They are the vital workspaces where delectable meals are concocted, new recipes are tried and the finishing touches are put on birthday cakes. They collect the mail, provide ample room for messy projects and go under the knife daily. Fortunately for homeowners, the selection of countertops is plentiful. To find the industry's best countertop options, we asked our local experts to weigh in.

Granite, Corian and concrete with aggregates and other inlays illustrate the wide variety of countertop materials. Samples are courtesy of Aloha State Sales, Lokahi Stone, Selective Stone, Superior Solid Surface and Bella Pietra, A Natural Stone Design Center. photo by Rae Huo

Natural Stone makes the cut

According to natural-stone suppliers, homeowners are brushing up on their geology. Or, at least, they are considering natural stone for their countertops. Granite, soapstone and travertine are popular for their originality, quartz specks and colorful veins.

"Stone countertops have weathered the test of time," says Jinny Nip, of Selective Stone. "They're dense, durable and impervious to heat."

Selective Stone, is known for its pre-fabricated stone countertops. Prefabricated countertops are cut into standardized sizes before installation, making for quick assembly. This process cuts down on costs by reducing material use and installation time

Layla Dedrick, of Bella Pietra, A Natural Stone Design Center, agrees. "The most well-known type of kitchen countertops, in particular, is granite," she says. She has noticed that, as the demand for granite has taken off, there has also been an increase in orders for prefabricated granite countertops.

Granite samples, (left to right) Purple Dunes, Juperana Delicatus and Verde Marinace, exemplify the color range of stone available from Bella Pietra, a Natural Stone Design Center.

Bella Pietra's prefab granite is available in 40 shades that range from common stone colors to more exotic hues of gold and silver.

Pat James, of Hawaii Granite Co., is excited about new quarrying techniques that extract exotic colors of granite. The company imports its prefabricated stone from India, China and Brazil, while offering it at wholesale prices to the general public. Overall, James believes that, due to granite's resilient composition, it is one of the best options for kitchen countertops.

"You can pour hydrochloric acid directly on the granite surface and nothing reacts or etches it," he explains.

Another option for stone counter-tops is travertine. Andean Stone is a large supplier of Gallos travertine, which is mined in Peru from the top of the Andes Mountains. The Gallos travertine ranges in color from soft crème to rusty orange shades, says Brian O'Shea, of Andean Stone, colors and warm tones that are not normally found in other stone products. This countertop material is available from Andean Stone in 33 colors and eight finishes.

"Travertine, with its high-durability factor, is an excellent product for countertops," O'Shea says. He says Gallos travertine, in particular, has structural integrity that is unsurpassed by other travertine products. It is less porous than other natural stone and, with proper maintenance, stains can be easily avoided.

Stoneworld’s soapstone darkens, from heather gray to sharkskin gray, with applications of mineral-oil.

Stoneworld, a one-stop shop for natural stone products and services, offers stone selections from around the world. As a specialist in custom kitchen and bath remodeling, Stoneworld says soapstone is an uncommon, yet attractive alternative. Because soapstone is recognized for its extreme density, it is often used as countertops in chemical laboratories.

"Soapstone is impervious to staining," says Julie Wason, of Stoneworld, "and, although its surface is soft, it's easy to repair with sandpaper and mineral oil." Sharkskin gray in color, soapstone's beauty lies in its understated, marblelike veining, which darkens with each mineral oil application.

Selective Stone says sealant treatment is a good idea for all stone surfaces. The company suggests a sealer that impregnates the stone, such as Miracle Sealant's 511 Impregnator, instead of a topical sealer that can peel and discolor the stone.

Lokahi Stone turns concrete into a work of art. Sea shells, quartz chunks and metal petroglyph inlays make countertops truly original.

Dedrick, at Bella Pietra, says that the key to long-lasting granite countertops is preventative maintenance. She recommends that homeowners seal their countertops at the time of installation, plus every three to five years thereafter. She notes that, with proper care, granite countertops will outlast most other parts of any house.

In contrast, some homeowners are opting not to seal their countertops. According to Bella Pietra, some homeowners rather encourage organic aging, much like the character of natural wood floors. Evidence of everyday life–coffee rings, scratches and burns–add individuality. This process transforms countertops over time, creating a wonderful, homeworn look.

Concrete Creations

Pavemend concrete, created by Cera Tech, is self-leveling and sets quickly, making it easy to use in countertop fabrication. Photo courtesy of Inouye Designs/Hawaiian Materials.

Many industry advances are made first for the military and then later released to the public–this is true in the concrete business as well. Cera Tech Inc. of Virginia developed a new concrete called Pavemend for the U.S. Department of Defense to repair runways in Afghanistan. The special concrete, made with waste ash from coal-burning power plants, is 30 percent lighter than traditional concrete and sets quickly, allowing it to be poured into any shape. Inouye Designs/ Hawaiian Materials LLC, a local designer of custom concrete fabrications, is now creating kitchen counters with this 21st-century technology. It's an alternative solution to a solid-surface countertop, when a seamless finish is wanted, but with a natural stone feeling.

At one time, concrete countertops were relegated to the backyard sink basins. But those days are long gone. Today, concrete designers are mixing up one-of-a-kind counter and sink designs. "Concrete is a material so wonderful to work with, because it begins its existence as a liquid and then solidifies to assume any shape, color or design criteria," says Jamie McGuire, of Lokahi Stone, a contemporary concrete design studio.

When a truly custom countertop is in order, Lokahi Stone concrete is ideal. For those who like the simplicity and functionality of concrete, the company can design built-in drain boards, trivets and soap trays. For a touch of artistry, Lokahi Stone mixes in colorful aggregates and decorative inlays, such as fossilized shells, semiprecious stones, turquoise and recycled glass and, in one case, clock parts.

Coffee-brown is just one color from a large selection of Silestone countertop colors from Aloha State Sales. Photo courtesy of Cosetino.

Engineered nature

Jim Sharp, of Aloha State Sales, is excited about engineered stone, which he calls "the next evolution of countertops." Engineered stone, a combination of natural quartz and manmade resin, has been available for years, but new innovations are making it even more attractive. Sharp specifically recommends Silestone, with Microban. Counters treated with MicroBan®, an antimicrobial protector, are protected from mold and bacteria.

Silestone is 93-percent natural quartz, which delivers distinctive depth, brilliant clarity, glimmering radiance and a cool, solid feel, unique to natural stone. Only three other natural minerals–diamond, sapphire and topaz–are harder than quartz, so it's nearly scratch, stain and scorch resistant.

Set on solid surfaces

In the manmade, solid-surface market, Corian by DuPont is the original standard. Glenda Yoza, of Superior Solid Surface, says Corian is nonporous, which prohibits the growth of mold or bacteria, and prevents liquids from staining.

Staron, from Pacific American Lumber, imitates natural stone surfaces while providing the durability of synthetic materials.

Made of an acrylic-based material, it arrives to a distributor in slabs. After fabrication and installation, the seams are inconspicuous. Because it is malleable, Corian is ideal for creating fancy and unusual edging and backsplashes.

Since Corian is completely manmade, the product offers many colors that are not available in natural stones. Superior Solid Surface stocks 80 colors of Corian, from neutral suede and fawn to vibrant Pompeii red and cobalt blue. DuPont offers a 10-year warranty on Corian for residential projects, when installed by a certified fabricator/installer.

Staron is a solid-surface alternative made by Samsung. It has similar characteristics to Corian, such as its nonporous nature, but Staron tends to be less costly. Pacific American Lumber, which offers a variety of building products, with special emphasis on wood flooring and accessories, carries Staron in 62 colors, including sand, aspen, pebble, quarry, terrace and brick. Different patterns have different particulate sizes, which mimic the aggregates found in natural stone.

A more economical countertop option at Pacific American Lumber is Nevamar, a distinctive aluminum-oxide, high-pressure laminate. According to Laverne Kawakami, of Pacific American Lumber, this product is more scratch-resistant than other laminates on the market and it can also be used for cabinets.

In Superior Solid Surface’s showroom, Corian is on display in application. Because this product is manmade, it is available in dozens of colors.

Consider installation requirements for all materials. Many suppliers suggest professional installation, while some products require a certified installer to validate a warranty.

"Stone countertops should be installed by a licensed, certified fabricator," says Nip, of Selective Stone.

When experts are needed, certified installers, such as the crew at Precision Stone Corp., can help. They specialize in granite fabrication and install natural stone in kitchens and baths.

When choosing a countertop, the variety of colors and style options are endless once a material is selected. From solid-surface materials to natural stone and even government-engineered concrete, the current selection of countertops covers everyone.