All About Stone Countertops

By: Josh Garskof, This Old House magazine (Page 1 of 7)

Illustration: Rodica Prato

Backsplash
Seal joint with silicone.

Thickness
Choose 3/4- or 1 ½-inch slabs.

Cabinets
Top goes directly over base units or plywood.

Edges
Rounded ones don't chip as easily as squared ones.

Overhang
Equal to or just beyond the projection of the installed drawer pulls.

different styles of stones including solid surfacing, concrete and engineered stone

Photo: Wendell T. Webber

These man-made materials can mimic the look of stone—even rare, prohibitively pricey ones like lapis or onyx. Here’s how they stack up in terms of durability, maintenance, and cost

different edge styles for stones including eased, bullnose, ogee and triple pencil

Illustration: Rodica Prato

Eased Edge
A simple treatment that goes well with modern and Shaker-style decor. No extra charge

Bullnose
Versatile and tough, there are no sharp edges or corners to run into or chip. About $10–$20 per linear foot

Ogee
This graceful shape adds an elegant touch to any counter. $20–$30 per linear foot

Triple Pencil
A sleek, undulating profile reminiscent of 1920s Art Deco. About $30–$60 per linear foot

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How to Laminate a Countertop

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Why Choose Stone

The countertop makes the kitchen. It's the work surface where you prepare food, eat casual family meals, perhaps even pay bills and help Junior with his homework. And of all the countertop materials you can buy, stone is the gold standard for both durability and character.

Every rock pulled from the earth has its own mineral color, veining, and speckles, brought vividly to life by stoneworkers' saws and polishing wheels. So whether you select a solid burgundy quartzite, a sky-blue granite, or a beige travertine embedded with fossilized seashells, it will be as distinctive as an original work of art.

And as permanent, too. Unaffected by hot pans or water, a stone countertop will last as long as your house—maybe even longer. It needs only a little routine care and forethought to ward off water marks, stains, and etching typically caused by acidic foods. But even if the worst happens—a chipped edge, a red wine spill—most stones can be restored by a professional.

On the following pages, we explain the differences between the various stone types, offer money-saving tips, and cover the basics of stone care. By the end, you'll know what it takes to bring your kitchen, beautifully and dramatically, into the stone age.