[Shop-talk] Alternative kitchen countertops?

[Brian Kemp]

Jim - If your existing counters are structurally good, have you 
considered a granite overlay?  See 
http://www.granitetransformations.com/ as a sample.  I can't speak to 
this specific vender other than seeing their advertisements. They were a 
good bit cheaper than solid granite.

We ended up moving instead and I definitely like my current granite 
counters over the laminate ones at the old house.  If I were doing it my 
way and budget wasn't a big concern, I'd get engineered stone like 
Silestone or Ceaserstone for durability and not needing to be sealed 
like granite.

You could also look at tile.  Whatever you have, I would definitely have 
a good bead of kitchen silicone caulk around the sink/counter joint.

My concern with the resin would be scratches and melting from hot stuff.

Brian


On 1/30/2013 5:00 PM, Jim Franklin wrote:
> Still reeling from the price of granite/soapstone/etc, I was researching
> alternatives. I already have an apron-front sink, which acts like an
> undermount but actually is supported on the sides at the bottom, instead of
> being clamped to the counter underside. Still, I can't really use laminate
> unless I work at waterproofing the edge where the sink is. This isn't a
> forever counter, so it is a possibility.
>
> One material that struck my eye was phenolic resin. I'd need to cut out the
> sink hole; is it easily worked with carbide blades or is it a pain?
>
> Concrete is out, way too much work.
>
> There's too much wood in the kitchen already for butcher block.
>
> Any other reasonably priced alternatives you've used (or heard of)?
>
> thanks,
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