Counter Fit

In today's upscale countertop market, granite is still "it." So, is it any wonder the industry is coming up with a host of granite-look options at a lower price point, as well as granite-style engineered stone that has fewer maintenance issues?

In the meantime, natural granite is also sporting a new look in the form of honed and satin finishes, as well as large tile for a more economical granite look.

Many other countertop choices from new looks in solid surface, to concrete to butcher block to good old ceramic tile are available as well, and consumers are frequently choosing them all for a mix and match kitchen, according to the manufacturers surveyed by Kitchen & Bath Design News.

Granite looks
Now that everyone and their brother seem to have a granite countertop, high-end customers are looking for a new and different look, reports Jim Janochoski, national product manager for Cold Spring Granite Inc., in Cold Spring, MN. That's answered by less shiny honed and satin finishes. "It's not as shiny as a gloss finish, [but] more buffed than honed," Janochoski explains about the latter. He adds that an impregnating sealer is recommended for less shiny surfaces, and "it takes a little more TLC to make sure the surface stays clean."

In recent years, the trend has also been toward smaller, tighter grains, in browns and gold, manufacturers note. "The earth tones are still very popular," says Janochoski. "It's a softer look with satin or honed finish."

Earth tones are also a hot pick for engineered stone, a significant entry in the market. "Zodiaq is over 90% natural quartz," explains Gin Guei Ebnesajjad, manager of product styling and development for the Wilmington, DE-based DuPont Surfaces, makers of Corian and Zodiaq. The engineered stone aims to alleviate some of natural granite's downsides, such as fault lines and lack of stain resistance, according to manufacturers. Ebnesajjad points out that real granite must be sealed with acrylic, which makes it somewhat man-made. It also has to be resealed periodically, unlike Zodiaq, she explains, noting that, "we take what nature has to offer and make it more functional."

"In most households, both of the parents are working. They're looking for something that requires less maintenance," adds Brandon Calvo, v.p./sales for Cosentino USA, in Stafford, TX, which manufactures Silestone. He notes that engineered stone is much less porous than natural stone, and comes in colors not available in natural granite, such as blue and yellow.

Engineered stone can even be honed, though Calvo points out that this process affects the maintenance factor. "You're actually creating small divots in the face of the material, and that tends to collect dirt."

Predictably, purveyors of natural stone don't think engineered stone measures up.

"From what we've seen, the pricing is similar if not higher; most folks look at engineered and natural stone and it's a no-
brainer," says Janochoski, though he admits the engineered stone has some advantages, such as additional choices in edging.

Granite laminates
For lower price points, the explosion in granite has resulted in new technology to produce a host of exciting granite-look laminates.

"We use an enhanced finish so you get more clarity," notes Brenda White, spokesperson for Wilsonart International, in Temple, TX. The new finishes are somewhat less shiny: "We don't recommend [a glossy finish] for horizontal surfaces because it shows scratches easily," she explains. The 10 colors with the series include traditional granite looks as well as a few "fantasy colors," including blue shades.

Formica has also launched new lines of realistic-looking granite- and marble-look laminates, reports Renee Hytry, v.p./design for Formica Corp., in Cincinnati, OH and the new lines instantly became the company's best sellers. "The printing processes are so much better," she notes, which results in a photo-realistic look.