Is there a perfect countertop? One that won’t crack, burn or get stained? Eh, probably not. Some counters have more positive qualities than others. Here’s a look at some of them.
Lava Stone, shown above is the stuff (my) dreams are made of. This natural material is glazed with an enamel that produces the most awesome colors. It’s a solid surface that comes in slabs, like quartz or granite, but it looks soooo much cooler! Yes, it can crack and chip, but it holds up to heat and doesn’t stain. Sounds perfect, right? There’s only one drawback. The price. It will set you back about $300 per square foot. PER SQUARE FOOT. So, even the most modest seven foot counter will cost over $4000 not included fabrication and installation. Still want it? Contact Pyrolave. They’re the only dealer in the US. 
Tile is sturdy, inexpensive and easy enough to DIY. It holds up well to heat and stains, although if you don’t seal the grout every so often, it will start to look crappy. If you use the right tile, it won’t go out of style (that rhymed!). The drawbacks? Many a wine glass has been known to tip over when placed on unlevel tile or grout. Also, you kind of have to maintain the grout to keep it looking fresh. 
Soapstone. If you like the look of matte black, you’ll love Soapstone. With sealer, it holds up to stains and yes, heat. Even if it does stain, it won’t look gross as the discoloration just adds patina rather than yuckiness to the counter. Pricing isn’t horrible, although it won’t be the least expensive counter you come across. And as you know, black never goes out of date.
As with any slab, you’re stuck with the fabricator cutting and installing it correctly. I say this because I took a supplier/installer to small claims court when they screwed up my lovely soapstone counter. It was a nightmare. That’s why I prefer to DIY just about anything. 
Concrete. Speaking of DIY, there is a way you can make your own concrete countertop with great ease. For real! Yes, the correct way to do it would be to hire someone to pour it (an advanced level DIY job) but there’s way of feathering the concrete onto mason board. It won’t look as great and it won’t hold up as well as solid concrete, but hel-lo, it’s dirt cheap! As in worth doing even if you’re a renter. Above is what I did in the downstairs apartment in Rockaway because I was on a budget. Yes, that sink was caught in Sandy and hadn’t been washed yet when I took the photo.
Wood is both timely and inexpensive. You can pick up a butcher block piece at Ikea or you can use reclaimed lumber like I did in the upstairs Rockaway apartment. Although I did the awful job of sanding and sealing, it took a competent carpenter to cut and level the boards. The key is in leveling. Of course I don’t have a close up shot of the finished counter, but you can see it here from a distance. Wood needs to be sealed but even still, you have to be cautious about staining. Also, don’t cut directly on wood! And it can warp over time. The good news is that it’s inexpensive.
Resin is the perfect material for spills. It looks great as you can pour it over just about any cool thang. Put resin over a piece of artwork. Bam! It’s a countertop. The only thing is that you have to be careful with heat. DIY skill level? Hmm, it took us a few mistakes before we got the technique down, so practice before you do an entire counter.
Or…like most of the materials on this post….just hire us to do it for you! *We don’t do lava or soapstone.
