Natural Stone vs. Alternative Countertops

	Granite	Engineered Stone	Acrylic / Polyester Plastics	Tile	Laminates
Source	100% Natural:	Synthetic	Synthetic	Synthetic	Synthetic
Material	Stone quarried from within the earth	85%-95% crushed quartz with a resin binder	Acrylic or Polyester Plastics	Ceramic or Porcelain	Printed colors/patterns on a fiberglass backing
Brands	100 % Natural	Silestone Ceasarstone Cambria Avanza Zodiaq	Corian Staron Gibraltar Avonite Surell Hi-Macs	Ceramic Porcelain	Arborite Wilsonart Formica Nevamar
Heat Resistance	Unaffected by heat	Affected heat over 400F	Hot pots/pans can melt or damage surface	Unaffected by heat	Hot pots/pans can melt or damage surface
Cleaning	Extremely resistant to bacteria	Non-porous - very resistant to bacteria	Deep scratches can harbor dirt and or moisture	Grout is very porous and can be difficult to keep clean	Non-porous - easy to clean
Durability	Highly scratch resistant	Highly scratch resistant	Scratches easily - can be sanded	Can be scratched - not easily repaired	Can be scratched - not easily repaired
Installation	May require seams - various edge profiles available	May require seams - various edge profiles available	Seamless - usually set on a wood sub-structure - various edge profiles available	Should be set on an approved sub-structure - limited edge profiles	Sheet material is applied to a wood sub-structure - limited edge profiles
Surface	Highly polished finish - every piece is naturally unique in color and patterning	Polished finish - consistent and uniform color and patterning	Matte finish - with consistent and uniform color and patterning	Grout joints can vary greatly - tile color and shading can vary	Highly visible seams - consistent and uniform color and patterning
Care	Proper Sealing last up to 10 to 20 years	n/a	Scratches can be sanded out	Grout needs to be re-sealed often
Price	Affordable	MORE expensive than granite	Price varies based on color - many of which are more expensive than granite	More expensive than tile	Inexpensive