Variety

Different Natural Stone Countertop Options For Your Home

Stone Tile
Using 12-inch-square floor tiles gets you an approximation of a slab for about one-third the cost. Cut them yourself with a wet saw. Cover the edges with thin tile strips, or wrap them in metal nosing or wood bands (shown at right). Joint lines will be visible.

Prefab
Prefabricated counters, sized to standard cabinet depth and finished with bullnose edges, can save you up to 30 percent. Typically sold as 96-inch-long solid slabs, they still require a fabricator to cut sink and faucet holes. No two slabs are exactly alike, so they’re best used on straight runs without seams.

Reclaimed
Save 50 to 80 percent off retail by prowling house-part recycling centers, such as Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore, Craigslist, and kitchen cabinet outfits refreshing their displays. These tops are typically cut to someone else’s kitchen layout, so plan on adjusting yours to fit.

Remnants
Stone yards frequently offer clearance-sale prices of up to half off for small leftover slabs, which often work well for prep islands, pastry stations, and kitchen offices. Selection is limited, and you pay for any custom cuts.

Solid Surfacing
Moldable resins and special glues allow for a truly seamless counter, complete with an integrated sink. Nonporous; food can’t etch it, stains are easy to remove, sealers aren’t required. Hot pans can scorch or crack it; knives can nick it. About $40 to $80 per square foot

Concrete
Pour your own or buy custom slabs from local shops in the color and shape of your choice. Site-poured counters can be seamless. Sensitive to acids and requires frequent sealing. DIY: About $8 to $15 per square foot. Hire it out: About $75 to $100 per square foot.

Engineered Stone
A factory-made mix of 93 percent quartz granules held together with a resin binder, engineered slabs are impervious to acids and stains. Very hot pots may cause superficial damage. Comes in colors not found in quarried stone. About $50 to $90 per square foot.

Enameled Lava
Here’s a gorgeous stone hybrid you’ll probably never buy. Called Pyrolave, it’s a lightweight volcanic stone with a tough-as-nails glass enamel coating. It comes in 32 vibrant colors and is a heftier version of ceramic tile but without annoying grout lines. Perfect, except for the price: About $370 per square foot; Pyrolave.