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Re-activateThe labs are buzzing these days as we gear up for our special kitchen issue that comes out in early June. We're putting appliances through a variety of tests and we're scuffing, scraping, spilling and more for our flooring report.
This year we've expanded our tests of countertop materials to include bamboo, recycled glass and soapstone, and we're finding out how these materials hold up when stained with 20 common foods and household products. To check for damage resistance, we're slicing and chopping on the counters and placing pots filled with hot oil on them. We're doing abrasion tests and learning how well the materials withstand the impact of blunt and pointed weights when dropped from up to 3½ feet.
The truth is, all countertops look great in the showroom but keeping them that way requires durable materials or lots of maintenance. Counters made of natural stone, tile and wood are expected to last a lifetime, according to a study from the National Association of Home Builders, but some homeowners would glance at their beat-up counters and say, "Whose lifetime?"
Look for our upcoming kitchen report but until then, if you're shopping for new countertops, see our Ratings of 11 materials (available to subscribers), including the very popular granite and quartz.
--Kimberly Janeway
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