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One man's empty beer bottle is another man's kitchen counter. That's the idea behind recycled-glass countertops. Old vodka bottles, dinnerware, windshields, and even traffic lights can wind up as countertops. When large shards are used, the result is an infusion of color and style. If the glass is finely ground, the counters resemble solid surfacing.
Most of the recycled-glass counters we recently tested resisted cuts, heat and abrasion very well. That's what you'll see in our new countertop Ratings. But one brand, Cosentino's Eco line, also withstood cuts and scratches but cracked when we placed a hot pot on it. The crack ran from under the pot to the counter's edge, where the split was the widest. As the surface cooled, the crack was barely visible but remained. That happened to the 2-centimeter thick (about ¾-inch) and 3-cm thick (1 3/16-inch) versions.
Our tests of 14 countertop materials include the popular quartz, granite, and laminate, and less common materials such as soapstone, limestone, and bamboo. If you're updating your kitchen, take a look at the Ratings. Our tough tests offer clues as to how your new counters will age.
—Kimberly Janeway
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