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100 year old prairie style farmhouse remodel

11 years ago

I am getting ready to remodel and renovate a 100 year old prairie style farmhouse and I need some suggestions with countertops in the kitchen. Soapstone, marble, granite, other? The style I am leaning towards is more casual, comfortable home. I have two small rough boys. Appreciate your suggestions. Thank you

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Comments (4)

Shawn Lagemann
11 years ago
Marble, tends to stain much easier. Soapstone and granite are great options. Soapstone does require a little more work to maintain than the regular sealing of granite. A black granite with a honed finish will give you a similar look to soapstone. Another option is butcher block counters. If they are finished ina combo of spar varnish mixed with tung oil, it is a very durable finish that does not require much for upkeep. The material can be very budget friendly. IF you have a lumber liquidators in your area they carry both maple and cherry butcher block. There are tons of options, pick the one that best suits your lifestyle, understand what it takes to maintain it, and compliments the other elements you choose for your kitchen. Contrast between cabinets and countertops is a good thing.
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Bolster
9 years ago
Granite (~$200*/sf) - extremely durable which can make it more expensive, its also difficult to cut. Italian is usually more expensive than Chinese. As a surface it's less likely to be damaged by things like tomato sauce and other acidic spills. It is more difficult to polish though, so re-polishing can be more expensive.

Marble (~$175/sf) - beautiful, natural but softer and so stains more, especially with anything acidic. Scratches more easily and often too. If you cook a lot not a good bet. If you have to go marble choose honed (satin smooth surface finish with little or no gloss) and low absorption rate. And keep paper towels handy.

Caeserstone (~$175/sf) - engineered made of quartz. non porous and scratch and stain resistant. It also have a simplified fabrication and installation process that makes it more cost-effective, certainly than marble (because it's synthetic and needs to be manufactured).

Silestone (~$175/sf) - similar to Caeserstone in durability (it's 90% quartz) and price but has anti-bacterial properties which is why its frequently used in healthcare and kitchens.

Soapstone(~200/sf) - very soft and easily fabricated but requires maintenance (oiling and buffing). It's not as heat resistant as granite though it is resistant to acid etching. It dents a scratches a lot and can be sanded away. Also it's color darkens with age (which may be a plus given your description of farmhouse).

Concrete (~$300/sf) - counterintuitive but true - more expensive than granite. Lots of flexibility but requires a lot of maintenance. Its prone to cracking so expansion joints may be required to avoid cracks in larger surfaces. Installation is tricky and must be done with professional. Like marble it needs to be sealed but once sealed can stand up to heat just as well as granite.

*prices include labor too.
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marilynellis
9 years ago
Go with Quartz
Sunika
9 years ago
I love honed granite in either black or brown. The ones I have seen in person are really quite lovely and have this soft and well worn quality.

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