| Material |
Green Rating |
Expense Range |
Pros |
Cons |
Maintenance |
| Stainless Steel |
Totally Recyclable |
High |
- Heatproof
- Stainproof
- Can be made with an integral sink
- Won’t fade, rust or chip
- Fresh modern look
- Professional kitchen
|
Scratches can be apparent though are easily removed with a Scotch-Brite pad |
- Keep surface dry to prevent water spots
- Clean with most household cleaners including Windex or Fantastik
- Stainless Steel Magic works well
- Use a Scotch-Brite pad to manage scratches
|
| Copper |
Totally Recyclable |
High |
- Heatproof
- Stainproof
- Can be made with an integral sink
- Develops a rich patina
- Living, changing, finish
- Matte or mirror polished
|
- Use a trivet and cutting board
- Not scratch proof
- Reactive to lemon or acidic foods
|
- Keep surface dry to prevent water spots
- Clean with most household cleaners including Windex or Fantastik
- Patina may easily be removed with a metal polish
|
| Zinc |
Totally Recyclable |
High |
- Heatproof
- Stainproof
- Can be made with an integral sink
- Develops a lite patina
- Matte or mirror polished
|
- Use a trivet and cutting board
- Not scratch proof
- Can be made with an integral sink
|
- Keep surface dry to prevent water spots
- Clean with most household cleaners including Windex or Fantastik
- Patina may easily be removed with a metal polish
|
| Bronze |
Totally Recyclable |
High |
- Heatproof
- Stainproof
- Can be made with an integral sink
- Develops a rich patina
- Living, changing, finish
- Charming country look
- Matte or mirror polished
|
- Use a trivet and cutting board
- Not scratch proof
- Reactive to lemon or acidic foods
|
- Keep surface dry to prevent water spots
- Clean with most household cleaners including Windex or Fantastik
- Patina may easily be removed with a metal polish
|
|
Pewter |
Totally Recyclable |
Very High |
- Heatproof
- Stainproof
- Develops a gradual patina
- Matte or mirror polished
|
- Use a trivet and cutting board
- Not scratch proof
- Very soft material
- Reactive to lemon or acidic foods
|
- Keep surface dry to prevent water spots
- Clean with most household cleaners including Windex or Fantastik
- Patina may easily be removed with a metal polish
|
|
Nickel |
Totally Recyclable |
Very High |
- Heatproof
- Stainproof
- Extremely durable
- Great Nickel color
- Matte or mirror polished
|
- Price prohibitive
- Solid metal is extremely costly
|
- Keep surface dry to prevent water spots
- Clean with most household cleaners including Windex or Fantastik
|
|
Steel |
Totally Recyclable |
High |
- Heatproof
- Great for furniture
- Great for a bar top under a clear finish
|
- Not recommended for a kitchen countertop
- Water makes steel rust
|
- Can be sanded clean to bare metal and re-finished
|
| Glass |
Totally Recyclable |
High |
- Heatproof
- Stainproof
- May be edge lit
- Colored back painting
- Cutting edge design element
|
- Can scratch
- Use trivets
- Towel-dry to prevent water spots
|
- Clean with Windex or other mild cleansers
- Do not use abrasives
|
| Fusion Glass |
Totally Recyclable |
Very High |
- Heatproof
- Stainproof
- Various colors and textures are available
- May be edge lit
- Cutting edge design element
- Striking material for upper bar tops
|
- Can scratch
- Use trivets
- Towel dry to prevent water spots
|
- Clean with Windex or other mild cleansers
- Do not use abrasives
|
Wood-
Premium Wide Plank (Face-Grain) |
A Renewable Resource.
Recyclable |
Moderate-High |
- Wide variety of hardwoods available
- Hand-selected wide boards
- Artisan Crafted and finished
- Warm appearance and renewable surface
- Undermount sinks work well
- Hand-rubbed stainproof "Marine oil finish."TM
|
- Use a trivet and cutting board
|
- Clean with most household cleaners including Windex or Fantastik
- No additional sealing is necessary. May be scrubbed.
- Weiman’s wood crème every few months
|
Wood-
Standard Plank (Face-Grain) |
A Renewable Resource. Recyclable |
Moderate |
- Wide variety of hardwoods available
- Artisan Crafted and finished
- Warm appearance and renewable surface
- “Waterlox” waterproof finish
|
- Has a thin finish that needs periodic recoating
- Boards are thinner and random and may not be pleasing in pattern and color. Can be uneven and include sapwood
|
- Clean with mild detergents
- Recoat after cleaning and sanding with Waterlox brand wood finish
|
Wood-
Edge Grain (Butcher Block)
|
A Renewable Resource.
Recyclable |
Low-Moderate |
- Wide variety of hardwoods available
- Made to be used as a cutting surface
- Warm appearance and renewable surface
|
- Too easily recognized as a “budget” material
- Not heatproof so use trivet at the stove
- Shows wear over time
- Will split and stain if not maintained with oil
- Must be oiled regularly
|
- Use Butcher block dressing oil regularly
- Clean after food prep with mild detergent
- May be sanded down to a fresh cutting surface
|
Wood-
End Grain (Butcher Block - Checkerboard Style) |
A Renewable Resource.
Recyclable |
Moderate-High |
- Thickness can range from 2” to up to 24” thick
- Charming and traditional
- Made to be used as a cutting surface
- Warm appearance and renewable surface
|
- Not heatproof so use trivet at the stove
- Shows wear over time
- May change counter height due to thickness
- Will split and stain if not maintained with oil
- Must be oiled regularly
|
- Use Butcher block dressing oil regularly
- Clean after food prep with mild detergent
- May be sanded down to a fresh cutting surface
|
| Marble |
Recyclable
As Aggregate |
Moderate-High |
- Many colors and choices
- Heatproof
- Waterproof
- Somewhat stain resistant
|
- Prone to etching and staining from acidic foods
- Can scratch if used for cutting
- Edges can chip
- Difficult to repair in field
|
- Use mild cleaners without vinegar, lemon or citric acid, which can etch it
- Wipe with penetrating sealer periodically
|
|
Granite |
Recyclable
As Aggregate |
Low-High |
- Many colors and choices
- Heat proof
- Waterproof
- Can be used with undermount sinks
- Somewhat stain resistant
|
- The surface is very hard and cold
- The hard surface is tough on breakables
- May stain
- Can easily look monolithic
- Samples may not match slabs in stock
|
- Blot spills quickly
- Wash with mild detergents and water
- Use a penetrating sealer regularly
|
|
Solid Surface
(Corian, Fountainhead, Surrell) |
No |
Low-High |
- Sanitary work surface
- Wide selection of colors and textures
- Integral sinks and drain boards
|
- While scratch resistant, use a cutting board and trivets
- Not a natural look
|
- Use mild detergents
- Scotch-Brite pad
|
|
White Glass |
Recyclable
As Aggregate |
Very high |
|
- Mitered epoxy edges chip easily
- Scratchable soft glass from China
|
- Clean with Windex or other mild cleansers
- Do not use abrasives
|
|
Limestone |
Recyclable
As Aggregate |
Moderate-High |
- Beautiful soft colors and low sheen
|
- Easily stains
- Requires re-sealing
- Soft material, chips easily
- Reactive with acidic foods
- Absorbent surface
- Not heat-resistant, hot pots can leave a shadow
|
- Blot spills quickly
- Wash with mild detergents and water
- Use a penetrating sealer regularly
|
|
Soap Stone |
Recyclable
As Aggregate |
High |
- Resistant to stains and low heat
- Smooth to the touch
|
- Darkens with time
- More likely to crack or chip than harder stones. Use a trivet and cutting boards.
|
- Blot spills quickly
- Mild cleaners
- Re-oil with mineral oil to prevent drying out
|
|
Quartz –
(Silestone, Cambria, Zodiaq, CaesarStone) |
No |
Moderate |
- Stainproof
- Variety of colors and textures
- Nice tactile feel
|
- Can be monolithic if used throughout
- A synthetic made to look like stone. Not natural. Not Green.
- Use a cutting board
|
- Use mild detergents
- Scotch-Brite pad
|
