Countertop materials
Countertop materials, compared
Quartz, granite, marble, quartzite, butcher block and solid surface — how each performs in Tampa Bay humidity and heat, and which IQ+ kitchens use them.
Countertops / Quartz
Quartz countertops
Quartz is an engineered stone made from ground natural quartz bound with resin. It is non-porous, so it never needs sealing and resists staining from everyday spills.
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Countertops / Granite
Granite countertops
Granite is natural stone quarried in slabs, so every piece is unique. It handles direct heat better than quartz and is extremely durable, but it is porous and needs periodic resealing to keep resisting stains — a real maintenance commitment in a humid climate..
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Countertops / Marble
Marble countertops
Marble is a soft, porous natural stone prized for its veining and cool surface. It etches when it meets anything acidic and stains readily without a maintained sealer, so it suits baths, islands and baking areas better than a busy main kitchen run..
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Countertops / Quartzite
Quartzite countertops
Quartzite is a natural stone that often looks like marble but behaves much more like granite. It is harder than both, highly heat tolerant and resists etching far better than marble, while still being porous enough to need periodic sealing..
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Countertops / Butcher block
Butcher block countertops
Butcher block is a solid wood surface, warm underfoot for the eye and repairable by sanding. It is the highest-maintenance countertop in a humid climate: it needs regular oiling, reacts badly to standing water, and is best kept away from a sink run..
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Countertops / Solid surface
Solid surface countertops
Solid surface is a non-porous acrylic or polyester composite. Its defining advantage is seamless joining — including an integrated sink with no rim or joint at all — which makes it particularly strong in bathrooms and anywhere hygiene matters..
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