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[lavenderfields]

If you can afford quartz countertops, I would recommend going with quartz. I got Cambria quartz about three years ago and I love it. There are so many choices in patterns and colors and some of it looks like granite. I am glad I didn't get granite and went with the quartz because it is virtually maintenance free and sanitary. You don't have to seal it like you do granite.

[Drythe]

Having just redone my kitchen and bathroom counter tops I would say this:

laminate - least expensive

Corian

Granite

Quartz - most expensive

I had Corian and upgraded to quartz. When I built I wanted Granite SO badly, but price was prohibitive. In the intervening years I've seen so much Granite that I am tired of it. While I'm not planning on selling any time soon, I wanted my home to look fresh if I do. So, with that and the up-keep in mind I went with quartz. Quartz does not require the attention or care that granite does. I love the look of the quartz I picked, it looks like thick grey glass - and there is no color swirls to worry about if I want to change paint color.

[nyc1]

LOVE MY GRANITE. Have had granite for about 14 years. People don't know what they're talking about if they think it's high maintenance. Just the opposite. The look is gorgeous and the selection endless. Prices vary by slab and supplier, so take your time to shop. That goes for anything you are looking for. IMO, there is nothing more beautiful than natural stone, but you have lots of other options and should continue to do some research as well as see what you prefer. You have to live with it every day and.... you have to afford it too! Good luck.

[151949]

I have never been a fan of granite - granite counter tops and SS appliances make me think of hospital kitchens. I like marble a lot but it is impractical as it can stain. when we bought our new house I decided to go with what I knew well and was the least expensive and got laminate that looks exactly like marble. I love it and it did not cost us anything as it was what was offered in the basic cost of the home. Laminate counters are way way better than they used to be, and are a great practical , cost effective way to go. Now a days they make them look exactly like natural stone.

[Danielle46]

I would never spend the money on laminate unless your cabinets are old and in poor condition. I have bought and sold several homes and buyers want quartz, granite or marble. I don't know anyone who doesn't have natural stone these days. It also depends on if your planning on selling at some point in the near future. BTW, it's not a big deal to maintain granite and it looks stunning. You can look at Lowes or Home Depot but their selections are limited in comparison to a stone Quarry where the choices are endless. Take your time and bring samples home as it will look different in your house.

[151949]

On 1/23/2015 Danielle46 said: I would never spend the money on laminate unless your cabinets are old and in poor condition. I have bought and sold several homes and buyers want quartz, granite or marble. I don't know anyone who doesn't have natural stone these days. It also depends on if your planning on selling at some point in the near future. BTW, it's not a big deal to maintain granite and it looks stunning. You can look at Lowes or Home Depot but their selections are limited in comparison to a stone Quarry where the choices are endless. Take your time and bring samples home as it will look different in your house.

We sold our last home in 9 days - it had wall to wall carpet, laminate counters and vinyl floors and an unfinished basement. Oh yeah - and white kitchen appliances. Apparently, there are buyers out there looking for more important things like a new roof and siding and a newer heating/AC system.And modern , energy efficient windows. In our plan here in Florida they sold out 140 new build homes in 2 years - hardly anyone went for the SS and granite. To be honest - most went for the corian.

[ID2]

In my part of the world Quartz is much more expensive than granite. Last year when it was time to pick out our countertops for our newly rebuilt cottage I had my pick and choose of anything! I went with beautiful granite for my kitchen and thought I'd give quartz a try for my laundry room. Just a small piece for there. When we got the quote for that "small piece of quartz" I almost fainted!! I went back to my granite yard and picked out a lovely slab of granite that looks just like the quartz (same pattern/colors). I wanted granite because it is a natural product. That scores big for me! Quartz is manufactured. Why its so expensive is beyond me! The only good thing about quartz is if you need another piece years later, for something else, you can get it to match perfectly. I have granite in my home and my cottage. I chuckle every time someone moans that granite is "so hard to take care of". Lol! All I do is wipe my counters. Whats so "hard" about that? Love my granite! Wouldn't change it for the world.

[Allegedly]

On 1/23/2015 Danielle46 said: I would never spend the money on laminate unless your cabinets are old and in poor condition. I have bought and sold several homes and buyers want quartz, granite or marble. I don't know anyone who doesn't have natural stone these days. It also depends on if your planning on selling at some point in the near future. BTW, it's not a big deal to maintain granite and it looks stunning. You can look at Lowes or Home Depot but their selections are limited in comparison to a stone Quarry where the choices are endless. Take your time and bring samples home as it will look different in your house.

I have laminate. I spoke to my realtor and he told me NOT to update my kitchen unless I wanted to for myself. That is, upgrading the counters and cabinets DOES NOT fetch more money in the housing market (at least where I live). Or at least enough to justify the cost of a renovation.

[Danielle46]

On 1/23/2015 happy housewife said:

On 1/23/2015 Danielle46 said: I would never spend the money on laminate unless your cabinets are old and in poor condition. I have bought and sold several homes and buyers want quartz, granite or marble. I don't know anyone who doesn't have natural stone these days. It also depends on if your planning on selling at some point in the near future. BTW, it's not a big deal to maintain granite and it looks stunning. You can look at Lowes or Home Depot but their selections are limited in comparison to a stone Quarry where the choices are endless. Take your time and bring samples home as it will look different in your house.

We sold our last home in 9 days - it had wall to wall carpet, laminate counters and vinyl floors and an unfinished basement. Oh yeah - and white kitchen appliances. Apparently, there are buyers out there looking for more important things like a new roof and siding and a newer heating/AC system.And modern , energy efficient windows. In our plan here in Florida they sold out 140 new build homes in 2 years - hardly anyone went for the SS and granite. To be honest - most went for the corian.

It also has to do with the price range that your home is in and the community. We sold our vacation house in South West Florida two years ago and it had granite, beautiful tile throughout the house and the only rooms with carpet were the 3 bedrooms. I haven't seen linoleum in 20 years. What I can tell you is that the price range that my house sold for made it necessary to have high end finishes as is the case with any home in our price range.

[nyc1]

On 1/23/2015 happy housewife said:

On 1/23/2015 Danielle46 said: I would never spend the money on laminate unless your cabinets are old and in poor condition. I have bought and sold several homes and buyers want quartz, granite or marble. I don't know anyone who doesn't have natural stone these days. It also depends on if your planning on selling at some point in the near future. BTW, it's not a big deal to maintain granite and it looks stunning. You can look at Lowes or Home Depot but their selections are limited in comparison to a stone Quarry where the choices are endless. Take your time and bring samples home as it will look different in your house.

We sold our last home in 9 days - it had wall to wall carpet, laminate counters and vinyl floors and an unfinished basement. Oh yeah - and white kitchen appliances. Apparently, there are buyers out there looking for more important things like a new roof and siding and a newer heating/AC system.And modern , energy efficient windows. In our plan here in Florida they sold out 140 new build homes in 2 years - hardly anyone went for the SS and granite. To be honest - most went for the corian.

HH.... that house would stay on the market for a very long time here. I guess it depends on the area of the country, but people here want the good roof and energey efficient things as well, but also something that is updated and don't have to rip out when they move in.
I agree with Danielle, at least for the market I'm in (northern Chicago suburbs).