We have been wanting to replace our kitchen counters for awhile now but the cost has deterred us. We love the look and feel of granite but the expense is huge. Is there a different material that is similar but lower in cost?
Granite is an expensive stone but there are various other materials that may be used to make counter tops and some of them are quartz,ceramic tile,wood,stone like slate and soapstone and last but not the least is stainless steel.They all have some pros and cons but depending upon your need some of them may suit your need
It is also possible to form and pour a concrete top. I have seen that done on some DYI shows. Stones, colored glass, and cement color can be added for interest. Once the concrete has cured a bit, ever higher grades of sandpaper are used to give the counter a smooth, polished look. In my son's 1836 house he assembled wood into a counter slab and coated it with marine varnish. For the sink, he built a dry sink around a dropped ceramic basin and coated it as well. It's been over 5 years and everything looks like new.
