If you’re planning a bathroom remodel or refresh, you may be having trouble deciding on a countertop. There is such a wide range of options available for bathroom countertops that it can be confusing when you’re trying to choose the right one. You could go with a cheap countertop made of laminate or tile, but if you’re looking for a better-looking, longer-lasting option, consider natural stone.

Bathroom counters don’t have the heavy usage that kitchen countertops do. You’re not slinging hot pots and pans around your bathroom, and people aren’t gathering the way they do in a kitchen. Therefore, you can sometimes get away with softer, less heat resistant stones for your bathroom counters. It’s good to remember, though, that bathrooms are home to chemicals like hairspray, bathroom cleaners, and nail polish remover, as well as hair appliances that can get hot. Think carefully about how your bathroom is used before you choose a new countertop. Then consider these beautiful natural stone options:

• Marble: Elegant and sophisticated, marble has a clean look that works well with many different design styles. It can be polished or matte, and while it’s usually a shade of white, it often has veining in gray, black, pink, reddish, light blue, tan, or green. It’s not a great option for most kitchens, because it can be damaged more easily than granite or quartz. In the bathroom, though, it works. It’s much more durable than non-stone options and provides a classically beautiful aesthetic. It does require annual sealing, as it is porous, and it can be expensive, but its durability and long lifespan make it worth the cost.
• Granite: Probably the strongest and most durable countertop available, granite comes in many different colors and patterns. It is extremely difficult to scratch as well as heat-tolerant, with an earthy look that goes well with most décor. As compared to non-stone options, it adds value to the home, and it’s likely to last a lifetime. Granite requires little maintenance aside from regular cleaning because its typically sealed at the factory or during installation.
• Quartz: Quartz is a little different from other natural stones because it’s not cut in slabs directly from the earth the way granite and marble slabs are. Rather, quartz is engineered by mixing ground up natural stone with resin. It’s typically indistinguishable from traditional stone and its durability and low maintenance requirements make it perfect for use in a bathroom. It has a more modern look than granite or marble, and its less susceptible to stains. It’s not as heat resistant as natural stone, but it is stronger and less brittle.
• Other Natural Stone Countertops: Less popular but still viable options include slate, soapstone, and limestone/travertine. Slate is a hard, stain-resistant material, available in shades of gray, black and green. Soapstone is milk looking, with subtle veining, and comes in shades of gray and white. It’s non-porous and easy to maintain. Limestone/travertine is not often seen in bathrooms, perhaps because it is relatively porous and requires maintenance. It is heat resistant, though, and quite beautiful.

No matter what kind of countertop you are looking for while designing your kitchen or bathroom, Capitol Design Build can help. We’ve been performing custom remodeling since 1989 and building custom, high-end homes in the Washington DC Metropolitan Area for 29 years. We serve businesses and individuals in Virginia, Washington D.C, and Maryland, meeting every need from kitchen renovation and bathroom remodeling to custom home design and building. With experience spanning many disciplines, including engineering, design, remodeling, construction, and customer service, we look forward to working with you. Feel free to shop our website, call us at (703) 436-6919, or contact us online for a free, no-obligation estimate.