However, many homeowners who do not necessarily want to retain a like-new appearance, and who do not want to bother resealing their countertops frequently, select marble for its ability to age gracefully by developing a glowing patina. And for you bakers, marble’s ultra smooth finish and cool feel make it ideal for rolling out bread and pastry doughs.

• Material and Installation Cost: $60 to $90/square foot

Soapstone Countertop

Soapstone has enjoyed a long history of residential uses, including architectural building blocks, hearths, fireplace stoves, sinks, and of course kitchen countertops. In fact, it is considered the original stone countertop. Like the natural stone materials mentioned above, soapstone slabs will vary significantly in color depending on where it was quarried.

Soapstone is considered exceptionally heatproof and is not susceptible to thermal shock. However, soapstone’s color may be altered wherever it is subjected to extreme heat. Again, the use of trivets is recommended.

Soapstone is non-absorbent and therefore does not require sealing. In fact, it is not affected by contact with most household liquids with the exception of mineral oil, which will darken the stone. However, most surface stains that do occur can be rubbed out or sanded to reveal a like-new surface.

• Material and Installation Cost: $75 to $85/square foot

Concrete Countertop

Although not currently considered a commonly used countertop material, concrete is rapidly becoming what many designers consider to be the material of choice for higher end projects that call for a less traditional look. In the hands of a skilled artisan specializing in concrete countertops, concrete can be molded into an endless variety of forms, colors and textures, and can include decorative additives such as seashells and colored stones.

• Material and Installation Cost: $70 to $150/square foot

Additional Cost Considerations

A word about natural stone projects

Generally speaking, there are two common ways to proceed with your project when using natural stone for your countertop. One way requires the homeowner to take a more active role in coordinating the various steps of the project. The second method involves using the services of a home improvement retail store or home design center to coordinate these steps for him.

If you use the first method, you will need to shop for your stone at any of a number of retailers that sell stone slabs to the public. These can be found in the Yellow Pages or online. These retailers display their slabs in large warehouse-like facilities where you can stroll through dozens or hundreds of slabs that are stacked on edge like gigantic books. Once you’ve selected your slabs, you will then select a fabricator to perform the tasks described below. This method is preferred by homeowners who want to maintain control of the project each step of the way, or by homeowners who want to work with a specific fabricator with whom they’ve worked on a past project.

As mentioned above, the second method involves using the services of a home improvement retail store or home design center. These retailers provide a one-stop-shop experience that many homeowners prefer. Using this method, the homeowner can see samples of stone right in the convenience of the store. The store arranges for the purchase of the slabs and assigns a reputable fabricator to your job. This method enables the retailer to quote you a price per square foot that is truly all-inclusive. However, the real value of this method is that the store’s volume price advantage can be passed directly to you. In fact, it is very difficult to beat their prices especially when they offer seasonal specials, which they often do throughout the year.

With both ways, the fabricator that is chosen for your project will perform most of the individual tasks, including taking measurements and preparing a template in your kitchen, transporting the slabs to their facility, all of the fabrication processes including edge cuts, transporting the completed slabs (called ‘decks’) to your home, installing the decks in your kitchen, filling in the seams with epoxy, and sealing the new stone surface if not previously done at their facility.

The prices quoted above for the natural stone materials assume the use of the services of a large home improvement retailer or home design center.

Replacing your kitchen countertop involves many decisions. Careful research and consideration will ensure that your new countertop will continue to meet all of your expectations for many years.