7 Countertops for Bathrooms

Countertops for bathrooms need to be waterproof, easy to clean, affordable, durable, and of course, attractive. A few bathroom countertops hit those marks. Laminate, quartz, solid surface, tile, and stone are the most viable countertop choices. A couple of outliers, concrete and crushed glass, offer unique, eye-catching alternatives if you'd like something a little different.

Laminate

Laminate countertops are made from layers of plastic that are bonded to a particleboard (MDF) core to create a solid countertop surface. Countertops that are available in-stock are unified pieces that can be cut and fit by anyone.

Laminate counters can be created by fabricators who can make a countertop to your specifications from a designer laminate, giving it custom edges and other designer features.

Laminate countertops work well in guest bathrooms or powder rooms. They can also serve as a quick fix where you need to redecorate a bathroom quickly, such as when staging your home for sale.

Quartz

Quartz countertops are made from 70- to 90-percent ground-up quartz and other stone minerals, blended with resins and pigments, and then shaped into countertop slabs.

A variety of styles is available, some of which are nearly indistinguishable from natural stone slabs. These countertops are often sold with integrated sink basins built into them. Major manufacturers of quartz countertops include Corian and Cambria. 

Quartz is considered the highest-end countertop material and will enhance the appearance and value of most homes. Quartz' high price can deter some buyers. Quartz countertops typically cost between $50 and $200 per square foot. Also, while quartz cannot crack, like stone will, it will scorch if subjected to high heat.

Ceramic or Porcelain Tile

Ceramic tiles are made of clay with a surface glaze; they are heated by fire to harden them. Porcelain is a type of ceramic that features finer clays fired under higher temperatures.

Porcelain is a harder and denser material that is excellent for floors and countertops. Porcelain is more waterproof than ceramic tile. While both ceramic and porcelain work for countertops, porcelain has a slight advantage.

Expect to pay $2 to $15 per square foot if you are installing your own tile countertop. For professional installation, costs are typically about $16 to $65 per square foot. 

Ceramic and porcelain tiles are a good choice to save money on a quality countertop by doing the work yourself. Grout lines can easily stain and discolor, requiring periodic cleaning and resealing.

Solid Surface

Made from a blend of acrylic and polyester particles bonded together with resins, solid surface countertop materials are generally formulated to resemble stone and can be shaped into a variety of shapes, including all-in-one countertops with sink basins integrated into them.

Solid surface materials are excellent in heavy-use bathrooms. Solid surface countertops are easy to refurbish. Scratches can be sanded down with fine-grit sandpaper by any homeowner. Do-it-yourselfers can even buff down solid surface material to a fine gloss with a vehicle buffer.

Natural Stone

Natural stone bathroom countertop consists of a thick solid slab with openings cut for the faucet and the sink. In some cases, stone countertops are created with tiles that are laid similar to ceramic tile countertops. Each type of stone has its own set of pros and cons.

• Slate: With colors in shades of gray, black, or green, slate resists stains once sealed.
• Soapstone: A milky stone with subtle veining, soapstone is naturally waterproof.
• Marble: Marble is a relatively soft, porous stone that needs to be sealed every year or two.
• Granite: Granite is the most popular natural stone for countertops, thanks to its availability and diversity.

Most natural stone requires period sealing and more maintenance when compared to ceramic tile and engineered stone

Concrete

When used as a countertop material, concrete has a highly polished surface. Some installers even embed tile, stone, or bits of polished glass into the surface during fabrication.

Concrete countertops are one of the more expensive options—expect to pay $58 to $140 per square foot, fabricated and installed. They are a good choice when you want to make a special design statement, and can also serve well for heavy-use family bathrooms. 

It's easy to reverse-mold simple concrete countertops from MDF and quick-set concrete. Premium concrete countertops molded in situ are more difficult for DIYers and must be made by experienced fabricators.

Crushed Glass

Countertops made of crushed glass are a relatively new introduction, but they are steadily becoming more popular. These countertops are made from recycled crushed glass embedded in either clear acrylic or concrete.

These uniquely beautiful countertops are striking to look at, and they lend a bathroom a trendy designer appeal. Because they are typically custom fabricated, no two crushed glass countertops look the same. They can be either traditional in appearance, or extremely modern, depending on the glass used in them

Crushed glass countertops typically cost $65 to $140 per square foot, installed. They are best reserved for upper-end bathrooms where style is important.