Skip Expensive Marble Countertops: There's A Durable And Gorgeous Alternative

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Marble countertops can grab attention before they even arrive to be installed, mostly by draining your reno budget and making you wonder if those veins are made of actual gold. In search of a workable and affordable alternative, Hunker spoke exclusively with Kerrie Kelly, CEO and Creative Director at Kerrie Kelly Studio, to find out if solid surface countertops are a viable swap for homeowners. She assures us that solid surface is a more budget-sympathetic option that's seamless, flexible, easy to clean, and easy to repair.

Kelly shares that, while solid surface countertops can't create the depth and subtlety of something like marble, these counters have their own set of aesthetic advantages. "They can create a very seamless appearance because joints can be less conspicuous and sinks can often be integrated into the design," she says. "The material is also available in a broad range of colors and patterns at approachable price points."

Solid surface countertops can be super chic if you integrate them well with the other elements of your kitchen (they can even be a great option for a bathroom counter, as well). "Think beyond the countertop as an isolated finish and consider how it relates to cabinetry, backsplash, hardware, and lighting," Kelly says. You can go several directions with this, perhaps physically integrating the colors or even the material beyond the countertops, or you can visually push the counters into the background. "I love carrying a surface vertically onto a backsplash or using a quieter countertop to allow cabinetry, architectural details, or a statement island to take center stage," she says. "The most successful kitchens create a conversation among materials rather than asking every finish to compete for attention."

Solid surface countertops have advantages beyond design flexibility as well. Kerrie Kelly, FASID, NKBA, tells us that the very makeup of these materials conveys some useful characteristics that even the most expensive countertops can't promise. The most obvious of these is cost. Synthetic solid surface countertops are made of minerals and resin, and typically cost around $45 to $85 per square foot. By comparison, engineered stone quartz countertops can cost from $60 to $120 per square foot, and marble commonly exceeds $150 per square foot.

Practical advantages of this budget option make it even more appealing. "Solid surface countertops are nonporous and generally easy to clean, which makes them appealing for busy kitchens," Kelly explains. This is a function of their content, as is their repairability and durability. "Its nonporous, consistent composition contributes to that longevity, and one of its benefits is that minor scratches and imperfections can often be refinished rather than requiring replacement," she said.

Solid surface counters can be heat-sensitive, but if you keep hot pots and pans off of them and take care to avoid scratching or abrading their comparatively soft materials, they can last for many years. "With proper care, a quality solid surface countertop can perform beautifully for decades," assures Kelly. 

Vulnerability to damage is one of the key downsides to solid surface countertops, and kitchens can be a particularly demanding place to properly protect a worktop. "They can also be more susceptible to scratching and heat damage than higher-performance alternatives, so trivets and cutting boards become especially important," Kelly explains. But while there are workarounds for avoiding damage, the aesthetic shortcomings of solid surfaces can be more difficult to accommodate, especially in comparison to high-end materials like marble. "Traditional solid surface materials generally do not have the same depth, movement, or natural variation," she says. 

Both aspects of solid surface countertops contribute to the potential for them to need replacement sooner than you might prefer. "For a luxury kitchen, I also consider longevity — both aesthetically and functionally," Kelly shares, "because choosing solely on initial price can sometimes mean compromising the overall look you are trying to achieve." 

For a marble alternative that more faithfully captures the look of marble, Kelly says you should consider engineered or ultracompact surface options instead. "These options allow you to capture the elegance and movement people love...while selecting a surface based on the performance, maintenance, and lifestyle needs of the kitchen." But, confronted with inflexible budget limitations, there's no doubt that you can find a beautiful choice among the many, widely varied solid surface countertop options.