Pros and Cons of Alternative Countertops

Looking for something more unique than granite in your kitchen and bathrooms?  These beautiful alternatives are sure to make a statement.

Wood

The Pros

Wood is readily available, sustainable, comes in a wide variety of colors and finishes, and is fairly affordable.

The Cons

Natural finishes require oiling and you must also be vigilant to keep the surface dry.

Marble

The Pros

Softer stone than granite, easier to cut and work with, heat resistant, durable, sustainable, and beautiful.

The Cons

Easily scratched and stained.

Soapstone

The Pros

Durable, dense, ages well, and cost effective.

The Cons

Rough texture, requires maintenance, and doesn’t come in a wide range of colors.

Quartz

The Pros

Extremely durable and very scratch, stain, and heat resistant.

The Cons

Can discolor over time if in direct sunlight, may not look as seamless as granite when covering a large space since they are usually manufactured in pre-determined sizes.

Ceramic Tile

The Pros

Heat resistant, comes in every color imaginable.

The Cons

Grout can become easily stained, counter surface is uneven, and tiles can often crack.

Concrete

The Pros

Very durable if sealed, heat resistant, and a wide variety of textures.

The Cons

Can be easily stained with water or heat damage if not stained, not many color options, can seem outdated.

Glass

The Pros

Heat, stain, and germ resistant, and very customizable.

The Cons

Can chip or break depending on tempering, may show fingerprints.

Stainless Steel

The Pros

Heat and germ resistant, modern.

The Cons

Will show scratches and fingerprints, can be very noisy.

courtesy of:  http://www.homecarebuzz.com/

 

The World’s Oldest Trees – Socotra, Yemen

Diksom Forest, Heart of the Dragon, Socotra, Yemen, 2010.

When the trunk is cut, which is allowed twice a year, a deep red sap, highly prized from ancient times, oozes from the tree. Photographer Beth Moon has been taking portraits of the oldest trees in an effort to preserve their legacy. Many of the trees are only found in areas removed from civilization, preserving their sense of timelessness. Her work is also available in the book ““Ancient Trees: Portraits of Time”.

courtesy of:  http://abcnews.go.com/International/photos/

The World’s Oldest Trees – Bristlecone Pine

Bristlecone Pine in Schulman Grove, Big Pine, California, 2005.

High in the White Mountains of the Inyo National Forest live many wind-swept, gnarled bristlecone pines that are over 4,000 years old. Their growth stunted by lack of water, these trees live in extreme conditions and have an astonishing capacity for endurance.

courtesy of:  http://abcnews.go.com/International/photos/

The World’s Oldest Trees – Majesty

Majesty, Nonington, England, 2005

Now on a private estate, this aristocratic tree boasts a girth of more than 40 feet with a hollow trunk, and towers 62 feet above the grassy mound upon which she stands. At one point a major branch broke off on the north side, leaving a large hole.

courtesy of:  http://abcnews.go.com/International/photos/

The World’s Oldest Trees – Strangler Fig

Strangler Fig, Rilke’s Bayon. Siem Reap, Cambodia 2007.

The temples of Angkor Wat in Cambodia represent one of man’s most astonishing and enduring architectural achievements. Today, the temples exist in a neglected, semi-ruined state. The religious monuments have been left as they were found, preserved as an example of what an untamed tropical forest will do to an architectural monument when human hands are withdrawn.

courtesy of:  http://abcnews.go.com/International/photos/

The World’s Oldest Trees – General Sherman Sequoia

General Sherman, Sierra Nevada, California, 2006.

Dominating the Sequoia National Park in California, this giant sequoia is named after General William T. Sherman, a Union commander in the American Civil War. The fire-resistant trunk measures 85 feet at the base, and weighs 1,500 tons. Each year the tree adds enough new wood to make a 60 foot tree. A monument within the forest, this is considered to be the largest living tree in the world, and is around 2,500 years old.

courtesy of:  http://abcnews.go.com/International/photos/

The World’s Oldest Trees – The Ifaty Teapot

The Ifaty Teapot, Toliara, Madagascar 2006.

Sparse branches that grow only at the trees top and look more like roots than a canopy give the baobab its nickname the “upside-down tree.” The girth of the cylindrical trunk is approximately 45 feet in diameter. The tree is thought to be 1,200 years old, and has the ability to store more than 31,000 gallons of water.

courtesy of:  http://abcnews.go.com/International/photos/

The World’s Oldest Trees – The Bowthorpe Oak

The Bowthorpe Oak, Manthorpe, England, 2002.

With a circumference of 40 feet, this mighty oak competes with Majesty for the title of largest girthed living British oak. It is perhaps the oldest oak tree, estimated to be around 1,200 years old, give or take a century. More of Moon’s work can be seen in her book ““Ancient Trees: Portraits of Time”.

courtesy of:  http://abcnews.go.com/International/photos/