When you are shopping for kitchen countertop, variety of options available in market can confuse you. Therefore, it is always better to decide a budget and then look out for options present in market.

In case you are not bothered about the budget, granite counter is always a good option. The stone is tough and totally impermeable if it is sealed and sanded in a proper way.

Stainless steel counters are also highly in demand because of their stylish looks. These are a bit expensive than granite counters, but can only compliment only with kitchens.

If you are one of those with refrained budget, there are some other alternatives available. Wood, tiles, marble or laminates are some other reasonable options available in market.

When you are buying a countertop, here are a few things to keep in mind:

* Always buy a material that is non-porous. Water can seep through marble, in case minute cracks are present on the counter. Therefore, you should be very carefully about the quality and type of marble available in market. Seepage might appear to be a minor thing initially, but when liquid seeped in starts to smell, it might create problem for you.

* Buy kitchen countertops that can take a lot of pounding because we tend to set pots and pans on them in a haphazard way. The material should be used to of taking this daily beating.

* Another thing to keep in mind is that you should not do chopping work on a granite countertop as the stone can make your knife blunt.

* Make sure you buy a heat resistant countertop. Laminate counters available in market are not good heat resistant. In case you are buying hardwood, you might have to re-oil it regularly.

All these things should be taken care of when you are investing in buying a good kitchen counter, as the entire look of the place depends on the material you are using.