Longest lasting countertops

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Kitchen countertops can cost thousands of dollars. So you want them to last for many years. Consumer Reports tests countertops and can tell you which will stay looking good the longest.

Beautiful new countertops can be the focal point of your kitchen, but it's important to know how the different materials will hold up in the busiest room of the house. There are so many choices, quartz, granite, solid surface, recycled glass. And a new ultracompact material, Dekton, sold at Home Depot and kitchen design stores. Consumer Reports' Chris Regan tested the different materials for durability. "Will it stain? Will it scratch? Will the edges hold up over time? We want to make sure that countertop performs as you would intend it to."

Consumer Reports tests for staining by applying 20 common foods and household products, such as tomato sauce, mustard, chocolate, and food coloring. They're left overnight to see if they leave a spot. Countertops are also tested to see if they'll scratch from a knife or burn from a hot pot. And Consumer Reports drops weights from a series of set heights to see what could happen if something heavy falls on your countertops.

The Dekton countertops cracked all the way across. And drop tests along the edge also chipped Dekton. A Dekton spokesperson says: "...we are unable to validate the results as testing conditions didn't comply with our own installation guidelines." Consumer Reports tests all countertops the same way, and none cracked edge-to-edge the way Dekton did.

Chris Regan says the results are clear: "Our tests show that quartz and granite are consistently the most durable products on the market." Both quartz and granite come in a variety of colors and styles, and they're ideal for a high-traffic kitchen. While both quartz and granite have similar high scores for durability, be aware granite needs resealing periodically to keep it resistant to water and stains.