Butcher Block & Solid Surface Countertops in Jersey City, NJ

Butcher block and solid surface countertops solve problems stone sometimes creates. Both weigh much less than a slab, which matters on a fifth-floor walk-up. Both can be repaired in place: scratches in wood sand out, and solid surface can be buffed. And both can cost less than mid-grade stone in a small Jersey City kitchen.

Butcher block

Butcher block is made from strips of hardwood glued into a thick panel. It gives a brownstone kitchen warmth, works well on an island next to a stone perimeter, and is the one countertop you can actually cut on if you choose an oiled finish. HomeGuide's installed figure is $50-$150 a square foot, swinging widely by wood: red oak at the low end, birch, maple and beech in the middle, walnut and cherry well above. Fixr's per-square-foot range is $40 to $100 per square foot.

Living with wood

Wood moves with humidity. Jersey City's humid summers and dry, heated winters mean a butcher block top will swell and shrink a little through the year, so it needs room to move at the walls and fasteners that allow for it. Around the sink, standing water is the enemy. HomeGuide says an unfinished top should be oiled weekly for the first month and at least monthly after that; a top finished with a varnish-type sealer needs less oiling but should not be cut on. We help you choose based on where the wood goes and how you use it.

Solid surface

Solid surface is an acrylic or polyester material sold under names such as Corian. Its color runs all the way through, joints can be made nearly invisible, and sinks can be molded into the top so there is no rim or seam to collect dirt. That makes it a practical choice for bathrooms, laundry areas and rental kitchens. Angi's installed price for solid surface is $50-$150 a square foot, and its typical job totals around $3,000. It is less heat resistant than stone, so hot pans need trivets, and it can scratch, though fine scratches can be buffed out.

Where each one fits

• Islands and baking areas: butcher block, often paired with stone on the perimeter
• Bathrooms and integral sinks: solid surface
• Rentals: solid surface for easy cleaning and repair
• Walk-ups with hard stairs: either one, since both carry easily
• Next to the range: stone or a trivet habit, since neither likes direct high heat

Mixing materials

A common Jersey City layout is a quartz or granite perimeter with a butcher block island, or a solid surface vanity in a bath next to a stone kitchen. Mixing materials can save money and gives each area the surface that suits it. We quote mixed jobs as one project and plan the transitions so heights and edges line up.