8 Kitchen Countertops To Avoid, According To The Property Brothers
Kitchen renovations can make or break your home’s value, and the Property Brothers know this better than anyone. Drew and Jonathan Scott have seen countless kitchen disasters during their years of transforming homes on HGTV.
When it comes to countertops, their experience has taught them which materials cause more headaches than they’re worth.
1. Cheap Laminate
Budget-friendly doesn’t always mean value for your money. These countertops might seem like a steal initially, but the Property Brothers warn they’ll quickly show wear and tear.
Laminate can’t withstand hot pans, easily scratches, and tends to bubble near sinks. Plus, potential buyers often see these surfaces as temporary placeholders rather than permanent features worth paying for.
2. Soft Marble
Elegant and timeless in appearance, but surprisingly high-maintenance in reality. Many homeowners fall for its classic beauty without understanding the commitment required.
The Property Brothers caution that soft marble varieties stain easily from wine, coffee, and acidic foods. They require regular sealing and special cleaning products. For busy families, this dreamy material quickly becomes a nightmare of etching and discoloration.
3. High-Gloss Ceramic Tile
Shiny doesn’t equal practical in the kitchen workspace. Everything from coffee mugs to dinner plates becomes a potential disaster waiting to happen.
Jonathan and Drew have seen countless homeowners regret these slippery surfaces. High-gloss ceramic tiles create dangerous conditions for glassware and breakables. Furthermore, their reflective quality shows every fingerprint and water spot, making them perpetually look dirty despite your best cleaning efforts.
4. Low-Quality Butcher Block
Rustic charm fades fast when your counters can’t handle daily life. Bargain-bin wooden surfaces might save money upfront but cost dearly in maintenance and replacement.
The Property Brothers have witnessed too many cheap butcher blocks warp around sinks or develop mold underneath. Low-quality versions often use thin veneers rather than solid wood. Without proper sealing, these countertops become breeding grounds for bacteria and absorb every spill like a sponge.
5. Concrete (Without Proper Sealing)
Raw industrial style comes with raw industrial problems if not properly finished. What starts as an edgy design choice quickly deteriorates without professional treatment. According to the Property Brothers, unsealed concrete absorbs everything from red wine to olive oil.
These porous surfaces develop cracks over time and can even crumble at the edges. While properly sealed concrete makes a durable option, the DIY versions they’ve encountered have been renovation nightmares requiring complete replacement.
6. Trendy Bold Colors
Fashion-forward rarely equals future-proof when it comes to permanent fixtures. That emerald green or bright blue might seem exciting today but will scream “dated” tomorrow. The Property Brothers consistently advise against following fleeting color trends for big-ticket items.
Boldly colored countertops severely limit design flexibility and often turn off potential buyers. They’ve seen countless homeowners struggle to sell houses with countertops in yesterday’s hot colors, forcing expensive replacements before listing.
7. Tiled Countertops With Grout Lines
Food particles find permanent homes in these crevices, creating hygiene nightmares that no amount of scrubbing can fix. What initially seems like an affordable DIY option becomes a cleaning obsession. The Property Brothers have demolished countless tiled countertops during renovations.
Grout lines collect bacteria, stain easily, and create uneven surfaces that make food prep frustrating. Even when sealed properly, these surfaces eventually develop mold issues, especially around sinks where moisture constantly challenges grout integrity.
8. Inconsistent Mixed Materials
Creativity needs boundaries, especially in kitchen design. Random combinations of different countertop materials create visual chaos rather than custom charm. Drew and Jonathan have witnessed the confusion of kitchens with marble islands, wood prep areas, and tile bar tops.
They emphasize that mixed materials should follow a cohesive plan. Haphazard combinations not only look disjointed but also age differently, creating maintenance headaches and making future updates nearly impossible without a complete overhaul.
