We're pretty winding down on our new cabinets and we're seriously seeking our best countertop choices (no, plywood is the temporary choice until the real stuff arrives). We've heard stories of heat affecting Corian and LG and things like if you cut on the countertop itself it will scor or mark like a plastic cutting board. We've also heard stories of everything from emisions of radon gas from granite and the need to seal and care for the surface. We have seen granite at places like Lowe's that is supposedly sealed for 15 years now, too. We've heard good and bad about Silestone but then today someone said it's just Home Depot's branding of granite.
We'd like to get to the truth of the matter but I'd rather throw it out to the knowledgable public (i.e. alt.home.repair) then from some vendor or distributor. What's the truth about these materials????
Also, we like the molded in sinks that come with Corian and LG but heard that if they get damaged from dropping something in them, then you have to replace the whole counter top and can't just replace the sink. We don't really like the stainless sinks sitting under a granite countertop as there is a slight mating 'crap trap' between the sink and the countertop and although we know this is sealed, there is still the mating recess between them. Doesn't seem to be something I'd want.
So what's the truth?????????
Thanks in advance for any and all help!