Plastic fantastic building materials

Made from chips of quartz pressed together with resins, the best-engineered countertops look like real stone that just happens to have an extremely uniform pattern on its surface (man cannot mimic a highly variegated look yet - maybe in a couple of years).

Although you probably won't shell out any less in up-front costs, you will save on long-term maintenance in the long run. Unlike with natural stone, the surface doesn't need periodic sealing to protect it from spills and it isn't susceptible to damage from acidic foods.

With engineered stone, your countertop may need fewer seams (which looks better) since you won't be limited by the size of the natural stone. Plus, it's heat- and scratch-resistant; you can choose any color of the rainbow; and some products even have antimicrobial properties that protect the countertop from bacteria, mold and mildew.

NEXT: Cellular PVC trim