We often talk about stone countertops in the context of home value. As the thinking goes, stone materials are a better choice in terms of increasing your home’s value. They become investments through which homeowners expect to enjoy some sort of financial return. But is the return on investment (ROI) more than just financial?
Countertops and Home Value
A stylish and functional kitchen is still at the top of the list among prospective home buyers, according to a 2024 National Association of Realtors (NAR) post. So the question for a homeowner thinking of installing new countertops is whether to choose more expensive stone over less expensive laminates.
We have seen some estimates suggesting that some countertops could pay for themselves by increasing a home’s value by the same amount or more. We don’t know whether that’s true. But the same NAR post reminding us of just how important stylish and functional kitchens are also made mention of the fact that home buyers are still high on marble. They also like quartzite right now.
Granite and quartz are not as hot as they once were because of market saturation, but there are still plenty of buyers who would take either option over a laminate.
ROI Beyond the Financials
Let us assume that the estimates suggesting stone countertops would pay for themselves are correct. Is a higher value sufficient reason in and of itself to install stone countertops? As a homeowner, you would have to decide that for yourself.
Beyond the immediate financial impact of increasing your home’s value, there are other ways to measure ROI. Return isn’t measured solely by money spent versus money earned. Homeowners should be looking at other things as well.
1. Aesthetic Longevity
One of the things that distresses home buyers the most about kitchens is datedness. We are living in the 2020s. So a kitchen that hasn’t been updated since the 1990s clearly shows its age. Even if the kitchen is still fully functional, younger homebuyers will not like what it looks like.
A big advantage of marble, quartzite, granite, and quartz is the timeless appeal each brings to the design equation. Laminates look dated. A poorly done concrete one does as well. Wood can go either way. But stone seems to break all the limits of aesthetic appeal. To most people, it is timeless.
2. Maintenance and Durability
Every type of countertop requires some sort of maintenance. Laminates require the least, but they are also the least durable. Stone is at the other end of the equation. Stone materials are the most durable but also require the most maintenance. Is durability important to you? Do you want new countertops you know will last for decades without issue?
3. Perceptions of Luxury
Some people measure ROI partly in how their possessions make them feel. And for many of our customers, stone countertops evoke a feeling of luxury. Such feelings are hard to quantify in dollars and cents. But they are very real. An investment in stone could be an investment in your perception of luxury.
4. Enjoyment of Your Home
The last way to measure ROI is arguably the most important: the enjoyment of your home. When all is said and done, you will not be able to take your home with you. And if you sell it for a pretty penny, the money is staying here as well. So the biggest question of all is whether investing in stone countertops will increase your enjoyment.
Stone countertops are not for everyone. Are they right for you? That depends on how you measure ROI.
