If you’re remodeling a bathroom and need to pick out new countertop materials, you might not necessarily want to use the same countertops that are in the kitchen. Besides wanting a completely different look in different rooms, it’s important to take into consideration what elements the countertop will face in each room.

Kitchen countertop materials might not be appropriate for bathroom surfaces, as the durability expectations greatly differ. The most popular choice for kitchen countertop materials is granite; however, countertop experts say it won’t hold up well in a bathroom.

“I don’t recommend granite because it’s porous and very vulnerable to stains,” says Jerald Landis, owner of Landis & Landis Kitchen and Bath Remodeling in Indianapolis. “The bathroom is where the nail polish and other beauty products are, so you want something that’s non-porous and won’t stain so easily.”

An example of a non-porous countertop material is quartz.

“It looks and performs just like granite, except it’s manmade,” says Dewayne Randle of Irving Counter Top in Irving, Texas.

The Dallas area countertop installation expert says the manmade material provides a similar look without the risk of being stained.

“Quartz can be made in just about any color you want. It can even be made to look just like a slab of granite,” Randle says.

The price for quartz can sometimes be a little bit more costly than granite, which runs from $38 per square foot to $75 per square foot, but the added durability granite lacks often proves worth the cost to homeowners.

“Quartz can cost anywhere from $42 per square foot, to $80 per square foot, depending on the quality and where you buy it,” Randle says.

If affordability is what you’re looking for, cultured marble might be a better choice. At about $25 per square foot, it’s a popular choice among budget-conscious homeowners.

“Cultured marble is one of the most inexpensive choices available,” Landis says. “It’s manmade, and the color selection is pretty wide.”

The Indianapolis countertop installation expert warns that the right product must be used to clean marble surfaces.

“With cultured marble, you absolutely have to use a nonabrasive cleanser,” he warns, “otherwise, you will scrub the finish right off.”

Laminate is another material similar in cost, and it comes in a variety of colors and patterns that mimic materials such as granite. Though affordable, Randle warns laminate is not extremely durable.

“Laminate scratches easily and is very sensitive to heat. Keep this in mind if you use a curling iron or other similar product.”