Granite/Corian counters seem to get a lot of ridicule on these housing bubble forums – I’m not sure why. I just got done finding a new rental in Las Vegas, so here’s my take on it from looking at a lot of mass-produced tract houses:
A five year old kitchen with granite counters and tile floor generally looks pretty good. Same age kitchen with tile counters and vinyl floor looks hideous. The grout is always nasty and moldy, the tiles become uneven from water seeping into the underlying chipboard, and it looks dated and cheap.
When I get ready to buy in 2008-2010, having a kitchen with current high-end materials and finish will be a must-have.
