Like a workbench in a woodshop, a countertop is perhaps the most necessary piece of equipment in a kitchen. Countertops, after all, are the work surfaces you need when you're sorting groceries, preparing and serving foods and cleaning up--they're essential for just about every aspect of kitchen work.

Of course, kitchen counters come in a very wide range of materials, colors, patterns, shapes, and sizes, so choosing a new countertop can be a bit of challenge. Here we'll look at the various types of counters used in kitchens and help you sort through your choices. (These same materials and construction techniques are used in bathrooms.) We'll also give you basic advice for installing countertops--including techniques for tiling and grouting--and for maintaining your counters.

For more about kitchen countertops, please see Countertops.