What countertop colors does Ace carry?

Ace stocks 129 engineered quartz countertop colors, from flat whites through heavy marble-look veining, black and true color. Every one is templated, cut and installed by our own crew at $120 to $150 per square foot. Granite, quartzite and marble are quoted from the slab yard instead.

Are concrete countertops as low-maintenance as they look?

No — concrete is one of the highest-maintenance counters despite its industrial toughness. It needs resealing at least yearly (plus waxing in between), acids etch both the sealer and the cement paste, and hairline cracks from curing and settling are considered normal, not defects. Budget-wise it is also not a shortcut: at $65-135/sq ft installed you are paying artisan labor rates. Choose it for the custom look, not to save money or effort — or get the same aesthetic in a concrete-look quartz.

Are countertops priced by the square foot or by the slab — and why does it matter?

Quotes are usually expressed per square foot, but stone is bought by the slab, and that mismatch explains several surprises. If your kitchen needs 55 sq ft and slabs run 50 sq ft, you are buying two slabs and paying for the waste — sometimes a small layout tweak that fits one slab saves four figures. It also makes vein placement a real decision: ask to see your countertop outlines laid over the actual slab before cutting, so the dramatic vein lands on the island rather than under the dish rack.

Are countertops really cheaper downstate than in Chicago?

Generally yes - regional surveys put installed granite around $86 and quartz around $78 per square foot in the Peoria area versus roughly $100 and $91 in Chicago, reflecting lower labor and overhead. The slab material itself costs about the same statewide, so most of the gap is fabrication and install labor; downstate you also avoid the high-rise access and permit-parking surcharges common in the city.

Are recycled-glass countertops as durable as regular quartz?

Resin-bound recycled-glass surfaces behave much like engineered quartz: non-porous, stain-resistant, and never in need of sealing. Cement-bound versions are closer to polished concrete — they want periodic sealing and their edges can chip under impact. Neither type tolerates hot pans directly. The bigger practical issue in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana is availability: fewer fabricators stock recycled glass, so compare warranties and local service before committing, and note that recycled-content quartz lines from major brands can deliver similar green credentials with easier sourcing.

Are the dramatic veined slabs and waterfall islands all over Instagram practical in an ordinary Midwest kitchen?

They can be, but scale and budget both matter. A bold, heavily veined slab can overwhelm a small closed-off kitchen — many bungalow and ranch kitchens in the Midwest are compact, and a busy pattern reads much louder in person than in a wide-angle photo of a big open plan. Waterfall edges are also a genuine cost item, not just a style choice: the mitered corners and extra vertical stone typically add $1,000-$3,000 to an island as of mid-2026 fabricator pricing. In a smaller kitchen that money usually does more for you in a better material grade, better lighting, or an upgraded sink.

Are wood countertops practical around a kitchen sink?

Wood and standing water are enemies: lapsed finish near a sink turns black, and the wood can cup or warp. If you want butcher block, the lower-risk patterns are using it away from the sink (island or baking zone) with stone or solid surface in the wet run, or committing to a marine-grade film finish and immediate wipe-downs at an overmount sink. On sanitation, studies show properly cleaned wood is comparable to plastic surfaces — the real issue is water discipline, not germs.