My Chemical-Free House

A Guide to Creating a Healthy Home

Non-Toxic Kitchen Countertops

by 66 Comments

If you need assistance choosing countertops for your sensitivities, please contact me for a one-on-one consultation.

This post is a comprehensive review of what is out there for healthy, 0 VOC countertop options.

For the rest of a non-toxic kitchen series, see dedicated posts on:

Almost all the countertop options here an also be used as non-toxic vanity tops in a bathroom.

This post contains affiliate links, upon purchase I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. 

Non-Toxic Countertops

Granite and Marble Counters

With granite and marble you will want to find out what was used as a sealant and resin, or find a raw piece that does not contain either of those.

Ubatuba granite does not need a sealer which is a major plus side. Other types of dense granite don’t require a sealer (you will have to find out how dense it is/perform a water test).

The downside of most types of granite and marble is that they need to be resealed every year or two and you need to make sure you can tolerate a sealer being used inside the home.

Walnut Oil works great on granite and marble if they are not glossy. Another low toxin sealer is Meta Creme. I tested both and was very happy with the walnut oil and wax because it’s all-natural and performed better in my tests. Meta Creme was fairly low odor, for a synthetic.

Tung oil should not be used on marble – it tends to form too thick of a coating. You can use it on granite, but the thick coating makes resealing difficult. Linseed should not be used on either type because it does yellow.

Granite and Radon

Natural stone can contain trace amounts of radioactive elements like uranium and thorium which produce the gas radon and can emit small amounts of beta and gamma radiation. The EPA does not consider this above the earth’s natural background level of radiation.

Granite is more likely than other stone slabs to contain these elements, but not every slab will contain them. If you wish to test the granite you can use a Geiger counter for radioactivity and a radon test for radon gas. Be sure to test your house as a whole for radon first, as radon comes up through the foundation in many areas, and in much higher levels, in most cases, than a granite slab could produce.

Underlayment/Install

Granite and marble don’t always need plywood as an underlayment, it depends on the thickness. You could also try using a different type of underlayment.

Epoxy glue is used on the seams, which does cure quickly.

Cost: Marble $100 to $200 per square foot. Granite $75 to $175 per square foot.

Other Natural Stone Counters

Onyx

Onyx needs a sealer that is reapplied every few years.

Sandstone

Sandstone is a cool option, just use a non-toxic sealer.

Soapstone

Soapstone is a good natural option that is dense and doesn’t require sealing. It is usually treated with mineral oil often to keep the color, but it can be treated with Milk Paint Soapstone Sealer a natural walnut oil with beeswax.

That soapstone sealer will work on onyx and sandstone as well, as long as the stones are honed and don’t already have a gloss finish.

Cost: $70 to $100 per square foot

Quartzite

Quartzite is a stone that is often very dense, more dense than granite, not requiring a sealer.

Solid Slate

With solid slate find out if a sealant has been used. You can use Milk Paint Walnut sealer on raw slate as well as Tung Oil. Code mychemicalfreehouse for 10% off with the Real Milk Paint Company. Though for indoor countertops, tung forms too thick of a finish. Some slate is dense enough to not require a sealer.

Cost: $50 to $75 per square foot

Limestone

Limestone is a relatively soft and porous stone compared to many other of the options. It can also be sealed with the walnut sealer and requires a little more care.

Cost: $60 to $80 per square foot

Walnut Oil (with beeswax) is the preferred natural oil for sealing honed indoor stone. It’s also highly tolerable. If you buy hemp or walnut through the Milk Paint company you can get 10% off with code mychemicalfreehouse.

Quartz Counters (Engineered Stone)

I used Cambria Quartz in my tiny home (pictured) and it’s absolutely beautiful.

Quartz is made of ground quartz (real stone), pigment and a binder, usually polyester resin.

They claim that the final product is fully cured (no VOCs), but it did have a very minor offgassing odor for the first few days. After that, I found it completely safe.

Silestone is the one brand that contains an antimicrobial, Microban mixed into the structure. I’m not sure why that would be necessary. I would personally avoid Microban.

I did not use any glues to fasten it. Epoxy glues are used if you have seams. This offgasses quickly, but I have lived in many homes where quartz did not have seams.

It is a long-lasting non-porous material that doesn’t need a sealer. I have found it prone to staining from red wine, black tea and many other pigments.

Do not allow them to spray a chemical cleaner on it after they cut it and before they install it. Stay away from the dust while they are cutting it.

Cost: $55 to $155 per square foot. The price is comparable to marble, but more than granite.

Note: Dekton is a type of quartz, but in this brand they add porcelain and glass. It is denser than regular quartz and is virtually impossible to stain. It is also used outdoors and for flooring.

Solid Surface Counters

Paper Composite

PaperStone and Richlite (pictured) are paper-based, claim 0 VOC, and are light options (ideal for trailers and tiny houses!)

They are made with phenol-formaldehyde as the main resin. Though there is some misrepresentation by some vendors, it’s not hard to find the documents for Richlite and PaperStone indicating formaldehyde as the resin.

Both brands claim the final product contains no detectable formaldehyde and emits no VOCs. I have found that these brands do offgas formaldehyde when brand new, but they do make good progress rather quickly, depending on the thickness – a thin piece only took a few days and a thicker slab took a few weeks. I have to have my nose up to the product to pick up the formaldehyde.

I would use this product in my home though, I love how it looks and the offgassing is minor and does come to completion.

Richlite is made with new paper, PaperStone is made with recycled paper.

Installation and Maintenance

If you have seams, they are glued with epoxy glue just like stone counters.

You can seal PaperStone with Soapstone sealer. Richlite also makes their own oil/wax as well as a polyurethane finish.

Costs: $45 to $100 per square foot. You can install them yourself which is a huge upside which can really bring the cost down.

Glass & Concrete

Recycled glass counters come in different types. One made with resin is very similar to quartz, and is also considered just as safe. 

The other type using cement as the base for the glass.

Icestone is a brand that makes cement & glass countertops – they claim 0 VOC. It needs a stone sealer.

Vetrazzo is another brand that makes glass and concrete countertops.

Cost: $50 to $100 per square foot

Plastic Resin Based

Corian is made from an acrylic polymer and alumina trihydrate. It is GreenGuard Gold certified.

The integrated sinks are a cool feature of Corian (pictured).

Swanstone is also acrylic and alumina trihydrate.

Cost: $42 – $65 per square foot

Durat is appealing because it might be the lightest option for a trailer or tiny house. It is low VOC, polyester, and acrylic (made partly from recycled cell phones).

Another plastic option that is super light is Metem, which is recycled HDPE and claims no offgassing. I tested it out and found it very safe. Here is my video about it.

Avonite makes an acrylic option and a “resin” option, that are GreenGuard certified.

Concrete Countertops

This is a non-toxic countertop mix that does not contain fly ash, vinyl or latex.

Fly ash should always be avoided in concrete products as it contains toxic metals and can contain radioactive elements.

You could use white sand, pigments and other non-toxic concrete stains to get different looks. Colorants should be non-aniline dyes free of toxic metals. Mineral pigments free of toxic metals can be used. Davis Colors and Prarie sell pigments and colorants.

Seal with AFM Safecoat 2K Pro Urethane from GDC, Walnut oil Sealer, or Tung Oil.

Odies Oil and Daddy Vans also make non-toxic oil and wax concrete sealers, but they do not disclose all of their ingredients.

They need to be resealed regularly like real stone.

This can be a very affordable option, especially if you DIY. There are lots of videos on how to make these, but a DIY concrete counter could be prone to cracks if you are not careful, which are difficult to repair in a non-toxic way.

Cost: $75 to $150 per square foot (if you don’t DIY)

Stainless Steel, Aluminum and Copper, & Zinc Counters

Wood is typically used as the underlayment for metal countertops.

Copper would require a sealer.

Stainless steel can look very modern and is one of the most inert safe options for the chemically sensitive.

Stainless steel, unlike raw steel, does not need to be sealed. It will only rust with prolonged water standing. They usually don’t have seams.

Costs: Stainless is $80 to $250 per square foot. Zinc costs $150 to $200 per square foot.

A ground fault interrupter is used as an extra safety measure.

Solid Wood Counters

More and more I’m seeing thick solid slab wooden countertops.

This can be a good option if you can source a solid slab of wood.

They are typically thick, about 2 and a half inches. You can find the wood through a mill or local woodworking supplier.

This can be relatively inexpensive compared to other options. Especially if you do the installation and finishing yourself.

This example is in a bathroom, but I have seen this in kitchens as well.

You will want to use a very durable wood finish.

Butcher Block Counters

In butcher block countertops, the glues may or may not be tolerable for the chemically sensitive. Though most wood glues are very low in toxins.

They can be affordable.

Check to make sure it’s solid wood all the way through. IKEA butcher block countertops are affordable but they are not solid all the way through. The base is particleboard.

Hemp oil is my top pick for a wood finish, beeswax can be added as well.

Cost: $35 – $200 per square foot

This post is a deeper comparison of the cost, labor, and healthy specs of the most affordable countertop options.

Tile Counters

This is a good option for those who are chemically sensitive.

The challenge is that safe concrete-based grout is not what is normally used for a tile countertop. Because those grouts are so porous – it’s easy to get grime, food, dust and eventually mold in the grout.

You could add a densifier and a sealer, and some chemically sensitive folks do use this method with concrete based grout because it’s safe and inexpensive. A good non-toxic tile sealer is AFM Grout Sealer.

But most tile counters are not made with concrete grout. More toxic grouts are usually used in this application.

Tile works better as the backsplash.

Cost: $35 – $80 per square foot (if you don’t DIY)

If you like porcelain surfaces you can also find solid porcelain countertops now like iTOP which are a good option, but pricey.

Tadelakt Counters

Photo via www.brendonmurless.com

Tadelakt counters are a unique and beautiful option that is totally natural and safe.

It generally should be a darker color because it is susceptible to staining and many use a wooden edge, as the plaster edge is vulnerable. It requires upkeep. 

Here’s a really handy how-to for earthen countertops. Although it’s very labor-intensive, if you do it yourself it’s very affordable.

Laminate/Formica Counters

There is some misunderstanding on whether laminate is toxic.

The top layer of laminate is melamine plastic which is fairly safe, but the melamine layer has a paper backing does offgas formaldehyde.

I have not found the top layer inks to offgas, though you should get a sample of the brand you want to use.

The substrate that the melamine is glued down to is usually particle board which offgasses formaldehyde. It can also be plywood.

In lightweight trailers, the substrate can be polystyrene (EPS) foam. Even then, the problem can be in the contact cement glues used to hold these together.

There is another way. You can buy Formica sheets at Home Depot and attach them to the substrate of your choosing. You may put this over an existing laminate counter, over offgassed plywood, EPS foam on another substrate.

I tested this out – I offgassed the laminate, offgassed the plywood, had someone else glue them together and then sealed them with shellac.

Although laminate does not look as upscale as many of the other options, it can look chic and modern in some of the new colors like solid black.

This DIY countertop is one of the most affordable options and can be low in toxins.

Cost: $20 to $50 per square foot

Tempered Glass Counters

Tempered glass is costly and unusual but it is a very pure and totally inert option.

You are more likely to find this in a bathroom vanity top (with or without an integrated sink) than in a kitchen.

ThinkGlass makes custom glass kitchen countertops.

Construction Adhesive for Countertops

The best adhesive for countertops, if you do choose to use one to glue it to the cabinets below, is Almighty Adhesive. It’s extremely tolerable and very low in toxins.

In many cases you can attach the countertops mechanically, avoiding the use of glue.

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Corinne Segura is a Building Biologist with 6 years of experience helping others create healthy homes.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lesley says

    What are your recommendations for sealers to be used on polished granite or quartzite? As far as I can tell, you only mention sealers for unpolished stone. Thanks in advance!

    Reply

    • Corinne says

      Metacreme might work but there are not any natural or totally non toxic sealers for polished stone that required resealing every few years.

      Reply

      • Grace says

        It looks like Meta Creme changed its name to Waterborne Dense Stone Sealer. Do you know if the product is the same? I am looking to seal quartzite and tile in the kitchen and bathroom. Is this the best and most non-toxic I am going to get for a sealer? Should I be concerned about the MSDS about tests they did where they have a check next to Reproductivity? I think
        meaning it can be harmful for that.

        Reply

  2. Diane says

    Do you have any suggestions on cabinets for kitchen and bath. I am looking at crystal cabinets ( painted ) and I read wood cabinets 4 less. Although unsure of who to go with. Any suggestions on this. Also if anyone has any experience with either companies with off gassing, especially if painted cabinets.

    Reply

  4. Anna says

    Ice Stone now includes a built in sealer. They said it was a new addition, to make it more convenient for the consumer (no more yearly sealing). They were not willing to share with me the ingredient details, as they said it is proprietary info. However, they did give me a generalized statement on it. May I share it with you? I am unsure if I should get their product because of the built in sealer.

    Reply

  5. Anna says

    Ice Stone now includes a built in sealer. They said it was a new addition, to make it more convenient diverge consumer (no more yearly sealing). They were not willing to share with me the ingredient details, as they said it is proprietary info. However, t get did give me a generalized statement on it. May I share it with you? I am unsure if I should get they product because of the built in sealer.

    Reply

  12. Unknown says

    I have MCS and CFS and my big challenge is the range. I don't use gas ranges, but I struggle to find an electric oven that I can use without it making me very ill, with daily use for the first year. When I had to get a new one 5 years ago, I tried running it while I was out of the house, etc., but ended up giving it to a friend to off-gas. Hoping it will be okay now. Now in the market for a refrigerator, and not sure what to do. Don't have an outlet in the garage that can accommodate a fridge. Wish there were more options for people like us.

    Reply

  13. Unknown says

    Hi Corinne, You wrote "The [faucets] I have seen that are 100% lead-free are made of 100% solid stainless steel." Since Parmir tested positive, do you have another lead free faucet recommendation that is reasonably priced? thanks!

    Parmir claims to make 100% lead-free faucets but a client used these lead swabs to test a kitchen and bathroom faucet and the test proved positive.

    The other options for 100% lead-free faucets are pricy. MGS an Italian company and Waterstone Faucets also make 100% stainless faucets. Another one I have seen is this one called Jerry.

    Reply

  15. Lindsay Craig says

    Hi Corrine, my husband and I have just purchased our first home and although I have not been tested for MCS I know I am very sensitive to inorganic chemicals and materials, as well as my son. I am not well versed in your area of expertise so I am trying my best to get a quick, as thorough as possible, education on these subjects as we are crunched for time.

    We are redoing our floors in solid raw hardwood and was wondering your thoughts on Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus? We also are planning on doing a nail in installation but not sure what exactly is underneath the current floors. Seeing if we have to get soft plywood is there certain brands you would recommend? And considering we get the lowest VOC possible how long on average does it take for soft plywood to off gas?

    Lastly, we are taking out the upper cabinets in the kitchen and putting in solid wood exposed shelving but plan to extend counter top space. I'm not sure what kind of cabinets are currently installed but its like there is a think plastic sticker covering the particle or what board underneath. We are wanting to just take them all out to not have to match these. So hopefully we can salvage some older off gassed cabinets, but if not I was wondering if you have any thoughts or knowledge on ikea cabinets considering they adhere to a higher standard than the US. I came across this option here: https://gimmethegoodstuff.org/non-toxic-kitchen-cabinets-for-project-one-eleven/
    Any thoughts? I do plan on having an Austin Air to help with these two renovations.

    Thank you so much for sharing your journey and knowledge with us all. You are very much appreciated.

    Reply

    • Corinne says

      Hi Lindsay, Yes there is certainly a lot of info to get through! A lot of this is talked about on the blog. If you can't find what you are looking for, or it's too much information to go through, then let's set up a consultation. We can get through everything you need for your reno in an hour or less. [email protected]. It is 60 USD per hour. More info on the consulting and contact page.

      Reply

  16. Bonnie B. says

    I am very sensitive to chemicals and may need a new refrigerator. Also, all of my family has died of cancers (my siblings in their 40s) and I have an autoimmune disease and asthma. What can be done to have a fridge that doesn't outgas a lot of plastic into the food in it? And are the compressors always smelly and need to be run ahead of installation? I read the tips listed above, but am wondering what other thoughts people might have for me. Any suggestions on a brand? (Also – we can't have a really small fridge as we need a family sized one.) Thanks much.

    Reply

    • Corinne says

      I have heard conflicting things about which ones are better. You may find a floor model that has offgassed or leave it in the garage running for a bit. As for which brand or type is the best for offgassing there isn't much agreement, you have to sniff a few of them if you can stand the exposures. You would think stainless would be better but that's not what I have seen.

      Reply

    • Laurisa Rich says

      waste of time. I just went to your website and no mention is made of low-toxicity materials and no certifications.

      Reply

  19. Ana john says

    Don't waste your money on these pans. they work for a few weeks, but after that you'll be using more and more oil to keep food from sticking. Eventually even the oil won't help. One of the worst kitchen utensils I ever bought. 

    Reply

    • Corinne says

      They should avoid spraying them with this cleaning product at installation. You will have to wash it off on sides where you can reach it.

      Reply

  21. scotty123 says

    InovaStone has been providing quality natural stone worktops to individual and corporate consumers since 2000. Supplying you with just the best of service, our team are completely licensed to template worktops which they later on cut and polish in our work spaces, and finally return to match by the similar team.

    Reply

  22. Unknown says

    l
    Looking for a non toxic utility sink. Anyone have any ideas? Is there any off gassing with a stainless steal sink? Didn't want that look but I can not find a utility sink that is not plastic. Porcelain will chip and is expensive.

    Reply

  24. Kelly Bailey says

    I had a set of cabinets built for my home from a cabinetmaker in Flippin, AR. He made a gorgeous set of cabinets that were chemical free/formaldhyde free, all solid wood. When I got them delivered to my home I was really worried about smells, but when I got close to them and even sat next to them they didn't smell and there wasn't any off gassing of any kind. I've had my cabinets in my home now for about a year and still no problems. Love them!

    Reply

  25. Unknown says

    How are you suppose to test for radioactivity & lead in the counter tops and in tiles etc? We are looking into buying a home and I am a little overwhelmed at all the crap in our environment and all the possible and probable contaminants. Its starting to seem impossible to buy a safe home and is almost starting to get to the point where we are just going to have to pick and choose what is absolutely necessary and what we can deal with.

    Reply

    • Corinne says

      Granite test for radioactivity and glazed tiles for radioactivity and lead – if you want to be super careful.

      Reply

        • Corinne says

          Most natural stones could have some radon but granite is the only one that is normally tested because it’s the one that could have “significant” levels. Though personally I wouldn’t test it if it was for myself because it’s not significant enough.

          Reply

  26. Bob Lowe says

    Great post. Lots of good information. A quartz counter top seem ideal for keeping things clean and not harboring bacteria. What exactly do they use to for a sealant and resin that would last a long time but also be toxic free. Does it last as long as normal sealant?

    Reply

  29. Simon Upping says

    Hi I'm sourcing for furniture for my new home and am considering aluminium furniture. However I came across sites that says that aluminum is toxic. But aluminium makers said they are not. One said that their's is made from aluminium allow grade 6063-T5 and that its non-toxic. Can anyone clarify? Thanks very much for your help.

    Reply

    • Corinne says

      Aluminum itself is not toxic. The paints on it may be. Powder-coated is best as it cures quickly and should be tolerable.

      Reply

    • Simon Upping says

      Thanks Corrine. I tried to google aluminium toxicity of furnishings but could not find any. What I discovered was warnings linked to cookware and foil and breathing in aluminium. Could there be a danger that since the aluminium furniture is a permanent fixture, we are breathing in aluminium? Thanks very much for your input.

      Reply

    • Corinne says

      It is just sitting there. The sink holds it in place but it is heavy enough that it doesn't move. You can mechanically fasten it or use AFM Almighty Adhesive.

      Reply

  32. Linda Rowe says

    I'm very chemically sensitive and am reacting to my new Cambria countertops that were sprayed with a granite cleaner at installation. I contacted Cambria USA and learned that the resin is polyester-based – I am highly sensitive to polyester! Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions? We're currently looking at the granite cleaner and what would remove a possible residue. However, my reactions [respiratory and neurological] have me thinking the problem is the resin. I thought I would be good with these Greenguard counters, but so far is it not good.

    Reply

    • Corinne says

      yeah, I caught them just as they were putting that cleaner on and we washed it thoroughly with vinegar outside before it was brought in. The cleaner smell should not have soaked in those as it is no porous. As I mentioned it did have a smell for the first few days. I would just give it a while and if that doesn't get better put it outside for a while. it will offgas

      Reply

  33. Anonymous says

    Thanks for the article! I want to install Cambria in my kitchen but am concerned about what "glue" will be used for a seam. Also, I would like a glass backsplash but am not certain about the adhesive. I am VERY chemically sensitive. Can you advise how you handle the Cambria?

    Reply

    • Corinne says

      Cambria doesn't have seams. There is an epoxy that the material is made of though, so I would try and get a scrap to test that was recently made. It's not necessary to fasten it down with anything. But check out the post on adhesives and try testing those for your own sensitivities.

      Reply

  34. Keri Smith says

    I've been playing with the idea of installing Marble or granite countertops in my kitchen. I agree that having a chemical free kitchen is important. Thanks for the article!

    Reply

  36. SYoungquist says

    Hello,
    As you've done quite a bit of research, I was wondering if you had come across or had any thoughts on Columbia Forest Product's Purebond plywood for cabinets. Supposedly with it's soy binder, the off gassing and VOC's are not as much of a problem. I'm considering this for our cabinets (possibly with solid-wood faces) in our kitchen, and am looking for informed opinions. Thanks!

    Reply

  37. wowwnc says

    I love your blog!

    Thank you for creating it to give help & hope to others.

    Do you have recommendations (brand names) for small, low EMF refrigerators?

    Much appreciation to you.

    Reply

  38. Anonymous says

    Is a gas stove really bad to have? Do you think running the hood fan,having a properly maintained range, opening a window and having lots of plants in the house, takes care of the fumes?

    Reply

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