Sleek, chic and often associated with restaurant kitchens, stainless steel is probably the easiest surface to maintain in your home. Modern homeowners choose to go with stainless steel in their kitchen because it’s the sturdiest material available. Since this surface is the only type that can take bleaching, cleaning is a cinch. The thickness of stainless steel is significantly less than that of its counterparts: most stainless steel surfaces are not more than 1” thick, but they are often installed on top of wood to decrease the tinny noise it can make. Seams are generally visible and it’s recommended that stainless steel is installed professionally. There is one drawback to steel: it’s a heat conductor, so it can burn if exposed to a hot pan. 