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Avoid using harsh, gritty, or abrasive cleaners and sponges on Formica countertops. This includes steel wool, scouring pads, and strongly alkaline or acidic cleaning products like chlorine bleach, oven cleaner, drain cleaner, furniture polish, or vinegar. These can compromise the surface, leading to scuffs, discoloration, and other damage that will reduce the countertop's longevity. Additionally, never place hot items, such as pots and pans directly from the oven or stovetop, onto the laminate surface, as the high heat can cause it to scorch.

Marble countertops are often considered better than limestone because of their superior durability and luxurious appearance. Marble is harder and less prone to scratching and denting, though it still requires maintenance and sealing to prevent stains and etching. Marble is typically more expensive, but its beautiful veining and range of colors offer a high-end look. 

Most countertops come with a standard eased edge design as part of their fabrication cost, so that edge style will not cost extra on top of the countertop fee. Eased edges are simple, elegant, and have a classic look. Square edges are also inexpensive to add to most types of countertop material, and they look good with most contemporary home styles. If you redo your kitchen cabinets or kitchen style, they are likely to fit the new style, so you will not need to change countertops or have the edges recut, which can save remodeling costs in the future.

You can cut countertops without chipping by using your saw correctly and having a new fine-toothed blade. You can also put masking tape on the front of the countertop material across the cut line and cut from front to back. However, it is very hard to cut countertops without chipping them, especially if they are made of stone or more fragile materials like laminate. The best advice is to know how to use the equipment, use the correct cutting method for the material, cut from back to front, move slowly, and practice on scrap material first.