Solid Surface Countertops are made from acrylic or plastic material which is colored by resins. An example of solid surface is Corian. Quartz Countertops or Engineered Stone is a nonporous material, made from a mixture of 93% quartz and 7% resin binders and pigments. Quartz countertops look more like granite and are almost as expensive. An example of quartz countertops is Zodiaq.