Zinc Countertops

[tedwin]

I am installing a kitchen in a historic house and am interested in using zinc countertops for their durability and natural patina. I know my grandparents had a zinc covered worktable in their kitchen but it's use seems to have fallen out of favor. Anyone have experience with zinc countertops? Any drawbacks?

[Beanie]

No experience, but here's a web site with information.

[Liz Johnson]

Anyone else temporarily blinded by the colors on that Web site?

[fifi]

Interesting question. The first thing that comes to mind is that zinc will be particularly vulnerable to damage by acids. Squeeze lemon juice on it and it will probably fizz. But, it was fairly widely used many years ago.

[McDuff]

Any drawbacks?

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For me, the price. if you go to the van dyke restorer's website, you can buy sheets of zinc for a lot less than you can buy a countertop. Know anybody in the aluminum business with a brake?

[LindaK]

I've never seen a zinc kitchen countertop, but lots of old Paris bars and bistros have zinc bars. lovely, and certainly have survived their share of wear and tear, not to mention wine spills.