Stone Home Countertop Materials - Pros And Cons Of Well-Known Stone Countertops


One of the hottest trends home based design today is stone kitchen countertops. These durable, heat-resistant, luxurious counters really are a beautiful and practical accessory any home. But with the many various kinds of natural and engineered stones around, choosing the proper one for your house can feel daunting. It might take some time to look into, but each one of these counter materials really have benefits and drawbacks, so it is vital that you evaluate which an example may be right for your requirements.
Granite Countertops
Granite is a very common sort of igneous (volcanic) rock that forms beautiful crystalline textures. A hardcore type of rock, granite is suited to use as a counter in kitchens and bathrooms which is both heat and scratch resistant. Granite is made by pressure and heat over generations, so no two items of this piece of rock are ever exactly alike. This one-of-a-kind characteristic is very attracting homeowners who desire a totally unique space. Granite countertops can be purchased in a wide range of organic colors and patterns, from neutrals to striking blues and greens. Stone countertops like granite do typically raise the valuation on your own home over engineered stones like quartz as buyers have a tendency to gravitate toward natural materials.
However, despite its prestigious reputation, granite countertops have several disadvantages. To start with, granite is often a relatively porous stone, meaning it should be chemically sealed to resist stains. The sealing process is not hard, nonetheless it must occasionally be repeated; a lot of people consider this to be need for routine maintenance a negative. Secondly, granite is often an expensive material. While granite tiles works extremely well in place of granite slabs to lessen the buying price of the countertop, few people are able to afford a granite countertop.
Marble Countertops
Homeowners are fascinated by the luxurious appearance of marble countertops. The distinctive appearance of marble can dramatically increase the value of the house, because it is typically considered a prestigious, sophisticated material. Furthermore marble countertops will be the preferred surface for serious bakers because cool stone is fantastic for pie crusts, pastries, and also other baked goods. Marble countertops can be purchased in a huge range of colors from delicate blushes to vibrant blacks, each uniquely formed by nature.
Marble comes with some distinct drawbacks like a countertop material. First off, marble is often a less harsh stone than granite, so that it carries a greater tendency to scratch and mar than granite countertops. Additionally, polished marble is at risk of etching when acidic liquids are invariably spilled into it. These spots and marks can destroy the tip of the countertop; you can avoid this issue by choosing a honed finish instead of a refined finish, but most homeowners choose to appearance of polished marble. Finally, marble is a porous, absorbent stone, meaning it has a tendency to stain. While some homeowners just like the patina their marble countertops develop over time, many do think it over a drawback.
Soapstone Countertops
You're likely familiar with soapstone from your senior high school chemistry lab; those black tables were made from soapstone. Today soapstone has become popular in kitchen countertops because of its extreme stain resistance. It's also heat resistant and will not etch.

One downside of soapstone counters is because they are just available in a small amount of dark colors. Soapstone is commonly a grayish color naturally, although it is normally oiled to some black finish for commercial and residential use. Soapstone counters will also be at risk of scratching. However, soapstone counters can actually be sanded to get rid of nicks and mars, which means this inclination towards scratching isn't necessarily viewed as a huge shortcoming.
Limestone Countertops
Limestone can be a sedimentary rock with qualities similar to marble. For sale in many neutrals and whites, limestone countertops possess a smooth appearance, unlike granite. Formed from sand as well as the shells of aquatic life, limestone frequently includes small fossils and shells; some homeowners particularly value this phenomenal facet of limestone countertops.
However, like marble, limestone is often a soft rock: it has a tendency to stain and scratch easily which is prone to etching. Your limestone counter may be sealed to assist prevent staining and etching, but limestone just isn't suited to high use areas like kitchens.
Quartz Countertops
Quartz countertops are created from an engineered stone produced from 93% quartz, pigment, and resin. This stone counter material has many of the same qualities of granite, but devoid of the upkeep issues. Quartz countertops are heat and scratch resistant will not stain. And, unlike granite, quartz never should be sealed. As a man-made material, quartz counters possess a uniform color and pattern. Some homeowners do prefer this consistent check out the initial aspects of stone. It also implies that in case a segment of your quartz countertop is broken, the same replacement section can be had from your manufacturer without concerns about matching.
Eventhough it may seem that quartz countertops are inherently superior, they do have numerous drawbacks. The key dilemma is that despite the same cost, engineered quartz counters don't improve the price of your home just as much as granite countertops do. House buyers choose the natural material in the man-made counter, so you'll want to bear this in mind in case you are remodeling your home being an investment. Additionally, although quartz counters are built to mimic natural appearance of granite, a lot of people believe that quartz lacks the depth and beauty of granite. To be certain which look you prefer, ensure you see instances of both natural and engineered stone. Finally, with quartz your color and pattern choices are more limited as compared to natural stone. You can find a large number of colors available, but in particular when you're attempting to exactly fit existing color scheme you might choose to limitless rainbow of natural stone.
Corian Countertops
Corian is yet another form of engineered stone just like quartz. This sort of solid surface stone countertop offers almost all of the advantages of granite and quartz as well as several unique benefits. Like granite and quartz countertops, Corian countertops are heat, stain, and scratch resistant. It's also nonporous, so that it won't ever should be sealed. Moreover, Corian has the added benefit of being certified kosher. Unlike granite, Corian countertops can even be totally integrated with Corian backsplashes and sinks to create a visually seamless surface.
Nonetheless, Corian also is equipped with disadvantages. It really is heat resistant, only to 212?F. Higher temperatures will damage your counter, so you'll typically need to protect your Corian countertop from hot objects. Also, like with quartz, some individuals like the natural appearance of granite towards the uniform and consistent appearance of Corian. Corian countertops will also be purely available in limited colors and patterns, which a lot of people dislike.
With your advantages and drawbacks in your mind, now you are furnished with the information you have to pick the perfect kitchen countertop material for your residence. Go to your local stone countertop showroom or installer to see samples and learn much more about making your dream of gorgeous stone countertops an actuality.
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