Natural Stone Countertops For Your Kitchen
Natural stone offers a beauty that is hard to match with any
other material. There are several advantages to using natural stone.
For starters, natural stone brings a rich elegant appearance to a room.
It is also durable and luxurious. Each piece of natural stone is unique
and there are a lot of different options to choose from. Also, most
natural stone materials come in a variety of finishes.
If you have decided that you would like to invest in a natural
stone countertop, make sure to take the time to choose the one that
will work best for your needs. Don’t just go for looks alone because
practicality is just as important, if not more. Pay attention to the
level of maintenance that each material requires, such as regular staining
or oiling. Some stone is virtually maintenance-free. Below you will
find the various natural stone materials compare:
Granite
Granite offers great benefits. Not only is it a beautiful surface,
granite is also extremely heat and scratch resistant, very durable and
it incredibly long lasting. Granite will never go out of style so there
is rarely a need to replace it. Furthermore, granite is available in
deep, rich colors with a polished finish that won’t wear off. Keep in
mind, granite is porous so it will require resealing about once a year.
Marble
Marble countertops are becoming a popular choice because they
are smooth, elegant and cool to the touch. They offer an exceptional
and stylish look. marbles is also perfect for food preparations. It
is the serious baker’s choice for rolling dough and making pastries.
As far as durability is concerned, marble falls short of granite and
it also requires more sealing maintenance to protect it from staining.
Soapstone
Soapstone, which is composed primarily of the mineral talc,
lends itself well to both contemporary and more traditional “country”
kitchens. Soapstone’s inert nature means acids won't etch the material,
and stains can be easily sanded out — although many homeowners view
them as part of the character. It needs to be treated with a mineral
oil to bring out its dark, rich color and make it shine.
Slate
Slate stands out in a kitchen because it is very durable and
has such a unique surface. It is available in tones of gray, green,
purple and black. Unlike granite and marble, slate doesn’t require much
sealing protection, but some maintenance is still required. If a scratch
is made in the slate, it can usually be removed by rubbing the scratch
with a damp sponge. Deeper scratches can be buffed out by using steel
wool.
Quartz
Natural quartz compares to slate in appearance, but does not
stain or scratch as easily. You also have the option of installing engineered
quartz which has been gaining popularity as well. However, the costs
are considerably more. Engineered quartz consists of a quartz composite
product mixed with epoxy, polymers, and small stones or pebbles.
Limestone
Limestone countertops provide lovely solutions in both your
kitchen and your bath. However, there needs to be an eye kept on it
because it is very porous and spills must be caught and treated quickly
to prevent staining. Some people really enjoy limestone’s natural, weathered
look that deepens and darkens over time. The down side to limestone
is that is can be quite pricey at times because of its weight and you
are also limited to a selection of what is being quarried at the time.
For more information about natural
stone countertops, and for free price quotes on kitchen
countertops visit www.CountertopsKey.com
