Stone Kitchen Countertop Materials - Benefits And Drawbacks Of General Stone Countertops

One of many hottest trends home based design today is stone kitchen countertops. These durable, heat-resistant, luxurious counters can be a beautiful and practical accessory any home. But with all of the different forms of natural and engineered stones around, selecting the right one for your house can seem daunting. It might take a while to analyze, but each of these counter materials really have positives and negatives, so it will be vital that you evaluate which the first is befitting for your requirements.

Granite Countertops

Granite is a type of sort of igneous (volcanic) rock that forms beautiful crystalline textures. A hardcore sort of rock, granite is suitable for use as being a counter in bathrooms and kitchens because it's both heat and scratch resistant. Granite is created by pressure and heat over centuries, so no two components of this piece of rock are ever exactly alike. This one-of-a-kind characteristic is specially popular with homeowners who would like a really unique space. Granite countertops can be purchased in a variety of naturally occurring colors and patterns, from neutrals to striking blues and greens. Gemstone countertops like granite do typically increase the worth of your home over engineered stones like quartz as buyers usually gravitate toward natural materials.

However, despite its prestigious reputation, granite countertops do have several disadvantages. First of all, granite can be a relatively porous stone, meaning it should be chemically sealed to face up to stains. The sealing process is straightforward, nonetheless it must occasionally be repeated; a lot of people consider this to be requirement of routine maintenance an adverse. Secondly, granite tends to be a high priced material. While granite tiles works extremely well in place of granite slabs to cut back the buying price of the countertop, not everybody can afford a granite countertop.

Marble Countertops

Many householders are attracted to the luxurious appearance of marble countertops. The distinctive appearance of marble can dramatically boost the valuation on your property, as it is often typically considered a prestigious, sophisticated material. Furthermore marble countertops tend to be the preferred surface for serious bakers since the cool stone is great for pie crusts, pastries, and other baked goods. Marble countertops can be purchased in a massive array of colors from delicate blushes to vibrant blacks, each uniquely formed by nature.

Marble is equipped with some distinct drawbacks as being a countertop material. First of all, marble is a more supple stone than granite, so that it carries a greater tendency to scratch and mar than granite countertops. Additionally, polished marble is vulnerable to etching when acidic liquids are forever spilled about it. These spots and marks can destroy the tip of your countertop; you can avoid this issue by selecting a honed finish as opposed to a polished finish, most homeowners like the appearance of polished marble. Finally, marble is often a porous, absorbent stone, meaning it is likely to stain. Although some homeowners such as the patina their marble countertops develop over time, many do consider it a drawback.

Soapstone Countertops

You're likely familiar with soapstone from a high school graduation chemistry lab; those black tables were made from soapstone. Today soapstone is starting to become popular in kitchen countertops because of its extreme stain resistance. It's also heat resistant and does not etch.

One drawback to soapstone counters is that they are only obtainable in a restricted number of dark colors. Soapstone is commonly a grayish color anyway, even though it is normally oiled with a black finish for commercial and residential use. Soapstone counters may also be at risk of scratching. However, soapstone counters can certainly be sanded to take out nicks and mars, which means this susceptibility to scratching is not always seen as huge shortcoming.

Limestone Countertops

Limestone is often a sedimentary rock with qualities comparable to marble. Obtainable in a wide range of neutrals and whites, limestone countertops use a smooth appearance, unlike granite. Formed from sand and also the shells of aquatic life, limestone frequently includes small fossils and shells; some homeowners particularly value this excellent element of limestone countertops.

However, like marble, limestone is a soft rock: it is likely to stain and scratch easily and is vunerable to etching. Your limestone counter could be sealed to assist prevent staining and etching, but limestone is not suited to high use areas like kitchens.

Quartz Countertops

Quartz countertops are created from an engineered stone created from 93% quartz, pigment, and resin. This stone counter material has many of the same qualities of granite, but minus the upkeep issues. Quartz countertops are heat and scratch resistant and will not stain. And, unlike granite, quartz never should be sealed. As a man-made material, quartz counters have a uniform color and pattern. Some homeowners do prefer this consistent look to the initial facets of natural stone. What's more, it signifies that if the segment of one's quartz countertop is broken, the same replacement section can be purchased through the manufacturer without concerns about matching.

Eventhough it may seem that quartz countertops are inherently superior, they certainly have some of drawbacks. The primary concern is that despite an identical cost, engineered quartz counters don't increase the valuation on your home up to granite countertops do. Homeowners prefer the natural material in the man-made counter, so you should keep this in mind in case you are remodeling your kitchen area as a possible investment. Additionally, although quartz counters are made to mimic the natural look of granite, some people believe that quartz lacks the depth and sweetness of granite. To be certain which look that suits you, ensure you see types of both natural and engineered stone. Finally, with quartz your color and pattern option is more limited than by using piece of rock. There are a large numbers of colors available, but in particular when you're attempting to exactly suit your existing color scheme you might choose the limitless rainbow of gemstone.

Corian Countertops

Corian is the one other kind of engineered stone similar to quartz. Such a solid surface stone countertop offers a lot of the aspects of granite and quartz and also several unique benefits. Like granite and quartz countertops, Corian countertops are heat, stain, and scratch resistant. It is usually nonporous, so that it will never have to be sealed. Moreover, Corian gets the added benefit for being certified kosher. Unlike granite, Corian countertops may also be totally integrated with Corian backsplashes and sinks to generate a visually seamless surface.

Nonetheless, Corian also has disadvantages. It really is heat resistant, but only to 212?F. Higher temperatures will damage your counter, so you'll typically should protect your Corian countertop from hot objects. Also, just like quartz, some individuals like the natural appearance of granite towards the uniform and consistent appearance of Corian. Corian countertops are also only available in limited colors and patterns, which many people dislike.

With one of these advantages and disadvantages planned, now you are with the data you need to pick the perfect kitchen countertop material for your house. Call at your local stone countertop showroom or installer to see samples and discover more details on making your ideal of lovely stone countertops a real possibility.

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