Stone Kitchen Countertop Materials - Advantages and Disadvantages of Common Stone Countertops

Among the newest trends in home design now is rock kitchen countertops. These durable, heat-resistant, luxury countertops are a beautiful and functional addition to any residence. However, with each the various kinds of engineered and natural stones on the market, choosing the most suitable one for your home can seem daunting. It could take a little time to study, but all those counter substances do have advantages and drawbacks, so it is important to assess which one is ideal for your requirements.

Granite Countertops

Granite is a frequent kind of igneous (volcanic) rock that creates beautiful crystalline textures. A tough kind of stone, granite is ideal to use as a counter top in kitchens and baths since it's both scratch and heat resistant. Granite is formed by heat and pressure over countless years, therefore no 2 pieces of the natural rock are exactly alike. This one-of-a-kind feature is especially appealing to homeowners that desire a really distinctive space. Granite countertops can be found in a vast assortment of naturally occurring colours and layouts, from neutrals to striking greens and blues. Natural stone countertops such as granite do typically boost the value of your house over engineered stones such as quartz as buyers have a tendency to gravitate toward organic substances.

However, in spite of its esteemed reputation, granite countertops do have many disadvantages. First of all, granite is a comparatively porous rock, meaning it needs to be sealed to withstand stains. The sealing process is straightforward, but it must sometimes be replicated; a few people today believe this need for regular maintenance a drawback. Second, granite will be a costly material. While granite tiles may be utilized rather than granite slabs to decrease the purchase price of the countertop, not everybody is able to manage a granite countertop.

Marble Countertops

Many homeowners have been attracted to the lavish look of marble counter tops. The distinctive look of marble can radically increase the value of your dwelling, because it's typically regarded as a prestigious, complicated substance. Additionally marble countertops would be the preferred surface for serious bakers since the cool rock is excellent for pie crusts, pastries, and other baked products. Granite countertops are also offered in a massive variety of colors from delicate blushes to lively blacks, every uniquely shaped by nature.

Granite does possess some distinct drawbacks as a countertop material. For starters, marble is a far softer rock than granite, therefore it's a higher tendency to scratch and mar than granite counter tops. In addition, polished marble is more exposed to etching when contaminated liquids are spilled onto it. These stains and marks may ruin the end of your countertop; you could avoid this problem by deciding upon a honed finish instead of a polished end, but many homeowners prefer the look of polished marble. At length, marble is a porous, absorbent stone, meaning it will blot. When some homeowners enjoy the patina their marble countertops grow through time, many do believe it a drawback.

Soapstone Countertops

You are probably familiar with soapstone out of the high school chemistry laboratory; these black tables were produced out of soapstone. Today soapstone is getting popular in kitchen countertops due to its intense stain resistance. It's also heat resistant and won't etch.

1 disadvantage to soapstone counters is they are only offered in a restricted number of dark colours. Soapstone is normally a grayish colour in character, even though it's usually oiled into a black finish to residential and commercial use. Soapstone counters will also be vulnerable to scratching. But, soapstone counters can really be sanded to remove nicks and mars, therefore this susceptibility to scratching is not always regarded as a massive shortcoming.

Limestone Countertops

Limestone is a sedimentary stone with qualities very similar to marble. Offered in a vast selection of neutrals and whites, granite countertops possess a sleek look, including granite. Formed from sand along with the cubes of aquatic lifestyle, limestone often includes little fossils and shells; a few homeowners especially value this exceptional element of granite countertops.

But like marble, marble is a soft stone: it will stain and scratch easily and can be susceptible to etching. Your limestone counter could be sealed to help avoid flaking and discoloration, but limestone isn't suggested for high use areas like kitchens.

Quartz Countertops

Quartz countertops are built from a engineered rock made of 93 percent quartz, pigment, and resin. This rock counter substance has a number of the very same attributes of home depot kitchen sinks, but minus the maintenance problems. Quartz countertops are scratch and heat resistant and won't stain. And, unlike granitenever has to be sealed. As a man-made substance, granite counters possess a uniform colour and layout. Some homeowners do favor this constant appearance to the exceptional facets of pure stone. Additionally, it suggests that if a section of your granite counter is ruined, the same replacement department can be obtained from the producer without worries about fitting.

Even though it might appear that granite countertops are inherently exceptional, but they really do have numerous drawbacks. The main problem is that even though a comparable price, engineered granite counters do not raise the value of your house as far as granite countertops do. Home buyers favor the pure substance over the counter, which means you will want to bear this in mind if you are remodeling your kitchen within an investment. Furthermore, although granite countertops are made to mimic the natural appearance of granite, many people today feel that granite eliminates the beauty and depth of granitecountertop. To make sure which look you want, be sure to see samples of the engineered and natural stone. Ultimately, with quartz your colour and pattern choices are more restricted than with natural rock. You will find a high number of colours available, but particularly if you're attempting to precisely match your current colour scheme you will prefer the unlimited rainbow of natural rock.

Corian Countertops

Corian is just another kind of engineered rock much like quartz. This sort of solid surface rock countertop provides the majority of the benefits of granite and granite in addition to several unique advantages. Like granite and granite countertops, Corian countertops are heat, stain, and scratch resistant. It's also nonporous, so it's going to not ever have to be sealed. Moreover, Corian gets the extra plus of being certified kosher. Unlike granite, Corian countertops may also be completely incorporated with Corian backsplashes and countertops to make a visually smooth surface.

Nonetheless, Corian additionally does have downsides. It's heat resistant, but just to 212ºF. Higher temperatures will harm your counter, which means you will almost always have to guard your own Corian countertop out of hot things. Additionally, like quartz, some people prefer the natural look of granite into the consistent overall look of Corian. Corian countertops can also be only available in limited colours and layouts, which many people today dislike.

With all these benefits and pitfalls in mind, you are now armed with all the info that you want to decide on the ideal kitchen countertop material for your dwelling. Pay a visit to the neighborhood rock countertop showroom or showroom to find samples and find out more about earning your dream of amazing rock countertops a fact.