Stone Kitchen Countertop Materials - Pros And Cons Of Common 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 addition to any home. Though the many various varieties of natural and engineered stones available, choosing the right one for your home can feel daunting. It might take a while to examine, but all these counter materials have advantages and disadvantages, therefore it is important to evaluate which you are suitable for the needs you have.
Granite Countertops
Granite is a kind of type of igneous (volcanic) rock that forms beautiful crystalline textures. A hard type 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 formed by heat and pressure over hundreds of years, so no two pieces of this natural stone are ever exactly alike. This one-of-a-kind characteristic is especially popular with homeowners who would like a totally unique space. Granite countertops can be found in many naturally occurring colors and patterns, from neutrals to striking blues and greens. Natural stone countertops like granite do typically boost the valuation on your own home more than engineered stones like quartz as buyers tend to gravitate toward natural materials.
However, despite its prestigious reputation, granite countertops have several disadvantages. To begin with, granite is really a relatively porous stone, meaning it should be chemically sealed to resist stains. The sealing process is straightforward, nevertheless it must occasionally be repeated; some individuals consider this to be need for routine maintenance a poor. Secondly, granite is often a costly material. While granite tiles can be utilized rather than granite slabs to cut back the price of the countertop, not every person are able a granite countertop.
Marble Countertops
Homeowners are attracted to the luxurious appearance of marble countertops. The distinctive appearance of marble can dramatically increase the price of your house, as 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, as well as other baked goods. Marble countertops are also available in a huge range of colors from delicate blushes to vibrant blacks, each uniquely formed obviously.
Marble comes with some distinct drawbacks as a countertop material. First of all, marble is a more supple stone than granite, so it features a greater tendency to scratch and mar than granite countertops. Additionally, polished marble is susceptible to etching when acidic liquids are normally spilled about it. These spots and marks can destroy the final of your respective countertop; you can avoid this issue by choosing a honed finish in place of a elegant finish, but many homeowners prefer the appearance of polished marble. Finally, marble is a porous, absorbent stone, meaning it tends to stain. Although some homeowners just like the patina their marble countertops develop through the years, many do think it over a drawback. 
Soapstone Countertops
You're likely acquainted with soapstone from the secondary school chemistry lab; those black tables were made from soapstone. Today soapstone is starting to become popular in kitchen countertops due to the extreme stain resistance. It is usually heat resistant and won't etch.
One problem with soapstone counters is because are just available in a small amount of dark colors. Soapstone can be quite a grayish color in nature, even though it is often oiled to some black finish for commercial and residential use. Soapstone counters are also susceptible to scratching. However, soapstone counters can in fact be sanded to eliminate nicks and mars, so this susceptibility to scratching isn't necessarily seen as a huge shortcoming.
Limestone Countertops
Limestone is often a sedimentary rock with qualities just like marble. Accessible in many neutrals and whites, limestone countertops have a very 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 unique part of limestone countertops.
However, like marble, limestone is often a soft rock: it has a tendency to stain and scratch easily which is susceptible to etching. Your limestone counter may be sealed to assist prevent staining and etching, but limestone just isn't suitable for high use areas like kitchens.
Quartz Countertops
Quartz countertops are constructed from an engineered stone made out of 93% quartz, pigment, and resin. This stone counter material has numerous of the identical qualities of granite, but without 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 look to the aspects of natural stone. It also signifies that in case a segment of one's quartz countertop is damaged, the identical replacement section can be obtained from your manufacturer without concerns about matching.
Although it may appear that quartz countertops are inherently superior, they certainly have a number of drawbacks. The primary dilemma is that despite much the same cost, engineered quartz counters don't boost the price of your own home just as much as granite countertops do. Home buyers choose to natural material in the man-made counter, so you will want to remember this in case you are remodeling your home just as one investment. Additionally, although quartz counters are built to mimic all-natural appearance of granite, many people believe that quartz lacks the depth and sweetness of granite. To be sure which look you want, make sure you see examples of both natural and engineered stone. Finally, with quartz your color and pattern choices more limited than by using piece of rock. There's a large number of colors available, but especially if you're trying to exactly suit your existing color scheme you may choose to limitless rainbow of piece of rock.
Corian Countertops
Corian is the one other sort of engineered stone much like quartz. This type of solid surface stone countertop offers most of the benefits associated with granite and quartz as well as several unique benefits. Like granite and quartz countertops, Corian countertops are heat, stain, and scratch resistant. It is also nonporous, so it won't should be sealed. Moreover, Corian has the added benefit to become certified kosher. Unlike granite, Corian countertops can be totally integrated with Corian backsplashes and sinks to produce a visually seamless surface.
Nonetheless, Corian also is equipped with 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, as with quartz, many people choose to natural look of granite on the uniform and consistent appearance of Corian. Corian countertops may also be purely available in limited colors and patterns, which many people dislike.
With these advantages and drawbacks in your mind, now you are with the info you should pick the perfect kitchen countertop material for your household. Go to your local stone countertop showroom or installer to find out samples and learn more details on making your dream of gorgeous stone countertops a reality.
Check out about mat da bep go this site.