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 addition to any home. But the many various kinds of natural and engineered stones around, choosing the proper one for your household can seem daunting. It might take a little time to research, but each of these counter materials really have pluses and minuses, so it will be crucial that you determine what you are suitable for your preferences.

Granite Countertops

Granite is a kind of sort of igneous (volcanic) rock that forms beautiful crystalline textures. A difficult type of rock, granite is well suited for use like a counter in kitchens and bathrooms because it's both heat and scratch resistant. Granite is created by heat and pressure over generations, so no two pieces of this piece of rock are ever exactly alike. This one-of-a-kind characteristic is specially attractive to homeowners who wish a very unique space. Granite countertops can be found in many natural colors and patterns, from neutrals to striking blues and greens. Gemstone countertops like granite do typically increase the value of your house greater than engineered stones like quartz as buyers often gravitate toward natural materials.

However, despite its prestigious reputation, granite countertops do have several disadvantages. To begin with, granite is a relatively porous stone, meaning it has to be chemically sealed to face up to stains. The sealing process is not hard, but it must occasionally be repeated; some people think about this requirement of routine maintenance an adverse. Secondly, granite is commonly an expensive material. While granite tiles can be utilized rather than granite slabs to cut back the cost of the countertop, not everybody are able to afford a granite countertop.

Marble Countertops

Many homeowners are attracted to the luxurious appearance of marble countertops. The distinctive appearance of marble can dramatically increase the price of your property, as it is often typically considered a prestigious, sophisticated material. Furthermore marble countertops would be the preferred surface for serious bakers as the cool stone is perfect for pie crusts, pastries, as well as other baked goods. Marble countertops can be purchased in a massive array of colors from delicate blushes to vibrant blacks, each uniquely formed naturally.



Marble has some distinct drawbacks as being a countertop material. First off, marble is a more supple stone than granite, in order that it carries a greater tendency to scratch and mar than granite countertops. Additionally, polished marble is susceptible to etching when acidic liquids are forever spilled into it. These spots and marks can destroy the final of one's countertop; this can be avoided issue by selecting a honed finish instead of a refined finish, but a majority of homeowners choose to appearance of polished marble. Finally, marble can be a porous, absorbent stone, meaning it has a tendency to stain. Even though some homeowners such as the patina their marble countertops develop over time, many do think it over a drawback.

Soapstone Countertops

You're likely informed about soapstone from a secondary school chemistry lab; those black tables were made from soapstone. Today soapstone has become popular in kitchen countertops for the extreme stain resistance. It is usually heat resistant and won't etch.

One drawback to soapstone counters is because are simply obtainable in a restricted quantity of dark colors. Soapstone can be quite a grayish color as the name indicated, even though it is normally oiled into a black finish for residential and commercial use. Soapstone counters are also at risk of scratching. However, soapstone counters can actually be sanded to take out nicks and mars, which means this the likelihood of scratching isn't necessarily seen as an huge shortcoming.

Limestone Countertops

Limestone is often a sedimentary rock with qualities similar to marble. Available in a variety of neutrals and whites, limestone countertops use a smooth appearance, unlike granite. Formed from sand along with the shells of aquatic life, limestone frequently includes small fossils and shells; some homeowners particularly value this original aspect of limestone countertops.

However, like marble, limestone is a soft rock: it has a tendency to stain and scratch easily and it is vunerable to etching. Your limestone counter could be sealed to help you prevent staining and etching, but limestone isn't suitable for high use areas for example kitchens.

Quartz Countertops

Quartz countertops are constructed from an engineered stone made from 93% quartz, pigment, and resin. This stone counter material has numerous of the qualities of granite, but without 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 for the initial elements of natural stone. In addition, it signifies that in case a segment of one's quartz countertop is broken, much the same replacement section can be had in the manufacturer without concerns about matching.

Even though it might appear that quartz countertops are inherently superior, they certainly have a number of drawbacks. The primary dilemma is that despite an identical cost, engineered quartz counters don't boost the value of your house up to granite countertops do. Homeowners like the natural material on the man-made counter, so you need to bear this in mind in case you are remodeling your kitchen being an investment. Additionally, although quartz counters are built to mimic all-natural look of granite, many people believe quartz lacks the depth and sweetness of granite. To make certain which look you like, make sure you see samples of both natural and engineered stone. Finally, with quartz your color and pattern option is more limited as compared to piece of rock. You can find a large number of colors available, but in particular when you're attempting to exactly match your existing colors you could like the limitless rainbow of stone.

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