Stone Kitchen Countertop Solutions - Advantages and drawbacks of Wide-spread Stone Countertops
One of many hottest trends in home design today is stone kitchen countertops. These durable, heat-resistant, luxurious counters can be a beautiful and practical accessory for any home. However with the many various kinds of natural and engineered stones around, selecting the right one for your residence can feel daunting. It time to research, but each one of these counter materials do have advantages and disadvantages, so it's vital that you determine what one is right for your requirements.
Granite Countertops
Granite is a type of form of igneous (volcanic) rock that forms beautiful crystalline textures. A hard kind of rock, granite is well suited for use as being a counter in kitchens and bathrooms which is both heat and scratch resistant. Granite is created by pressure and heat over hundreds of years, so no two items of this piece of rock are ever exactly alike. This one-of-a-kind characteristic is particularly appealing to homeowners who would like a really unique space. Granite countertops are available in many organic colors and patterns, from neutrals to striking blues and greens. Stone countertops like granite do typically improve the valuation on your home more than engineered stones like quartz as buyers usually gravitate toward natural materials.
However, despite its prestigious reputation, granite countertops will have several disadvantages. First of all, granite is often a relatively porous stone, meaning it must be chemically sealed to resist stains. The sealing process is easy, however it must occasionally be repeated; some individuals think about this requirement of routine maintenance a poor. Secondly, granite tends to be an expensive material. While granite tiles can be used as opposed to granite slabs to scale back the buying price of the countertop, not everybody can afford a granite countertop.
Marble Countertops
Many householders are interested in the luxurious appearance of marble countertops. The distinctive appearance of marble can dramatically boost the worth of your home, as it is often typically considered a prestigious, sophisticated material. Furthermore marble countertops are the preferred surface for serious bakers since the cool stone is ideal for pie crusts, pastries, and also other baked goods. Marble countertops are also available in a huge variety of colors from delicate blushes to vibrant blacks, each uniquely formed of course.
Marble does have some distinct drawbacks as a countertop material. First of all, marble can be a much softer stone than granite, therefore it carries a greater tendency to scratch and mar than granite countertops. Additionally, polished marble is prone to etching when acidic liquids are normally spilled into it. These spots and marks can destroy the conclusion of the countertop; you can avoid this issue by choosing a honed finish instead of a cultured finish, but many homeowners like the appearance of polished marble. Finally, marble is really a porous, absorbent stone, meaning it will stain. Although some homeowners just like the patina their marble countertops develop through the years, many do contemplate it a drawback.
Soapstone Countertops
You're likely familiar with soapstone from a high school graduation chemistry lab; those black tables were created from soapstone. Today soapstone is becoming popular in kitchen countertops for the extreme stain resistance. It's also heat resistant and does not etch.
One issue with soapstone counters is that they are just obtainable in a fixed quantity of dark colors. Soapstone is commonly a grayish color anyway, though it is often oiled to some black finish for commercial and residential use. Soapstone counters will also be at risk of scratching. However, soapstone counters can be sanded to eliminate nicks and mars, which means this susceptibility to scratching might not be seen as huge shortcoming.
Limestone Countertops
Limestone is really a sedimentary rock with qualities much like marble. Available in an array of neutrals and whites, limestone countertops possess a 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 excellent aspect of limestone countertops.
However, like marble, limestone is often a soft rock: it is likely to stain and scratch easily and is vunerable to etching. Your limestone counter can be sealed to help you prevent staining and etching, but limestone isn't suitable for high use areas including kitchens.
Quartz Countertops
Quartz countertops are created from an engineered stone created from 93% quartz, pigment, and resin. This stone counter material has many the exact same qualities of granite, but devoid of the upkeep issues. Quartz countertops are heat and scratch resistant will not stain. And, unlike granite, quartz never needs to be sealed. Being a man-made material, quartz counters use a uniform color and pattern. Some homeowners do prefer this consistent look for the unique elements of natural stone. In addition, it signifies that if a segment of your respective quartz countertop is damaged, the identical replacement section can be purchased in the manufacturer without concerns about matching.
Even though it may seem that quartz countertops are inherently superior, they are doing have a number of drawbacks. The main dilemma is that despite the same cost, engineered quartz counters don't raise the valuation on your property as much as granite countertops do. Home buyers choose to natural material in the man-made counter, so you'll want to remember this if you are remodeling your house being an investment. Additionally, although quartz counters are made to mimic natural look of granite, many people think that quartz lacks the depth and sweetness of granite. To be certain which look that suits you, be sure to see types of both natural and engineered stone. Finally, with quartz your color and pattern choices more limited than with stone. There is a great number of colors available, but especially if you're wanting to exactly fit existing colors you may like the limitless rainbow of stone.
Corian Countertops
Corian is the one other kind of engineered stone comparable to quartz. This sort of solid surface stone countertop offers most of the attributes of granite and quartz along with several unique benefits. Like granite and quartz countertops, Corian countertops are heat, stain, and scratch resistant. Additionally it is nonporous, so that it will never have to be sealed. Moreover, Corian gets the additional advantage for being certified kosher. Unlike granite, Corian countertops can be totally integrated with Corian backsplashes and sinks to generate a visually seamless surface.
Nonetheless, Corian also comes with disadvantages. It is heat resistant, however only to 212?F. Higher temperatures will damage your counter, so you'll more often than not should protect your Corian countertop from hot objects. Also, just like quartz, a lot of people choose to natural appearance of granite for the uniform and consistent appearance of Corian. Corian countertops are also only available in limited colors and patterns, which some people dislike.
With one of these pros and cons in your mind, now you are with the knowledge you should find the perfect kitchen countertop material for your house. Call at your local stone countertop showroom or installer to determine samples and learn more details on making your perfect of lovely stone countertops possible.
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