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One of many hottest trends in home based design today is stone kitchen countertops. These durable, heat-resistant, luxurious counters are a beautiful and practical accessory for any home. But with all the various varieties of natural and engineered stones around, selecting the most appropriate one for your residence can seem to be daunting. It may take time to analyze, but these counter materials really have pluses and minuses, so it is vital that you determine what you are befitting for your preferences.

Granite Countertops

Granite is a kind of kind of igneous (volcanic) rock that forms beautiful crystalline textures. A tough sort of rock, granite is suitable for use as a counter in kitchens and bathrooms which is both heat and scratch resistant. Granite is made by heat and pressure over ages, so no two components of this gemstone are ever exactly alike. This one-of-a-kind characteristic is especially attractive to homeowners who wish a really unique space. Granite countertops can be bought in a variety of organic colors and patterns, from neutrals to striking blues and greens. Gemstone countertops like granite do typically improve the worth of your house greater than engineered stones like quartz as buyers usually gravitate toward natural materials.

However, despite its prestigious reputation, granite countertops have several disadvantages. For starters, granite can be a relatively porous stone, meaning it must be chemically sealed to stand up to stains. The sealing process is easy, but it must occasionally be repeated; some individuals look at this requirement of routine maintenance a negative. Secondly, granite is often a costly material. While granite tiles may be used rather than granite slabs to lessen the price of the countertop, not everybody can afford a granite countertop.

Marble Countertops

Many homeowners are attracted to the luxurious appearance of marble countertops. The distinctive appearance of marble can dramatically boost the worth of your house, as it is often typically considered a prestigious, sophisticated material. Furthermore marble countertops will be the preferred surface for serious bakers because the cool stone is ideal for pie crusts, pastries, and other baked goods. Marble countertops are also available in a tremendous array of colors from delicate blushes to vibrant blacks, each uniquely formed of course.

Marble comes with some distinct drawbacks as being a countertop material. To begin with, marble is a much softer stone than granite, so it has a greater tendency to scratch and mar than granite countertops. Additionally, polished marble is at risk of etching when acidic liquids are forever spilled on it. These spots and marks can destroy the final of the countertop; you can avoid this issue by selecting a honed finish in place of a refined finish, but a majority of homeowners choose the appearance of polished marble. Finally, marble can be a porous, absorbent stone, meaning it will stain. Even though some homeowners much like the patina their marble countertops develop over time, many do contemplate it a drawback.

Soapstone Countertops



You're likely knowledgeable about soapstone out of your senior high school chemistry lab; those black tables were created from soapstone. Today soapstone is becoming popular in kitchen countertops because of its extreme stain resistance. It's also heat resistant and does not etch.

One issue with soapstone counters is because they are only available in a fixed amount of dark colors. Soapstone generally is a grayish color in nature, although it is normally oiled into a black finish for residential and commercial use. Soapstone counters can also be susceptible to scratching. However, soapstone counters can in fact be sanded to take out nicks and mars, this inclination towards scratching is not always seen as an huge shortcoming.

Limestone Countertops

Limestone is often a sedimentary rock with qualities much like marble. Accessible in many neutrals and whites, limestone countertops have a very 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 original aspect of limestone countertops.

However, like marble, limestone can be a soft rock: it will stain and scratch easily and is also susceptible to etching. Your limestone counter could 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 made from 93% quartz, pigment, and resin. This stone counter material has several the exact same qualities of granite, but with no upkeep issues. Quartz countertops are heat and scratch resistant will not stain. And, unlike granite, quartz never needs to be sealed. As a man-made material, quartz counters use a uniform color and pattern. Some homeowners do prefer this consistent check out the elements of gemstone. Additionally, it means that if a segment of your respective quartz countertop is broken, the same replacement section can be obtained in the manufacturer without concerns about matching.

Even though it might appear that quartz countertops are inherently superior, they certainly have many drawbacks. The main problem is that despite an identical cost, engineered quartz counters don't increase the value of your property as much as granite countertops do. Home buyers choose the natural material over the man-made counter, so you should bear this in mind if you are remodeling your kitchen as an investment. Additionally, although quartz counters are built to mimic all-natural appearance of granite, a lot of people believe quartz lacks the depth and sweetness of granite. To make certain which look you prefer, be sure to see samples 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 number of colors available, but particularly if you're wanting to exactly match your existing colors you could choose the limitless rainbow of gemstone.

Corian Countertops

Corian is another sort of engineered stone just like quartz. Such a solid surface stone countertop offers a lot of the benefits of granite and quartz along with several unique benefits. Like granite and quartz countertops, Corian countertops are heat, stain, and scratch resistant. It is also nonporous, therefore it will never must be sealed. Moreover, Corian contains the additional advantage 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 has disadvantages. It's heat resistant, however only to 212?F. Higher temperatures will damage your counter, so you'll almost always need to protect your Corian countertop from hot objects. Also, like with quartz, some people choose the natural look of granite to 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 drawbacks in your mind, now you are armed with the information you need to pick the perfect kitchen countertop material for your residence. Visit your local stone countertop showroom or installer to see samples and learn more about making your dream of gorgeous stone countertops a real possibility.

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