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Stone Kitchen Countertop Materials - Advantages and Disadvantages of Common Stone Countertops
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One of several 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. But all of the different varieties of natural and engineered stones around, choosing the proper one for your house can seem to be daunting. It could take a little time to examine, but these counter materials really have positives and negatives, so it is important to determine what an example may be befitting your preferences.
Granite Countertops
Granite is a very common sort of igneous (volcanic) rock that forms beautiful crystalline textures. A hardcore kind of rock, granite is suited to use like a counter in kitchens and bathrooms because it is both heat and scratch resistant. Granite is formed by heat and pressure over hundreds of years, so no two components of this natural stone are ever exactly alike. This one-of-a-kind characteristic is particularly attracting homeowners who wish a truly unique space. Granite countertops can be purchased in a wide range of naturally occurring colors and patterns, from neutrals to striking blues and greens. Gemstone countertops like granite do typically increase the price of your home more 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 is really a relatively porous stone, meaning it should be chemically sealed to stand up to stains. The sealing process is simple, nonetheless it must occasionally be repeated; many people think about this need for routine maintenance an adverse. Secondly, granite is often an expensive material. While granite tiles works extremely well in place of granite slabs to reduce the price tag on the countertop, not everybody are able a granite countertop.
Marble Countertops
Many homeowners are drawn to the luxurious appearance of marble countertops. The distinctive appearance of marble can dramatically boost the valuation on the house, because it is typically considered a prestigious, sophisticated material. Furthermore marble countertops are the preferred surface for serious bakers because the cool stone is ideal for pie crusts, pastries, along with other baked goods. Marble countertops can be found in a huge array of colors from delicate blushes to vibrant blacks, each uniquely formed naturally.
Marble comes with some distinct drawbacks as a countertop material. For starters, marble is really a much softer stone than granite, so that it features a greater tendency to scratch and mar than granite countertops. Additionally, polished marble is vulnerable to etching when acidic liquids are forever spilled into it. These spots and marks can destroy the final of one's countertop; you can avoid this issue by selecting a honed finish as opposed to a refined finish, but most homeowners choose to appearance of polished marble. Finally, marble is a porous, absorbent stone, meaning it has a tendency to stain. While many homeowners like the patina their marble countertops develop in the past, many do think it over a drawback.
Soapstone Countertops
You're likely informed about soapstone out of your high 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. Additionally it is heat resistant will not etch.
One drawback to soapstone counters is because they are merely accessible in a restricted quantity of dark colors. Soapstone is generally a grayish color in nature, even though it is often oiled with a black finish for residential and commercial use. Soapstone counters may also be at risk of scratching. However, soapstone counters can certainly be sanded to get rid of nicks and mars, so this susceptibility to scratching might not be seen as a huge shortcoming.
Limestone Countertops
Limestone can be a sedimentary rock with qualities comparable to marble. For sale in many neutrals and whites, limestone countertops have 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 phenomenal element of limestone countertops.
However, like marble, limestone is really a soft rock: it tends to stain and scratch easily and is also susceptible to etching. Your limestone counter might be sealed to aid prevent staining and etching, but limestone isn't suited to high use areas such as kitchens.
Quartz Countertops
Quartz countertops are constructed from an engineered stone created from 93% quartz, pigment, and resin. This stone counter material has several of the qualities of granite, but with no upkeep issues. Quartz countertops are heat and scratch resistant will not stain. And, unlike granite, quartz never should be sealed. As being a man-made material, quartz counters have a very uniform color and pattern. Some homeowners do prefer this consistent check out the initial aspects of natural stone. Additionally, it means that if your segment of your respective quartz countertop is broken, the same replacement section can be purchased in the manufacturer without concerns about matching.
Although it may appear that quartz countertops are inherently superior, they actually do have many drawbacks. The main concern is that despite the same cost, engineered quartz counters don't boost the price of your property around granite countertops do. Real estate buyers choose the natural material over the man-made counter, so you'll want to keep this in mind should you be remodeling your kitchen being an investment. Additionally, although quartz counters are designed to mimic all-natural look of granite, a lot of people believe quartz lacks the depth and wonder of granite. To be sure which look you want, make sure you see types of both natural and engineered stone. Finally, with quartz your color and pattern option is more limited as compared to piece of rock. There's a great number of colors available, but especially if you're trying to exactly suit your existing color scheme you could possibly like the limitless rainbow of stone.
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