One of the hottest trends home based design today is stone kitchen countertops. These durable, heat-resistant, luxurious counters are a beautiful and practical addition for any home. Though all the various varieties of natural and engineered stones around, choosing the proper one for your house can seem daunting. It some time to look into, but each of these counter materials will have positives and negatives, so it is imperative that you find out what an example may be befitting your preferences.
Granite Countertops
Granite is a common kind of igneous (volcanic) rock that forms beautiful crystalline textures. A tough sort of rock, granite is suitable for use being a counter in bathrooms and kitchens because it's both heat and scratch resistant. Granite is created by pressure and heat over generations, so no two items of this piece of rock are ever exactly alike. This one-of-a-kind characteristic is very popular with homeowners who would like a totally unique space. Granite countertops can be purchased in a wide range of naturally occurring colors and patterns, from neutrals to striking blues and greens. Natural stone 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. To begin with, granite is a relatively porous stone, meaning it needs to be chemically sealed to face up to stains. The sealing process is easy, but it must occasionally be repeated; some individuals consider this need for routine maintenance an adverse. Secondly, granite is usually a high priced material. While granite tiles can be utilized instead of granite slabs to cut back the price of the countertop, not everybody are able a granite countertop.
Marble Countertops
Many homeowners are fascinated by the luxurious appearance of marble countertops. The distinctive appearance of marble can dramatically raise the valuation on your property, because it is typically considered a prestigious, sophisticated material. Furthermore marble countertops tend to be the preferred surface for serious bakers because the cool stone is perfect for pie crusts, pastries, and also other baked goods. Marble countertops can be found in a tremendous selection of colors from delicate blushes to vibrant blacks, each uniquely formed by nature.
Marble has some distinct drawbacks as a countertop material. First of all, marble is really a much softer stone than granite, so it includes a greater tendency to scratch and mar than granite countertops. Additionally, polished marble is vulnerable to etching when acidic liquids are normally spilled about it. These spots and marks can destroy the final of your countertop; you can avoid this issue by choosing a honed finish in place of a cultured finish, but many homeowners choose the appearance of polished marble. Finally, marble is a porous, absorbent stone, meaning it has a tendency to stain. While some homeowners such as the patina their marble countertops develop through the years, many do ponder over it a drawback.
Soapstone Countertops
You're likely familiar with soapstone from the high school chemistry lab; those black tables were created from soapstone. Today soapstone is starting to become popular in kitchen countertops because of its extreme stain resistance. It is also heat resistant and will not etch.
One issue with soapstone counters is because are merely accessible in a fixed variety of dark colors. Soapstone is generally a grayish color in nature, although it is often oiled to a black finish for commercial and residential use. Soapstone counters may also be vulnerable to scratching. However, soapstone counters can actually be sanded to get rid of nicks and mars, this the likelihood of scratching is not always viewed as a huge shortcoming.
Limestone Countertops
Limestone is a sedimentary rock with qualities similar to marble. Accessible in a wide range of neutrals and whites, limestone countertops use a smooth appearance, unlike granite. Formed from sand and the shells of aquatic life, limestone frequently includes small fossils and shells; some homeowners particularly value this excellent part of limestone countertops.
However, like marble, limestone can be a soft rock: it has a tendency to stain and scratch easily which is vulnerable to etching. Your limestone counter could be sealed to assist prevent staining and etching, but limestone isn't suited to high use areas like kitchens.
Quartz Countertops
Quartz countertops are created from an engineered stone produced from 93% quartz, pigment, and resin. This stone counter material has numerous of the same qualities of granite, but devoid of the upkeep issues. Quartz countertops are heat and scratch resistant and does 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 turn to the unique facets of gemstone. In addition, it implies that if a segment of the quartz countertop is broken, much the same replacement section can be purchased from the manufacturer without concerns about matching.
Though it might seem that quartz countertops are inherently superior, they do have some of drawbacks. The primary problem is that despite a similar cost, engineered quartz counters don't boost the valuation on your own home as much as granite countertops do. House buyers choose the natural material in the man-made counter, so you need to bear this in mind should you be remodeling your home just as one investment. Additionally, although quartz counters are created to mimic the natural appearance of granite, many people feel that quartz lacks the depth and wonder of granite. To be certain which look you like, make sure you see types of both natural and engineered stone. Finally, with quartz your color and pattern choices are more limited compared to piece of rock. There is a great number of colors available, but particularly if you're wanting to exactly match your existing color scheme you could possibly like the limitless rainbow of natural stone.
Corian Countertops
Corian is an additional form of engineered stone similar to quartz. This type of solid surface stone countertop offers almost all of the advantages of granite and quartz as well as several unique benefits. Like granite and quartz countertops, Corian countertops are heat, stain, and scratch resistant. Additionally it is nonporous, therefore it won't should be sealed. Moreover, Corian has got the additional benefit to be certified kosher. Unlike granite, Corian countertops can be totally integrated with Corian backsplashes and sinks to produce a visually seamless surface.
Nonetheless, Corian also comes with disadvantages. It can be heat resistant, only to 212?F. Higher temperatures will damage your counter, so you'll typically should protect your Corian countertop from hot objects. Also, just like quartz, many people prefer the natural appearance of granite for the uniform and consistent appearance of Corian. Corian countertops will also be purely available in limited colors and patterns, which some people dislike.
Using these pros and cons in your mind, now you are armed with the information you have to choose the perfect kitchen countertop material for your house. Go to your local stone countertop showroom or installer to find out samples and learn more about making your dream of beautiful stone countertops possible.
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