Thursday, December 29, 2016

Natural Stone Countertops - Choose from Several Options

The appearance is exquisite, the feel is luxurious and the material is long lasting. Such is the description of natural stone countertop. Regardless of whether it comes in the style of a slab or created as specific tiles each part of the natural stone is unique unto itself.


​Regularly take time and care to choose the one that will work best for your needs. Many are virtually maintenance free and some call for a bit of tender loving care to look their finest such as regular staining or oiling. Natural stone countertops come in an assortment of surfaces with the most common being polished, high gloss, honed or matte. Listed below are some of the variables of living stone countertops.

Granite is the most resilient of the natural stone countertops. The only harder stone is the diamond. It will definitely not scratch, crack or chip and can easily withstand high temperatures. It is able to though crack dishes or glasses if set down too hard. Granite is obtainable in vibrant colors and a polish that won't wear off. Because granite is porous you need reseal it approximately once a year.

Soapstone, which is primarily made up of the mineral talc is preferred in both the contemporary or country style kitchens. The nature of soapstone means acids won't etch the stone and the blemishes can be simply sanded out. Homeowners tend to want the not so ideal soapstone and view it as character rather than of flaws. Mineral oil brings out its rich, dark color and helps make it shine.

The sleek and classy marble countertop is classic. Typically located in the baker's kitchen space, it is the serious bakers' choice for rolling dough. Marble is much more porous compared to granite so it requires sealant to be used much more often to prevent stains. Since it is not nearly as hard as some other stone countertops, it is best to be applied in smaller segments instead than entire countertop.

Gorgeous slate is available in tones of gray, green, purple and black. It's certainly not just for rooftops or floors anymore. Slate is definitely turning into a sought-after solution in the kitchen. Its beauty and toughness make it a durable and stylish choice. As with soapstone, regular treatment with mineral oil will bring out the beauty of this building material. Any scratches can usually be removed by rubbing with a moist sponge. Deeper scratches can be rubbed out by using steel wool.

Limestone consists mainly of calcite, a neutral-toned mineral. Limestone differs in hardness but is a more porous stone that stains easily. It demands routine resealing to prevent stains.

Quartz is an interesting stone countertop. Though often referred to as engineered stone, this material is composed of natural quartz mixed with epoxy resin binders. Quartz is an incredibly hard and durable surface. It is nonabsorbent that makes it far more user friendly and stain resistant. It is basically maintenance free with just a simple wipe off with warm water. Other pigments are mixed in the making of the quartz surfacing and because of this there certainly are stunning colors to choose from.
Lava stone is a more unique countertop material that is often sold under the French brand name Pyrolave. Lava stone is quarried in France then enameled and fired. It possesses a really high gloss finish and colors can be customized

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