Examining Natural Stone Kitchen Countertopsby James Mahoney Authors Note: Granite is an amazing natural surface that comes in a large variety of textures and colors. It is the hardest surface you can choose for your kitchen countertops. |
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Natural stone kitchen countertops are known for unbeatable beauty, individuality and strength. Natural stone is considered to by the most aesthetic, eco friendly material on earth. There are many types of natural stone. The most sought after and most well known of the natural stone products is granite. There are other types of natural stone used for kitchen countertops besides granite and these include: marble, limestone, slate, soapstone, and natural quartz.
Natural stone will enhance any design, from rustic to contemporary, and add individuality, comfort and elegance to almost any kitchen design. Each type has different properties and attributes depending on the stone you select
Regardless of the type of natural stone you have chosen is a good idea to examine the slabs of stone that you have selected for your kitchen countertops before they arrive.
A Look at How the 5 Most Popular Types of Natural Stone Compare
Granite – This is a hard coarse-grained rock and considered to be one of the most beautiful and durable of the natural stones. Granite is mostly made up of quartz, alkali feldspar, and plagioclase feldspar. These ingredients help contribute to the color of the stone. These colors include: white, pink, or a light grey. If minerals such as hornblende and biotite mica are present this can cause the stone to have a dark brown, a dark-green, or a blacker shade. Granite is an attractive stone that adds color and warmth to any kitchen. Granite is an ideal natural stone material for kitchen countertops. It resists scratches, heat and acidic substances. It can also withstand the placing of hot pots and is a good surface for handling dough and confections. However granite kitchen countertops can stain. If you are using highly porous granites then they should be sealed.
Marble – The beauty of this natural stone is legendary. Marble has always beeb popular with architects because of its strength and aesthetics. The reason for marble today being popular as an elegant flooring material or for its use in lining interior and exterior walls is that no other natural stone material adds so much prestige to a home as marble. Marble can be used just about everywhere: outdoor fountains and statues, indoor fire surrounds, furniture, kitchen countertops and bar counters and much more. Marble kitchen countertops are also very hygienic, since these countertops trap little or no dirt and prevent the creation of mold.
Soapstone – This stone is also ideal for the kitchen. It has a soft warm feel, and it has good resistance to chemicals, water and heat. Soapstone is the only one of the natural stone materials that is non-porous. Soapstone is available in colors such as blue, green or gray. When soapstone is treated with mineral oil, the surface color will undergo a deepening to a rich veined, charcoal gray patina.
Limestone – This stone is not the best choice for messy kitchen. It offers a unique weathered look to the kitchen but it has a tendency to stain due to its more porous nature. Kitchen messes mush to taken care as soon as they happen. Limestone can be a durable kitchen countertop material when it is selected from the harder and denser types. The harder limestone types are similar to granite.
Slate – This natural stone material has been used for centuries because of its natural beauty and strength. Slate kitchen countertops are durable, hard and fireproof. It has a low absorption rate that helps prevent stains, although it requires sealing regularly to provide more protection.
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Kitchen Design Ideas! Kitchen floor plans, kitchen remodeling. Information on kitchen design ideas, where to find suppliers of materials,kitchen designers and kitchen plans.
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