Stone kitchen countertops have been popular for decades due to their beauty and inherent luxury. With so many different types of stone countertops in the market, though, it can be tough to choose the right one. Here at All Granite & Marble we carry engineered quartz and a few different types of natural stone.
Choosing your countertop surface can be tricky and that's why, in this post, we'll take a look at the type of stones we carry, so it can help you pick the best one for your house!
NATURAL STONE - MARBLE
Marble is a metamorphic rock. It's stellar good looks have made it a popular luxury building material for centuries. It comes with some significant downsides, though.
To summarize, marble is expensive both upfront and in the long run. Cheaper variants may contain imperfections such as veining that doesn’t line up. As with most types of natural stone, you also need to reseal marble regularly to prevent stains.
Regardless of how well you care for a marble countertop, it will develop a patina over time. Marble is highly absorbent, with one common discoloring factor being the oils on your skin. Depending on how the surface ages, this patina may be uneven.
Because of this, if you want a countertop that will look as good as new for the long haul, marble is likely not for you.
NATURAL STONE - GRANITE
Granite countertops were all the rage not that long ago. They were the go-to surfaces for people designing luxury kitchens. This is no longer the case.
Here’s a quick summary.
Because granite was so desirable over a period of several decades, it became commonplace. The stone’s limited aesthetic options caused it to eventually fall out of favor with designers and homeowners looking to create unique kitchens.
When you combine this with granite’s need for frequent resealing, it’s not hard to see why consumers have moved on.
NATURAL STONE - QUARTZITE
Quartzite is a metamorphic rock that forms when sandstone rich in quartz gets subjected to a process known as metamorphism.
For the purposes of this piece, however, the important thing to note is that quartzite and quartz as they relate to countertops are two different things.
Quartzite is a very hard substance, which makes it resistant to scratches. While looks are subjective, quartzite is also generally considered aesthetically pleasing.
However, quartzite is also porous. As a result, you need to seal it as often as twice yearly, which is a costly inconvenience. If you don’t reseal the surface, it will collect stains. This is a common thread among natural stone kitchen countertops (as opposed to engineered stone, which we’ll explore shortly).
NATURAL STONE - DOLOMITE
Dolomite is a sedimentary rock which is the result of limestone and lime mud coming into contact with groundwater rich in magnesium. That said, the rock is very similar to limestone in composition and also in color scheme.
It is also called Dolostone due to the confusion that can be made with the mineral dolomite which is a significant part of the stone’s composition.
Dolomite countertops are simply high polished slabs cut from the dolomite rock, and as you can see in pictures they look great. So much that they’re very commonly sold as marble or quartzite
Nevertheless, this confusion has to end, since Dolomite is not as hard and resistant as quartzite or as soft and fragile as marble.
By choosing dolomite, you can feel safer than with marble, but maintenance will still need to be provided, and caution shall be taken at all times.
NATURAL STONE - SOAPSTONE
Soapstone is yet another type of metamorphic rock, this time composed primarily of talc. It sets itself apart from other types of natural stone in a few ways, one of which is its nonporous nature. This makes it less likely to stain. You also don’t need to seal soapstone regularly but rather just apply oil to it.
Soapstone is very soft, however. This makes it more susceptible to scratches, dents, and chips. You also don’t have a whole lot of options when it comes to colors and patterns. With soapstone, you’re limited to shades of white and black.
NATURAL STONE - SLATE
Slate is a metamorphic rock that is formed from sedimentary clay and volcanic ash. So, it’s a natural stone like granite or marble. It’s most similar to soapstone.
Slate is not a common choice for kitchen countertops. However, It is a highly versatile material with a long history of use for roofing, flooring, gravestones, stepping stones, billiards tables, and more. The phrases “blank slate” and “clean slate” come from it’s very common use as a chalkboard.
Not all slate is the same. Care and durability vary a lot. Slate can be super… or a maintenance nightmare.
ENGINEERED QUARTZ
Engineered quartz has been quickly growing as one of the more popular choices for kitchen countertops. But there’s still a lot of confusion out there about what engineered quartz is and how it performs.
As a countertop fabricator that has worked with engineered quartz as well as granite, marble and quartzite for years, we thought it was time to share a breakdown of the most popular engineered quartz brands, and see how they stack up.
Manufactured quartz countertops do have natural quartz, but they are also made up of a combination of man-made resins. So they are not considered a natural stone.
Care and durability is pretty much none. You do have to seal it, but please don't try and cut your vegetables on it or put your put your hot pot on top of it.
Now that you know which types of stone we carry, it's time to give us a call and get your estimate.