Your kitchen design is a reflection of your taste. Being the heart of home, it sets the tone for the rest of your living space. The distant concept of a kitchen being for cooking no longer exists. It’s now the space in which we entertain and laugh with family and friends. When you first enter a kitchen, the countertops grab our first impression. Countertops that reflect quality and style excite the way you feel about the space. There are a few countertop selections to choose from before deciding which application is best for you. Among the few most popular, we will discuss Marble, Quart, Quartzite, and Granite in detail. We’ll look at how they compare, where they comes from, and their styles and maintenance.
Granite – Granite is a natural stone and durable material that’s resistant to heat and many other kitchen elements. Granite countertops are usually very appealing since every slab is naturally unique. There are hundreds of shades and colors of granite slabs to choose from. Due to its porous nature though, there can be some staining if liquids are spilled on it. If granite is correctly sealed by a professional, your granite countertops won’t soak up liquids and will be stain resistant.
Granite is durable, however it’s not the strongest material, if a heavy item like a frying pan is dropped on the corner the granite could chip or break. Granite Is a beautiful option and will bring a lot of style and character to your kitchen.
Marble – Marble is a natural stone that has heat resistant properties which make it a great choice for the kitchen that can surely last a long time. Marble is popular among homeowners for one main reason: the look. Marble is another natural stone that when put in a kitchen brings a ton of beauty, warmth and character to the space. Marble comes in a variety of colors and patterns, and smooth surfaces. It is very similar to granite in that it is necessary to seal. It is expensive, and can be scratched or etched by acids, even if you seal it, however if you are vigilant about spills marble is a tasteful option. What can we do for maintenance? Sealing your countertops two times a year would be good preventative maintenance. If your countertops do become scratched from use there are simple remedies. If marble is in your budget, there’s no denying that its on of the most beautiful countertops.
Quartzite – Quartzite is a natural stone formed when sand is heated and compressed within the earth. Quartzite comes in at a “7” on Mohs Hardness Scale (Natural Stone Hardness scale) – which is harder than granite, it also withstands heat very well. Quartzite is harder than all the other popular stones used in countertops. Quartzite is denser and less porous. You will find quartzite requires little to no sealing at all. Most retailers recommend you seal it as a preventative maintenance measure. People love the look of quartzite because it is another natural stone and resembles marble. Overall quartzite is a great option. Found in high end kitchen and bathrooms. However, with outdoor spaces trending and high features like BBQ’s, fire pits, brick oven’s – quartzite is becoming increasingly popular.
Quartz – Yes, the names are similar, but they are different! Quartz contains pieces of ground quartz combined with resin and polymers to create a man-made material that’s pretty and strong. Because quartz is man-made it can be a less expensive option than quartzite or other natural stones. However, it is not as heat or scratch resistant, and this makes a big difference in how the material performs in the kitchen. Quartz is more flexible, so it does tend to chip less than the natural stone. Quartz is completely non-porous making it less prone to stains and bacterial growth. All of this gives quartz a slight edge where maintenance is concerned, if you aren’t too rough on your countertops you should be in good shape. Since this is a man-made material it is available in pretty much any color and style.
Countertops represent the style of the home, and we understand they’re important. We hope that you have an initial level of understanding of the different types of options available to you. If you have any more questions about countertops or need a guiding hand in your kitchen design or remodel process, please feel free to contact us!