Which stone is right for my bathroom countertops or even shower walls, niches, floors & benches?
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For my kitchen countertops, what stones are the most durable & stain-resistant?
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I have a certain budget and color preference, which stone is right for my project?
Today we will discuss different natural stones including highlights about their makeup and benefits for different applications!
Granite - 100% Natural
Pros: Natural Beauty, Sturdy/Heat resistant, Sanitary/Bacteria & Stain resistant when sealed properly, Easy to clean with mild soap and water, and easily found
Cons: It is natural and porous so it requires yearly sealing to prevent absorption. It cannot be cleaned using acidic materials (citrus cleaners, bleach, vinegar etc) because it will breakdown the sealant and potentially the stone causing unnecessary wear. Compared with sample colors and patterns the actual quarried slabs can slightly vary since the stone is 100% natural.
Quartzite - 100% Natural
Pros: Natural Beauty, Sturdy/Heat Resistant (cannot be scratched), Sanitary/Bacteria & Stain resistant when sealed properly, It can resemble Marble but is considerably stronger, Somewhat stronger/more damage resistant than man made Quartz. Quartzite is one of the least porous of the natural stones.
Cons: It’s one of the most expensive natural stone and is not as readily available as granite. It’s not 100% non-porous since it is natural so yearly sealing maintenance is recommended. Can be mistaken for Marble so a durability test is recommended.
Marble - 100% Natural
Pros: Natural Beauty, Timeless, Classic, Never goes out of style, Heat/Spark Resistant (good for fireplaces), Does not conduct heat (good for bakers as it allows baked goods to cool naturally)
Cons: This is one of the highest maintenance stone options. It is susceptible to scratching and staining requiring at minimum, yearly sealing (potentially more) to help to prevent absorption and requires the cleaning of spills as quickly as possible as well as using coasters. It cannot be cleaned using acidic materials (citrus cleaners, bleach, vinegar etc) because it will breakdown the sealant and potentially the stone causing unnecessary wear. It is higher on the cost spectrum.
Soapstone - 100% Natural
Pros: Natural Beauty, Sturdy/Heat Resistant, Low Maintenance, Sanitary/Bacteria & Stain resistant (does not require sealing) because it is one of the least porous of the natural stones, More flexibility/less brittle than Granite
Cons: It is softer than granite and Quartzite so it has the potential to chip, scratch and stain. It has limited color options. Maintenance requires periodic oil rubbing to maintain/ bring out the natural beauty of the stone.
Travertine - 100% natural
Pros: Natural Beauty, Classic, Timeless appearance is similar to Marble. Sturdy/Heat resistant (good for fireplaces), Moisture resistant when sealed properly
Cons: This is one of the highest maintenance stone options so it is susceptible to scratching and staining requiring at minimum yearly sealing (potentially more) to help to prevent absorption and requires the cleaning of spills as quickly as possible as well as use of coasters. It cannot be cleaned using acidic materials (citrus cleaners, bleach, vinegar etc) because it will breakdown the sealant and potentially the stone causing unnecessary wear. The color spectrum is limited to earth tones/browns and creams.
Quartz - Man made 90-93% ground natural stone combined with 7-10% resin and pigment
Pros: Lowest maintenance of the stone materials, Non-Porous, Bacteria resistant, More Stain and scratch resistant compared to Granite or Marble. More color options since color pigmentations can be added within the resin so it can be made to look like other stone types, especially Marble. It can be less expensive than Quartzite or Marble.
Cons: It’s man-made so it will not have natural variances and is generally more expensive than Granite. It’s UV light susceptible meaning its color can fade or change when constantly exposed to sunlight.
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