Natural Stones are formed naturally by the earth crusts therefore each slab is unique. These stones include: Granite, Travertine, Quartzite, Onyx, Limestone and more. On the other hand, Quartz is an engineered stone not to be confused with Quartzite. All the different types of stones vary in size, appearance and texture.
Natural Stones are a beautiful addition to any home. They are great for decorative purposes as well as functionality. With that being said, there are some stones that are more durable than others, so it is important to choose wisely which type of stone to use.
For example, the two most popular materials for kitchen countertops have been Granite and Quartz (engineered stone). These materials are very durable, resistant to high heat and difficult to stain. Quartzite and Limestone are also very strong surfaces if you are looking to renovate your kitchen.
Granite is a great material to use because of its beauty and durability. It is extremely heat and scratch resistant. Granite has an abundance of patterns for you to choose from and they are all one in a million. Unlike man-made quartz which is symmetrical – each piece of granite is unique and one of a kind. It comes in a wide range of colors including: white, gray, black, pink, orange, green, brown and blue. The reason why granite has become so popular is because of its beauty, durability, low maintenance and affordability.
Quartzite is one of the hardest materials available, and it is extremely heat resistant. Furthermore, it is also UV resistant – meaning the sunlight would not cause the color to fade. The colors that quartzite predominantly comes in is white and gray. In some rare instances, there may be slabs that are a pink or red hue.
There is no question that marble has elegant looks and has been prized for its beauty, but one should note where they install it. Marble is considered porous, meaning that it absorbs liquids rather quickly. It is also considered a “soft stone”, so it gets scratched or chipped more easily. Due to these reasons, it is wise not to install marble in a kitchen.
Marble is commonly installed in bathrooms or near fireplaces, because it is heat resistant. Because of this quality, marble would be able to withstand hot styling hair tools.
Onyx is a very beautiful translucent stone with a glossy, polished surface. This stone is similar to marble when it comes to having a wide selection of earthy colors. Onyx has been installed with backlighting, and it looks incredible because of its translucent quality.
Soapstone is a natural stone which has a different look than granite. It has a rustic appearance compared to the other natural stones. It has a rustic and powdery appearance because it contains talc. The colors in which you will find for soapstone range from pure white with marbling to almost opaque dark colors. They usually come in the shades of white and gray.
Limestone is traditionally used in flooring because of its durability, but it has become increasingly popular as a countertop material over the years. It comes in a variety of colors and textures with a slight resemblance to the look of marble.
Travertine comes in a large range of colors and patterns that are known for resembling marble. This material is oftentimes used to making flooring tiles.
Quartz contains crushed quartz mixed with resin. It is as an engineered stone that comes in many different colors and patterns. Quartz countertops are just as strong as granite, if not stronger. Furthermore, Quartz is non-porous and does not require sealing or maintenance.
