Getting back to our main topic last week (one that is near and dear to our hearts)...What is better for a kitchen countertop—synthetic or natural stone? Almost overwhelmingly you’ll hear that natural stones like granite or marble are ideal, and that synthetic materials are a cheap substitute. It’s not as simple as that. For instance, some artificial stones are pricier than their natural counterparts.
Why go the artificial route? For starters, most artificial stones feature the same pattern without variation. While this may sound dull, it does eliminate the chance of choosing a stone based on a perfect sample in the showroom, only to install a countertop that doesn’t quite have the patterning you were expecting. Knowing exactly what you’re going to get, and perhaps saving a few bucks while you’re at it, are features that sure do make artificial stones more appealing.
On the otherhand, it is definitely our opinion, and a great number of people share it, that natural stones are more pleasing to the eye, and to touch. Natural stones possess a vibrance that cannot be manufactured, and a texture that is the result of millions of years of geological history. There’s not a factory in the world that can come close to that. Natural stones are like a fine wine that has been aged for many years. For many, artificial stones are the wine that comes out of a box—they do the job, but they ain’t nothing like the real thing.
Going green? This is where the whole issue of artificial vs. natural gets complicated. Surely mining stone out of the earth opens up a whopping huge can of environmental worms--where is the stone mined, and how much impact do the mining operations have on the local environment? How is the material shipped, and how far is it shipped from where it was extracted? Are there local options that may reduce the carbon footprint of the project? These are just a few of the questions that come to mind.
Considering the problems posed by mining natural stone, surely artificial stone must be the green alternative. Right? Not necessarily. You have to take into account where the product is manufactured, and all of the processes that go into it. Is the factory dedicated to sustainable practices? Green initiatives? How far does the product have to travel--and is there a local source?
From a green standpoint, choosing the material for your kitchen countertop is just as involving as selecting the local and organic foods you will serve on it. It takes the same level of dedication and determination to make wise, sustainable choices.
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