What is the best natural stone to use for a kitchen countertop? There’s not a one-size-fits-all answer to this question. Ultimately you will have to take a look at a wide range of samples to decide what best suits your kitchen. But it’s helpful to keep a couple of ideas in mind before shopping.
When you hear the word stone, you immediately think of a hard, durable substance, something heavy, something that will break other things before it’s ever broken. Scissors cut paper, but rock breaks scissors. With the word stone, you probably think of rough gravel rubbing against your bare feet before you think of, say, the softness of baby powder. But baby powder is made of stone, just like gravel. The hardness of a stone is one of its defining characteristics. Talc, the substance of the talcum powder you pat on your baby’s butt, is the softest stone. Everyone knows that the diamond, aside from being a girl’s best friend, is the hardest stone.
What does this have to do with your kitchen counter? The hardness of the stone you choose for your countertop will determine the kinds of activities you can perform on its surface (for instance, some stones discolor under high heat, while others are more heat-resistant). The stone’s hardness also affects how you will clean the countertop, and other measures you will have to take in order to keep it smooth and maintain its sheen.
Let’s compare and contrast the two most popular stones for kitchen countertops: marble and granite.
Granite is composed mostly of silicate or quartz, which makes it very durable and resistant to acid. Therefore, it’s easy to clean with mildly acidic cleaning solutions.
Marble is composed mostly of calcium carbonate. As a result, it is extremely sensitive to acidic solutions, and a neutral cleaning agent should be used.
Note: you never want to use a harsh or abrasive cleaning product on any natural stone surface. This is a fairly common mistake for first-time buyers, and while sometimes the etch marks that result can be buffed away, it almost always winds up ruining the appearance of the slab permanently.
It’s also important to remember that these qualities vary depending on the stone—some granites are harder than others, and the same goes for marble. When you start to zero-in on your choice of stone, be sure to ask the dealer about the specific qualities of the stones you like, and the best way to clean and maintain them.
We will post more on this topic throughout the week. Be sure to leave a comment--was this post helpful? Do you have further questions? Want to share your knowledge and experience on this topic? Let us know!
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