Natural Stone Offers Unique Choices for Kitchen Counter Tops
Natural Stone a Popular Trend in Kitchen Counter Tops
When refurbishing an existing kitchen or designing a new kitchen,
kitchen counter tops are at the heart of the design décor.
Natural stone is the hands-down material of choice, available in
nearly countless colors and styles; with granite counter tops highest
in demand.
Natural Stone; Popular, but Expensive
Whether granite, slate or quartz, marble or soapstone, natural stone
counter tops are available at a significantly high cost, ranging from
under $50 per square foot to well over $300 per square foot and up
for exclusive designer lines. Natural stone counter tops are
best left in professional hands when it comes to installation or
kitchen counter top replacement. Once base cabinetry has been prepared,
a custom wood template is made as a pattern. Custom cutting of the
stone slab for a perfect fit is done using a special diamond saw.
One simple slip-up can necessitate replacing the first counter
top with a second natural stone slab; a very costly mistake indeed
for the majority of homeowners attempting do it yourself kitchen
counter tops projects on their own.
Pros and Cons of the Different Natural Stone Options
Granite kitchen counter tops: granite is a very
hard material, highly resistant to impact, scratching, and staining
when properly maintained with regular cleaning, polishing, and sealing.
While darker granites from the Middle East may be harder than lighter
granites, all are considered highly durable; lighter granites tend
to be slightly more susceptible to staining, due to the higher content
of Orthoclase minerals.
Natural quartz kitchen counter tops: quartz is
the 4th hardest mineral in existence, making it a very durable material
for a custom kitchen counter top. Unlike granite or other stone,
quartz kitchen counter tops are highly resistant to permanent staining
from wine, lemon juice, fruits and vegetables, soda and tea.
Marble kitchen counter tops: marble is a softer
natural stone which may require extra care to keep its exquisite
beauty. It is easy to scratch and soil, but as long as damage or
staining is not too extensive, marble can easily be restored to
its original finish.
While granite needs frequent resealing (1 to 2 times per year), marble
may need even more resealing to maintain a durable, protective finish.
Soapstone kitchen counter top: soapstone has been a popular choice
material not only for counter tops, but for thousands of years has
been used to fashion goblets, sculptures, fireplaces, ovens and
tabletops.
Soapstone was popular with early colonial settlers in North America
for crude sinks. It is a unique material in the fact that acid and
alkaline compounds will not affect it like granite, marble or slate.
And, it has been proven highly durable under long-term heavy use
conditions.
Slate kitchen counter tops: slate holds up very
well under heavy kitchen use demands. It is unaffected by hot pots
and pans, and is naturally stain resistant; minor damage can easily
be polished out.
Slate is very low maintenance, requiring only periodic application
of mineral oil as a sealer. Available in subdued shades of red,
grey, green and purple, it is very effective in understated décor
themes.
Proper Natural Stone Countertop Care
To protect your natural stone countertop investment and maintain
its beauty and longevity, follow the tips below:
- Damage prevention – the #1 treatment
recommended by experts for longevity of natural beauty with minimal
upkeep and expense. Although natural stone countertops are considered
hard and durable, surfaces can scratch. And allowing certain foods
and acidic substances to remain on the surface can harm the sealant;
allowing staining and damage to the surface.
- Regular cleaning – keep countertop clean
at all times; blot up food and liquid spills immediately. Acidic
substances, including tomato juice/sauce, sodas, lemon juice,
etc., can etch or stain the surface; cooking oil can also stain.
- Avoid harsh scrubbing - use a sponge or soft
cloth when cleaning, preferably with a stone cleaner specially
formulated for that particular type stone. Hot water alone is
great; hot water mixed with a little mild liquid dish soap is
fine for occasional quick clean-ups. Too much soap use, however,
will create a build-up and dull countertop shine.
- Use coasters, placemats, or potholders –
under glasses, bottles, and cans. Remember, preventative care
against scratches, etching, and stains are the best way to keep
natural stone counter tops looking their best.
- Avoid scraping objects across the surface –
although hot pots can be taken off the stove and put directly
on a granite, soapstone, slate, or quartz countertop without causing
surface damage, grit or hard particles trapped between the pot
and countertop can scratch the surface.
- Never cut foods on the countertop –
always use a cutting board. This will not only protect the sealant
and countertop surface, but the knives as well. Cutting on stone
damages knife blades.
- Avoid common cleaning products – such
as bleach, glass cleaners, soaps, tub and tile cleaners, and degreasers;
vinegar, ammonia, or citrus cleaners. These products can contain
chemicals and acids that can etch or damage the sealant or countertop
surface. A product with a relatively neutral pH is safer; especially
those that are stone-specific formulated.
- Avoid placing toiletry products directly on the bare
countertop surface – including hair products, colognes,
nail products, lotions and creams. These can damage or stain the
surface, etch the polish, and leave a ring.
- Weekly applications of a specially formulated stone
cleaner – to help keep the natural beauty and protective
sealant in tact.
- Use stone specific polishers and color-enhancers
– four to five times a year to keep the stone’s natural
beauty and luster alive.
- Annual resealing with a quality sealant –
a must for granite and marble especially. Reseal twice annually
if stone is considered extra porous, or if the countertop gets
lots of use and shows signs of wear. Unless, of course, stone
type should not be sealed.
The important thing is to use the right type sealer on the right
stone. Black granite, for instance, contains very little quartz
and has a different composition than true granite; it therefore
requires special treatment.
Tight Budget? How to Make a Stone Counter Top More Affordable
Overall kitchen counter top cost can be prohibitive for many homeowners.
However, special design granite counter top cost can be offset by
the homeowner completing preparatory work on a DIY basis –
cutting down on per hour contractor cost.
When replacing kitchen counter tops, the homeowner can disconnect
and remove sinks and fixtures, and old counter tops can be taken
off base cabinetry. Take special care to shut off water supply lines
and disconnect drain pipes; have a bucket handy for catching remaining
water in plumbing.
Once fixtures and old counter tops are out of the way, the natural
stone installation contractor can be called in to quickly make a
pattern template. Counter tops are custom cut for speedy installation,
further saving the homeowner labor costs.
Call the Pros
When it comes to finding just the right granite kitchen counter
top contractor for your project, or countertop for anywhere in Canada,
HandyCanadian.com is the best online resource. Even better, it’s
absolutely free, with no obligation.
Whether seeking a specialty contractor for Ontario counter tops,
or an installation pro for a Vancouver counter top; homeowners simply
sign up for free and post their kitchen renovation project online,
with easy-to-use tools.
Reliable local contractors view project details, and compete for
the project by providing competitive bids in days, even hours from
posting.
Homeowners can view contractor profile pages, credentials, references,
and contractor photo gallery pictures of recently completed projects;
not to mention read customer reviews, references, and comments online
at HandyCanadian.com 24/7. And then make an informed decision when
hiring a contractor; or hire no contractor at all. Remember, there
is no obligation whatsoever.
To sign up and post your project, click
here. To search our directory, click
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