There’s no better way to ring in the New Year than with new natural stone countertops. Natural stone countertops are a beautiful way to upgrade your Atlanta kitchen, bathroom or both, as well as any other rooms or areas that might have countertops (basement bar, anyone?). Natural stone comes in several varieties, and today we’ll talk about the marble, granite and quartz varieties, all of which are available at A Polished Finish in Atlanta.
Marble
Marble is a timeless classic when it comes to building materials. It is a favorite of bakers and chefs, and many consider it the only material they would consider when it comes to natural stone countertops. Marble is widely popular, and only becomes more admired by those who own it. Many feel that there is simply nothing more beautiful than marble.
Marble certainly is beautiful, but it does require some serious upkeep. Because it is more porous than granite, it requires re-sealing more often — generally, a few times a year, instead of just once per year, like granite, or not at all, like quartz. Additionally, acidic substances and harsh cleaners can damage the countertop. It does, however, offer a wide variety of colors and styles, and it has an appeal that is absolutely timeless.
Granite
Granite countertops are some of the toughest and most beautiful surfaces you can find. As no granite slab is exactly like another, the slab you choose for your countertops will be 100% unique to your home. The endless variations of colors and styles to choose from also nod towards its uniqueness. Finally, granite is the most durable of the options here, being basically impervious to staining, etching, scratching, high heat, severe cold, and other potential forms of damage.
A granite countertop will look amazing no matter where you choose to have it installed in your home. An annual sealing is the only requirement for maintenance of this otherwise highly durable, stain resistant, scratch resistant, heat resistant, naturally beautiful stone. For the quality and durability of granite, it sure seems like an annual sealing is a pretty nominal maintenance condition.
Quartz
Quartz countertops are more engineered than you might think, but it still makes for an incredibly attractive surface. They are also non-porous, as the result of being an engineered stone, which means that they do not require any kind of sealing to remember every few months (like marble) or every year (like granite). And since they are manufactured, they can be customized to produce virtually any color or style, even look-alikes of marble or granite slabs, if you so desire. The variations of colors and styles are, for all intents and purposes, endless.
The main thing to watch out for with quartz countertops is exposure to high heat. Setting a pan down on top of one can scorch the resin used in manufacturing the countertop, leaving an unsightly burn mark that will be permanent on its surface. This is the only way in which quartz does not surpass other natural stone options. If you know that you can get a trivet or oven mitt down in time to set a hot pan upon, then quartz is perfect for you. If you’ve already scorched a countertop or two, it might be time to think in terms of a different natural stone option.
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So Which Is The Best?
Like just about everything when it comes to materials for your home, it all depends. It depends on what you want to do with it, what is most important to you in terms of looks, durability, upkeep, serial concerns like being scorch proof, and more. The upside is, you don’t have to factor in cost as much anymore; they are all within roughly the same price range, with granite being the least expensive.
Installing natural stone countertops in your home is a considerable upgrade, but you’re increasing the resale value of your Atlanta-area home substantially, too. (And in the meantime, you can enjoy using beautiful natural stone countertops.) Are you looking to have natural stone countertops installed in your Atlanta-area home? Stop by our showroom to browse, contemplate, and please, feel free to ask any questions or raise any concerns you may have. We hope to see you soon!
