How to choose a kitchen worktop: manmade or natural stone?
How to choose a kitchen worktop: manmade or natural stone?
You’ve heard people talking about granite and quartz for use as kitchen worktops, but what are the differences and how do you pick what to use in your kitchen?
Granite
Granite is a natural stone with good strength and low porosity which makes it perfect for kitchen worktops. There are hundreds of different sorts of granite in different colours. The markings also vary from small to large and depend on the mineral and rock content of the area where the granite formed. Granite is fairly easy to care for, as long as spills are wiped up promptly and should last for years.
Zimbabwe Black granite
Marble
Marble is a softer stone and can be used for kitchen counters but is much more likely to stain. If you are prepared to seal it regularly, wipe any spills as soon as they occur and like the idea of it developing character with age, then it is definitely for you. If the idea of a worktop that will develop an antique patina as it ages is not to your liking then avoid marble.
Arabescato marble
Quartzite
Quartzite allows you to get the look of marble with the strength of granite, but it comes at a cost as it is much rarer and hence much more expensive.
All natural stones will have variations in tone and markings depending on where they’ve come from in the rock seam. These are part of the beauty of the stone, but if you want something more uniform, then you should consider quartz or sintered stone instead.
Bianco Lasa quartzite
Quartz
Composite stones such as Silestone and Caesarstone are made by mixing particles of quartz or marble with resin and colouring. They started out as an alternative to granite for kitchen worktops for those who did not want as much variation. They demand about the same level of care as granite. The designs have evolved to include some which look similar to a uniform marble.
Compac quartz Carrara & Zimbabwe Black granite
Caestarstone Oyster quartz
Sintered Stone
Sintered stone is made by fusing mineral ingredients which are found in stone and porcelain using very high heat and pressure. The resulting slab is very hard wearing, scratch and heat resistant. Again the finish is very uniform and it does not resemble a true natural stone. The main brands are Dekton, Neolith and Lapitec.
Sintered stone
If you have any questions or need advice on your kitchen or bathroom project, please don't hesitate to contact us!
Best wishes,
StoneCIRCLE
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