|
A common question that is asked when contemplating countertops is, “What is the best material for my tops”? The truth is there is not a standard answer without first understanding what you are expecting from your tops in regard to: 
-
Application
-
Food preparation
-
High traffic
-
Direct heat
-
Kitchen or Bathroom
-
Design
-
Artistic expression
-
Consistency
-
Flow
-
Random Patterns
-
Long term appeal
-
Scratchability
-
Staining
-
Surface finish
At Elegant Stone Products, we specialize in three main categories of countertop materials:
- Natural Stone
- Granite
- Soapstone
- Marble/Onyx
- Travertine/Limestone/Slate
- Quartz Surfacing
- Silestone
- Caesarstone
- Technistone
- Avanza
- GeoQuartz
- Recycled “Green” Products
- IceStone -- Recycled Glass & Concrete
- PaperStone -- Recycled Paper
When selecting the color of your natural stone countertops, remember that the Granite, Marble or Limestone is constantly being harvested from the quarries block by block. This means that there will never be two labs of the same color that will be identical. Variations within the same color can be minor to great depending on multiple factors. It is always recommended that you preview your slabs before we begin fabrication.
In the early stages of stone selection, you might find it helpful to create a short-list of colors by browsing the following sites. These links will take you to the websites of a few of the suppliers from whom we source our materials.
Following are descriptions and characteristics of Natural Stone. For more information on Natural Stone please refer the Marble Institute of America.
Granite Countertops
Granite is an ingneous rock formed by the crystallization of once molten material under intense heat and pressure. As an igneous rock, granite is an extremely hard material. A highly polishable stone with a very large array of colors to choose from. Why granite?
Marble Countertops
Marble on the other hand is metamorphic rock and is not as hard. Once limestone, marble is a product of intense pressures and high temperatures from within the earth. Will polish well, but unlike granite, marble can scratch and stain easily.
Soapstone Countertops
Soapstone is a sedimentary rock and is very soft. It is often used as carving material. It was traditionally used in Colonial New England for hearths and countertops.
Onyx Countertops
Onyx is a sedimentary rock. It is a translucent material characterized by veins running through it often in concentric patterns. Like marble it will take a high shine and is similar in hardness.
|
