​Types of Stone
​

There are a variety of stone products that can be used throughout your home to improve its elegance and beauty. Please select a stone type below in order to learn more about the type of stone, and its most useful applications.

• ​Natural Stone
• Quartz
• Recycled Material
• Comparison
• Edge Profiles

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Granite

Granite slabs are the result of nature's artistic expression and each piece is unique. Just like no two snowflakes are the same, so is the variation in granite. These variations are what cause people to fall in love with the beauty of natural stone and manufactures of man-made (quartz) stone imitate the flow and movement in granite.

1. One of the most bacteria resistant kitchen surfaces.
2. Will not stain with proper cleaning and sealing.
3. Vast assortment of varying colors and patterns with movement and flow, granite is not a seamless product and seams will be visible. We will do our best to minimize but color tones and shading may vary at the seams.
4. Durability allows for use indoors and outdoors.

Myths Dispelled about Granite

​Here are the facts about Natural Stone

1. Granite is ranked #1 in cleanability when compared to six other surfaces including stainless steel.
2. Granite has the same cleanability as quartz or man-made stone.
3. Granite has never been known to emit dangerous levels of radon gas.
4. Sealing is needed once every 15 years when you use Elegant Stone Products and Protegere Warrantied Sealer.

Soapstone

A material that has been used for many years and now just recently is becoming a more popular choice in kitchens. Be sure when deciding on soapstone that your fabricator is using architectural and not artistic soapstone in fabrication. Architectural contains the properties needed for countertop surfacing.

1. Available in one color with varying grain.
2. Food grade mineral oil is used to treat and darken the stone to your taste.
3. Adjusts to heat, it is possible to place a red hot pan on the surface without damage.
4. Durability allows for use indoors and outdoors.                                          OUR PREFERRED VENDORS ARE AMSUM & ASH, STONE HOLDING, COLD SPRINGS, AND MIDWEST SPECIALTY PRODUCTS

Showroom	Address	Phone	Website
Amsum & Ash	30 52nd Way NE, Minneapolis, MN 55421	763-571-8400	www.amsumash.com
Cold Spring Granite Maple Grove Showroom	9775 85th Ave N, Maple Grove, MN 55369	763-425-2876	www.coldspringusa.com
Cosentino Center Minneapolis	14105 13th Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55441	763-546-8456	www.cosentino.com
Daltile Showroom & Slab Yard	1601 Pratt Blvd, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007	847-593-9008	www.daltile.com
Daltile Showroom & Slab Yard	1005 Berkshire Lane North, Plymouth, MN 55441	763-694-9700	www.daltile.com
Dorado Soapstone	732 Harding St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413	651-571-4051	store.doradosurfaces.com
Levantina USA Chicago	850 Devon Ave, Bensenville, IL 60106	630-361-6600	www.levantina.com
Midwest Specialty Products LLC	1301 West Third Ave, Shakopee, MN 55379	952-470-0403	www.mspsurfaces.com
Midwest Tile, Marble & Granite Inc. IA	2700 100th St, Urbandale, IA 50322	515-334-0139	www.midwesttile.com
Midwest Tile, Marble & Granite Inc. WI	W227N722 Westmound Dr, Waukesha, WI 53186	262-547-8400	www.midwesttile.com
Midwest Tile, Marble & Granite Inc.MN	3181 Dodd Rd, Saint Paul, MN 55121	651-405-0707	www.midwesttile.com
MS International Illinois Showroom & Distribution Center	1441 Jarvis Avenue, Elk Grove Village, ILL 60007	847-725-6500	www.msistone.com
Stone Design Showroom & Warehouse WI	2025 E Birchwood, Cudahy, WI 53110	800-669-4963	www.stone-design.com
Stone Design Showroom & Warehouse IL	551 Mitchell Rd, Glendale Heights, IL 60139	800-424-1332	www.stone-design.com
Stone Holding Company	7768 West 78th St, Edina, MN 55439	952-697-3405	www.stoneholding.com
Terrazzo & Marble WI	N59W14339 Bobolink Ave, Menomonee Falls, WI 53051	262-251-7300	www.tmsupply.com
Terrazzo & Marble MN	7145 Sandburg Rd, Golden Valley, MN 55427	763-544-3333	www.tmsupply.com
Terrazzo & Marble IL	77 South Wheeling Rd, Wheeling, IL 60090	877-867-5227	www.tmsupply.com
Terrazzo & Marble IL	1220 W. Lake St, Chicago, IL 60607	317-421-4949	www.tmsupply.com
UGM -Universal Granite & Marble	3555 South Normal Ave, Chicago, IL 60609	773-268-4500	www.universalgranite.com

Manufactured Stone (Quartz)

Quartz or man-made stone increasingly grows as a countertop surfacing material. Quartz is a durable and attractive surface with a uniform color consistency. Quartz slab manufactures have developed colors to mimic the movement of granite and other stone.

1. Bacteria resistant countertop surface.
2. Does not require sealing.
3. Stain and abrasion resistant.
4. NSD/ANSI 51 Certified Food Preparation.
5. Quartz is not a seamless product and seams will be visible. We will do our best to minimize but color tones and shading may vary at the seams similar to natural stone.

​The Evolution of Quartz Material

The manufacture of quartz has evolved from basic patterns to patterns with the movement of natural stone. "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" and the manufactures of quartz are continually developing colors that have the look of granite. If granite is something you are not interested in using, quartz would be a surface material to consider.

​Suppliers of Quartz

Type	Website
​Aggranite	​http://www.midwesttile.com/
​Caesarstone	https://www.caesarstoneus.com/
.	​http://
​Difiniti	http://www.difinitiquartz.com/
​Hanstone ​(preferred vendor)	​http://www.hanwhasurfaces.com/
Linnstone ​ ​(preferred vendor)	​http://www.linnstone.com/
​One Quartz	View Daltile's ONE Quartz Surfaces Kitchen Countertops & Slab
Q by MSI	http://www.msistone.com/quartz-countertops/​
Silestone Quartz	​http://www.silestoneusa.com/
Viatera ​ ​(preferred vendor)	​https://www.lghausysusa.com/
​Vicostone ​ ​(preferred vendor)	​https://us.vicostone.com/
Wilsonart	http://www.wilsonart.com/quartz

Recycled Material

Recycled material transforms waste glass into an exquisite work of art, which will be the center piece of your living room or workspace. The waste glass, made from traffic lights, windows, beverage containers and many other unique sources, is set in a matrix or base. For a classic or contemporary style, consider recycled material.

1. High recycled content.
2. Unique color patterns.

Type	Website
​IceStone Recycled Concrete	​http://www.icestoneusa.com/
​Vetrazzo Recycled Concrete	​http://www.vetrazzo.com/
.	​http://
.	​http://

Countertop Comparison:
Granite, Quartz, Soapstone, Dekton & Recycled Material

Many countertop surfaces are out there and finding the right one for your everyday use and budget can be confusing and difficult. Below you will find the key features on the surfaces we offer for your consideration when selecting your countertop(s).

Remember that we are always here to help you through the process. We stock many of these materials in full slabs and you are welcome to view and select your very own material for your countertop. You can find links to our suppliers in the Materials tab.

Comparison of Custom Countertops

★ ★ ★ ★ = Excellent

 ★ ★ = Good

★ ★ = Fair

​★ = Poor

​Criteria	Granite	​Soapstone	​Quartz	​Dekton	​Recycled
Bacteria Resistance	★★★​★	​★★★​★	★★★​★	★★★​★	​★
​Stain Resistance	★★★​★	★★★​★	★★★​★	★★★​★	​★
​Scratch Resistance	★★★​★	★​★	★★★​★	★★★​★	​★
​Indoor Use	★★★​★	★★★​★	★★★​★	★★★​★	​★
​Outdoor Use	★★​★	★★★​★	​★	★★★​★	​★
​Heat Resistance	★★​★	★★★​★	​★	★★★​★	​★
​Certified Safe for Food Prep (NSF 51)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No

Edge Profiles

Backsplash

Bevel

Demi Bull

Demi Bull Nose

Full Bull

Full Bull Nose

Half Bull

Half Bull Nose

Honed Drainboard

Honed Drainboard Grooves

Miter Edge

Ogee

Standard Ease

Standard Ease

Waterfall Drop Edge

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What to learn more?

​We understand there is a lot to learn about picking out the perfect stone, and we are here to help! Visit or call our showroom today to receive answers to any questions or concerns you have!