The idea of having a natural stone kitchen countertop is appealing. The attractive patterning combines with natural resilience and the positive emotion of spending more time surrounded by natural materials rather than artificial ones. Because people want natural stone countertops, there are many different types of stones offered for the function.
However, not all natural stones are good choices for kitchen countertops. Understanding which are the best natural stones to use for kitchen countertops can help you avoid making a choice you might regret later.
There are some natural stones that just really stand out for their amazing performance as kitchen countertops. These stones are resistant to high temperatures, so you can take a pot right off the stove or a pan out of the oven and put it on the countertop without concern. In addition, they’re resistant to natural acids and aren’t highly porous, so they are less likely to be damaged or stained during normal kitchen operations. Plus, they are hard enough that you don’t need a cutting board to protect them, though cutting directly on them will dull your knives.
Granite is an igneous stone that has a highly variable mineral content. However, the primary minerals in granite are usually feldspar, quartz, and mica. It is not porous, not vulnerable to common acids used in the kitchen, and is resistant to scratches. Another benefit of granite is that it comes in numerous colors, including pink, gray, red, green, and even blue. Granite can also have a wide range of grain sizes, and you can select ones with or without glittery mica inclusions.
This is a brand name for quarried stones taken from specific places in Norway. Lundhs Real Stone are primarily made of feldspar, which makes them similar to granite, but without the inclusion of quartz. The colors and patterns of these stones tend to be less variable, but their performance characteristics are outstanding.
Quartzite is a metamorphic stone, formed when sandstone is subjected to tremendous heat and pressure. This fuses the sand grains together to create a stone that’s made mostly of quartz. Although quartzite often looks like marble, it is much more durable and is resistant to high temperatures and acidic attack. Like granite, quartzite can come in a wide variety of colors and patterns. Because it started as a sedimentary stone, quartzite is more prone to porosity than granite. In some cases, quartzite might need a sealant.
In addition to those stones that are naturally suited to kitchen countertops, there are some stones that can perform well as kitchen countertops if they are properly treated.
Sandstone is a sedimentary stone that forms when accumulated sand fuses together under pressure. The result is a stone that is highly resistant to high temperatures, thanks to the heat resistance of the sand grains. However, the fusion of sand grains in sandstone is incomplete, which makes them porous, and often allows the stone to wear away when abraded. With an appropriate sealant, though, sandstone can function reasonably well as a kitchen countertop.
Soapstone is a soft sedimentary rock that has a luxurious feel and an attractive appearance. It’s also highly heat resistant, so you can put pots and pans on it directly from the stove or oven. Soapstone’s main drawback is the softness. It is easily scratched and chipped. Coating soapstone with wax or a mineral oil helps conceal scratches and seal them.
On the other hand, there are some natural stones that just aren’t suitable for kitchen countertops. These stones just don’t have the natural resilience that makes for a good kitchen countertop.
It’s always possible to cover these stones with an artificial surface that protects them, but they don’t really count as natural stone countertops at that point.
Dolomite is a soft sedimentary stone made of carbonate materials, which means that many common kitchen acids, like vinegar and citrus juices, will dissolve it. It also tends to stain easily and break easily. It is heat resistant, however.
Limestone is another sedimentary stone that can look attractive but is highly vulnerable to etching by acids and can stain easily.
People love the look of marble, and it’s common for people to request marble kitchen countertops. However, marble is limestone metamorphosed by heat and pressure. Although this makes the stone harder, it doesn’t change the fundamental chemical composition, so marble is also vulnerable to etching and staining in the kitchen.
People often think that onyx is black, but it comes in a variety of colors. There is some confusion about the term, because although onyx gemstones are mostly silicate like quartz, the large stone slabs sold as onyx are actually carbonate material, similar to limestone in composition. This means that they are soft, fragile, and vulnerable to etching.
Travertine is a special variant of limestone that forms in natural hot springs, where bubbling water deposits its dissolved minerals. This can create very striking patterns, but travertine still has the same durability problems as limestone: vulnerability to acids and ease of staining.
When it comes to finding the right natural stone countertop for your kitchen project, it’s not always easy to decide. That’s where The Stone Collection’s unique Get Inspired™ experience can help.
You don’t need an appointment to browse one of our gallery-style showrooms. Just show up and walk the aisles to see hundreds of varieties of natural and engineered stone countertop slabs. If you’re in the early stages and want to look casually on your own, you can, but our representatives are always available to guide you toward the natural stone slabs that will work best for your style and functional needs. Once you make a decision, you can put the stone slab on hold for two weeks if you are still looking for a fabricator.
The variety of natural stone countertops is a benefit, but it can also make it hard to make a decision. Don’t be intimidated by options: contact The Stone Collection today or show up and browse at our warehouses in Denver, Dallas, Fort Worth, Phoenix, or Salt Lake City.