What Is the Best Stone for Your Kitchen Countertops?

What Is the Best Stone for Your Kitchen Countertops?

Learn with The Premier Builder Group

Building a new home or remodeling an existing one can seem like a million decisions. Choosing the right countertop for a kitchen or bathroom can be challenging.

Now is the perfect time to replace your kitchen countertops. It’s time to say goodbye to the days when you had two choices: laminate or butcherblock. Various countertop materials are available nowadays.
These include:
Natural stone surfaces
Quartz composite
Acrylic sheets (recyclable)
And
Tinted concrete

Different stone countertops are available in multiple designs, patterns, colors, and textures to satisfy your design requirements.
You will like the recommendation of The Premier Builder Group. We feel the same way. Come on, let’s make something cool. We’ve gathered the 7 most popular types of countertop stones to help you narrow down your options.

Types of Countertop Stones
Here are 7 prominent countertop stone:

  1. Granite:
    The most popular material for kitchen counter tops is granite. It was previously associated with high-end properties.
    Formation:
    An igneous rock formed by extreme temperature and pressure deep in the Earth’s crust fuses small amounts of quartz and feldspar.
    Why It’s Special?
    Granite’s unique spotted and mottled appearance and outstanding heat resistance make it a highly-desirable material.
    Granite for the kitchen countertop needs to be sealed initially and then resealed regularly due to its small pores. As a result, the countertop will become water-resistant, stain-resistant, and safe for food preparation.
    The Best Granite Countertops:
    The best granite countertops are among the most expensive materials and come in relatively small slabs. Therefore, seams along the countertop stone may be visible. But the stone’s veining and pattern are often disguised. This way, they don’t diminish its beauty.

  2. Quartzite:
    There are many similarities between quartzite and granite. But it is slightly more costly.
    Formation:
    This metamorphic rock forms when extreme pressure and temperature are applied to quartz sandstone. A thin, smooth, glassy mosaic of quartz grains is formed by the materials holding the grains together. Impurities give the stone marble-like appearance and add color.
    Why It’s Special?
    The best quartzite countertops are denser than granite, making them less likely to stain, chip, or scratch. At the same time, it requires sealing regularly. It does not require any maintenance other than cleaning.

  3. Marble:
    It was a preferred material for classical sculptors. Also, it has remained a popular choice for bathroom and kitchen designers.
    Formation:
    Metamorphic rocks are formed when extreme pressure is applied to limestone or dolomite within the Earth’s crust. The marble counter top has a striking appearance with different veining patterns and shades due to the impurities that create many colors and patterns.
    Why It’s Special?
    Without special care, marble countertop can be scratched and chipped because it does not conduct heat and is not as durable as granite. Like many other stones, white marble countertops are porous and can stain easily. So, regular sealing is necessary.
What Is The Best Stone For Your Kitchen Countertops?
  1. Travertine:
    In Ancient Rome, travertine was primarily used as a building stone, a classical kitchen countertop stone that continues to be used today. As a limestone countertop with earthy tones, it displays a subtle elegance due to its earthy tones.
    Why It’s Special?
    Travertine is heavy but easy to cut and fit. It is often installed as a tile and available as a slab. This natural countertop stone is porous. Therefore, it must be sealed. This way, you can prevent staining and water penetration. Clean it with non-acidic agents. And it can maintain the beauty and longevity of Ancient Rome if properly maintained.

  2. Onyx:
    Onyx is one of the most exotic countertop materials. In other words, it is a “banded” rock, which means that different mineral concentrations produce varying colors and textures.
    Why It’s Special?
    It results in the best stone for the kitchen platform that looks unique and has an avant-garde pattern.
    What’s the catch? Onyx countertops are more challenging to maintain than other types of natural stone countertops. It usually requires reinforcing materials to make the material suitable for countertop use.
    Theonyx countertops are expensive due to the increased care and their rarity.

  3. Soapstone:
    Soapstone is another metamorphic rock consisting primarily of talc. There are a few ways it differs from other natural stones, one of which is its nonporous nature.
    Why It’s Special?
    This most durable countertop stone reduces its staining potential. Moreover, soapstone counter tops need not be regularly sealed; they need to be oiled.
    However, soapstone is very soft. Hence, it’s more likely to get scratches, dents, and chips. It’s also hard to find a lot of color and pattern options. There are only two colors available with soapstone: black and white kitchen countertops.

  4. Concrete:
    Concrete is one of the top countertop stones. It is a good choice if you have unusual countertops or want a unique kitchen.
    Why It’s Special?
    Concrete countertops are generally cast in your kitchen due to their heavy weight. A variety of polished concrete slabs are available, including some that are acid-stained or textured to produce colors. These are different from the polished concrete slabs used for sidewalks.

Concrete can crack, but new treatments can reduce this tendency. Additives can make concrete less porous.
• The concrete countertops can be colored.
Concrete counter tops are heat- and scratch-resistant material
• They provide a sophisticated and unusual appearance.
• It is possible to create decorative textures and colors.

Which Stone Is the Best Choice for Your Kitchen Countertops?
First, you should consider your countertop’s main uses and compare them to the characteristics of each stone. For example, quartz counter tops would be a good choice if the stone frequently comes into contact with water.
Quartzite or granite is excellent for countertops when cooking and using hot pots and pans.

Marble or quartz that resembles marble will be a good choice if you plan to use the countertops for decoration.
While there is no right answer, quartz wins in terms of resistance, porosity, and maintenance. Because quartz kitchen countertops are available in multiple colors and styles. You can match them with any kitchen design.
Take some time to consider various stones for your kitchen or bath, even though this article focuses on some of the most durable, popular, or stylish surfaces.

Whenever you plan to replace your countertop stone, you can decide on an affordable countertop stone.

What kind of countertops do you like?
Do you plan to use one of these in your next project?
Which one is your favorite stone for kitchen countertops?


Feel free to comment!
For further discussion, contact The Premier Builder Group. Gordon Grigg– Founder and CEO of the company, has helped multiple people in their kitchen architecture and design.

Have a free consultation with us to discuss the different choices for your kitchen countertops.