Choosing which stone is best for your kitchen in Denver, Colorado can be challenging. Stone kitchen countertops have been popular for decades due to their beauty and inherent luxury. With so many different types of stone countertops on the market, though, it can be tough to choose the right one.
Choosing the wrong surface means risking damage to your countertop. At Colorado Marble & Granite, we aim to help you avoid such costly mistakes. In this article we’ll take a close look at the various types of kitchen stone countertops on the market and the lifestyles they are best suited for.
Quartzite Countertops
Quartzite is a metamorphic rock that forms when sandstone rich in quartz gets subjected to a process known as metamorphism. If you’re interested in the more granular geological details of this process, check out this article.
For the purposes of this piece, however, the important thing to note is that quartzite and quartz as they relate to countertops are two different things. Read our head-to-head comparison here.
Quartzite is a very hard substance, which makes it resistant to scratches. While looks are subjective, quartzite is also generally considered aesthetically pleasing.
However, quartzite is also porous. As a result, you need to seal it as often as twice yearly, which is a costly inconvenience. If you don’t reseal the surface, it will collect stains. This is a common thread among natural stone kitchen countertops.
Marble Countertops
Marble is another metamorphic rock. Its stellar good looks have made it a popular luxury building material for centuries. It comes with some significant downsides. Marble is expensive both upfront and in the long run. Cheaper variants may contain imperfections such as veining that doesn’t line up. As with most types of natural stone, you also need to reseal marble regularly to prevent stains.
Regardless of how well you care for a marble countertop, it will develop a patina over time. Marble is highly absorbent, with one common discoloring factor being the oils on your skin. Depending on how the surface ages, this patina may be uneven. Because of this, if you want a countertop that will look as good as new for the long haul, marble is likely not for you.
Granite Countertops
Granite countertops were all the rage not that long ago. They were the go-to surfaces for people designing luxury kitchens. This is no longer the case, for many reasons that we explore in detail here.
Here’s a quick summary. Because granite was so desirable over a period of several decades, it became commonplace. The stone’s limited aesthetic options caused it to eventually fall out of favor with designers and homeowners looking to create unique kitchens.
When you combine this with granite’s need for frequent resealing, it’s not hard to see why consumers have moved on.
Onyx Countertops
Onyx is an exotic countertop material. It is a “banded” rock, meaning it contains strips of varying colors and textures that are produced by different mineral concentrations. The result is a countertop that looks very unique with an avant-garde pattern.
However, Onyx surfaces are even more difficult to maintain of than other types of natural stone kitchen countertops. The material can be very soft and often requires reinforcing materials to make it feasible as a countertop material. When you combine this need for increased care with onyx’s rarity, you end up with a very expensive countertop.
Soapstone Countertops
Soapstone is yet another type of metamorphic rock, this time composed primarily of talc. It sets itself apart from other types of natural stone in a few ways, one of which is its nonporous nature. This makes it less likely to stain. You also don’t need to seal soapstone regularly but rather just apply oil to it.
Soapstone is very soft, however. This makes it more susceptible to scratches, dents, and chips. You also don’t have a whole lot of options when it comes to colors and patterns. With soapstone, you’re limited to shades of white and black.
Now that we’ve explored the various natural types of stone countertops and their downsides (namely their susceptibility to staining), let’s look at why quartz, also known as engineered stone, is the best option.
Why is Quartz Good for Kitchen Countertops?
Natural stone kitchen countertops cost you both upfront and over the long haul due to their high maintenance requirements. Engineered stone kitchen countertops, on the other hand, require minimal maintenance. The surface is nonporous, which means that quartz countertops never need sealing and can easily last a lifetime with normal cleaning.
Quartz vs. Natural Stone: Aesthetics
What really seals the deal for quartz is the wide range of aesthetic options that it offers. Caesarstone surfaces are made using a combination of loose quartz, resins, and pigments. Our designers are able to formulate these elements to produce surfaces that resemble a variety of materials, including natural stones like marble.
This is a key consideration to keep in mind when choosing between quartz and natural stone. With quartz, you get a surface that looks very similar to natural stone but is more durable and cost-effective in the long run.
Summary
If you follow these steps, you should be able to find a countertop fabricator in Denver who meets your needs and provides quality work. Of course we hope you allow Colorado Marble & Granite to provide a free consultation to discuss your project including design & types of stone.
Kindly give us a call or shoot us a note so we can discuss your project!
(303) 777-4242
info@coloradomarble.com
Ann at Colorado Granite did a fantastic and very timely job when I was in a bind for a rental property. They picked up the piece from Floor and Decor, cut the piece to length, had to do a ton of shimming because of my bad carpentry, installed it. They also cut off an inch from the back splash for logistical reasons and installed that too. See the photos. The price was totally reasonable. Would recommend all day.
We had an out of state contractor working on our house for only a few week. Ann rushed our order so the granite could be installed while our contractor was still here. Our kitchen counter turned out beautiful! I really appreciate all of the time and effort Ann put in to work with our short schedule, and make everything go so smoothly. Over all Colorado Marble & Granite did a excellent job! I would use them again in a heartbeat!
Colorado Marble installed granite for me personally on three projects in my house, including my kitchen most recently. Professionally, I am a handyman, and they are always my first recommendation for custom granite. Thank You!
Very reliable people here! The communication is great, pricing is excellent, and quality of work is amazing. Everything you can ask for! I have now had several projects done with them, and whether they are doing the installation, or a sink addition to he countertop, or a custom counter addition, you can’t go wrong. I value shops I can reliable go to every time, so as long as everything remains the same I will keep coming here every time!
