Natural stone plays a prominent role in many kitchen remodels. When selecting a stone for new countertops, color, pattern, and beauty are typically the first things considered. While these are important to the look of your kitchen, here are three questions featured in an article on Use Natural Stone’s website by Megy Karydes to consider when choosing a stone for your kitchen project.
1. How Will the Stone Perform?
When considering natural stone for a kitchen project, the most important question to ask is about the porosity of the natural stone you want to use. It is important to know this as it will dictate how easy the stone will be to maintain.
Anna Gibson, AKBD, owner and chief designer of AKG Design Studio, a firm that provides curated kitchen and bathroom design services for the DC metro area, agrees that it’s important to know how a stone will perform. She recommends marble for bakers since it is an ideal surface for rolling out dough. She often recommends that busy families consider natural stone such as granite or quartzite for its durability and low maintenance. “We had a client whose dog tends to jump on the counters,” Gibson said. “We went with quartzite.”
2. How Durable is the Stone?
Another important thing to consider is the stone’s durability. The type of natural stone you choose in a kitchen will dictate how you live in the space. Some homeowners may think the fact that they use their kitchens and are hard on their countertops means that they shouldn’t choose natural stone.
A natural stone offers depth that synthetic material, no matter how well-made, can never mimic. In addition to the material’s durability, the craftsmanship of the quarrier, fabricator, and installer can shine through the material, which isn’t possible with a synthetic product.
3. How Thick is the Natural Stone Slab & What Type of Finish Is Preferred?
Finally, in addition to the density and strength of the stone, you should consider the thickness of the slab. Homeowners should also think about what type of finish they prefer. Honed or leathered finishes are growing in popularity for light-colored stones because they tend to disguise etch marks.
In the end, many people are drawn to natural stone because it is unique and one of a kind. No slab is like the other, which means you will always have a one-of-a-kind kitchen. Regardless of which surface you choose, we can help you make an informed decision so the stone you select is perfect for your kitchen and lifestyle. For more information, make an appointment at 502-315-5110 to visit our team of stone experts and view our large selection of beautiful in-stock countertop slabs in the stone yard.
If after considering the characteristics of natural stone you feel that quartz might be a better alternative, we can help with that too! Look for our upcoming article about buying quartz countertops in a few weeks.
To view the complete article by Megy Karydes, click here.
