Stone countertops are the perfect solution for both the kitchen and bathroom. The stone is much more robust, more resistant to mechanical damage, moisture, and temperature, which allows it to be used for much longer. A properly impregnated stone countertop is also easier to keep clean than a classic veneer countertop.
Stone kitchen countertops
The choice of natural stone for a kitchen countertop depends on the customer’s preferences. In a modern kitchen, rocks like granite, porphyry, basalt, and in special cases, marble and travertine (the latter two are less resistant to dirt) are perfect.
Vast possibilities of stone processing allow achieving a variety of effects. The appropriate sandblasting method will give a unique shade, and additional polishing and impregnation of the proper glow will give the kitchen a unique look.
Lightly polished stone makes the worktop always shining clean.
In classic interiors are better-suited stone countertops with a slightly polished surface without a shine. Such countertops are suitable for kitchens in the English or French country style; You can combine unpolished stone with brick accessories and delicate wooden accessories.
Conglomerate and engineered quartz are also becoming popular in kitchen countertops. The conglomerate is a combination of quartz and additional substances that improve the stone’s properties. The engineered quartz is crushed granite rocks with the addition of clays, feldspar fluxes, and dyes. Thus, a natural and durable countertop is obtained, often reinforced with a special mesh. Conglomerate and engineered quartz, unlike natural stone, are distinguished by a wide range of colors and natural depth of color.
Stone bathroom countertops
The choice of decorative stone for the bathroom allows you to create a unique composition. The right combination of walls, floor, countertop, and plumbing with stone elements will satisfy even the most demanding customer.
Thanks to their properties, stone countertops are perfect for the bathroom. High resistance to moisture, temperature, and dirt are the essential advantages of stone countertops used in the bathroom. Thanks to this, there is no need to worry that over time the countertop will “swell” from moisture, burn when we put the hot straightener aside, or that persistent and unpleasant yellow stains will remain from cosmetics.
Why choose stone countertops?
Stone countertops have many features to enhance their usefulness, especially in areas with heavy use, such as the kitchen and bathroom. The stone, being naturally hard and resistant to mechanical damage, the stone serves for many years without replacing damaged elements. Also resistant to heat, will not be damaged or discolored. So you don’t have to worry when you put a hot pot on it.
Before installation, each countertop is also impregnated with the appropriate chemicals. Thus, a protective layer is formed on the countertop’s surface, penetrating microcracks in the stone and providing additional protection. Conglomerate and engineered stone are equally stable, and they acquire high strength already at the stage of mixing and pressing. The stone is also a hostile environment for bacteria, which prevents them from overgrowing and limiting their lifespan. Therefore, you do not need to use potent cleaning agents to maintain proper cleanliness.
Natural stone also has disadvantages. When decorating a room using stone countertops, you have to consider the weight of the stone. You don’t have to choose worktops thicker than 2–3 cm, as they will be too heavy and require a particular supporting structure that takes up a lot of space. However, if we want the countertop to look thicker in the project, you can use edge spacers that mimic the countertop’s side or use a lighter conglomerate.
How to clean stone countertops?
Natural stone is resistant to many external factors, including stains. Therefore, whether it is an underutilized stone countertop in the bathroom or a frequently used stone countertop in the kitchen, it will last for years. However, you should take proper care.
There you can use only water for the daily maintenance of the stone countertop.
After each use, wipe with a soft cloth dampened with water and then pat dry. In this way, you will get rid of most of the dirt.
However, if the stone on the countertop is contaminated with, for example, grease, you have to wash it with a mild detergent such as soap. When cleaning stone countertops, do not use brushes, steel wool, or strong chemicals as they will scratch the stone’s surface and erase its color.
If there is stubborn dirt, it is best to contact a professional cleaning company to find suitable cleaning methods that will remove the dirt without destroying the stone.
It is also recommended to renew the impregnation of the countertop approximately every 5-7 years. You can do this yourself by taking appropriate measures, but if you are concerned about damaging your countertop, it is best to contact the company that installed it.
Stone countertops colors
The right stone will work anywhere – in the kitchen or the bathroom. Natural stone comes in many different colors. The most common granite colors are ok: gray, light gray, sometimes almost white, white-pink, green, red, and dark gray. On the other hand, depending on the type, porphyry can be white, gray, greenish, reddish, brownish, pinkish, yellowish, brown, and even black.
In the case of engineered stone and conglomerates, the color depends only on the imagination, because during production, it is possible to add any dye of any color.
