Suitability of Stone Countertops in the Kitchen

Today’s trend of using a softer looking honed finish has opened up the use of many previously unacceptable stone surfaces with their diverse colors and veining patterns.
            With these new possibilities, there comes new maintenance requirements. 
            Granite and its cousin Quartzite are still worry free, requiring only an initial sealing with an impregnating sealer to prevent absorption stains.  They can then be maintained with soap & water.  Extreme cleaning can be done with scrub pads, fine steel wool or even a razor blade without harming the stone.
            Marble with its calcitic cousins Travertine, Onyx and Limestone, should only be used in a kitchen with a “Honed” finish.  Sealing will prevent most absorption stains but does not protect the surface. Acids in food and drink, if not removed promptly, can chemically etch the calcite and leave marks in the surface.  With the honed finish, minor etches can be rubbed out with an abrasive cleaner such as COMET.  Deeper scratches may first need some light sanding. Periodic re-sealing is recommended.  This simply is a wipe on wipe off procedure. 
            Marble is simply limestone that has undergone pressure in the earth and crystallized to a harder state.  Un-crystallized limestone will be easier to scratch and should not be used in an area that a pristine appearance is desired.
            Serpentine “Marbles”, Sandstones, Slates and Soapstone do not contain calcium and are not subject to the same etching problems.  The serpentine and sandstone should be sealed.  Slate and Soapstone can be sealed or oiled with Mineral Oil. 
            Marble counter tops have been used extensively in banks, hotels and in European homes for centuries and have developed a fine “Patina” finish without the need of modern cleaners and sealers. Care should be taken when selecting your stone as to what amount of care or wear that you will be comfortable with.

Suitability of Stone Countertops in the Kitchen

Today’s trend of using a softer looking honed finish has opened up the use of many previously unacceptable stone surfaces with their diverse colors and veining patterns.

            With these new possibilities, there comes new maintenance requirements. 

            Granite and its cousin Quartzite are still worry free, requiring only an initial sealing with an impregnating sealer to prevent absorption stains.  They can then be maintained with soap & water.  Extreme cleaning can be done with scrub pads, fine steel wool or even a razor blade without harming the stone.

            Marble with its calcitic cousins Travertine, Onyx and Limestone, should only be used in a kitchen with a “Honed” finish.  Sealing will prevent most absorption stains but does not protect the surface. Acids in food and drink, if not removed promptly, can chemically etch the calcite and leave marks in the surface.  With the honed finish, minor etches can be rubbed out with an abrasive cleaner such as COMET.  Deeper scratches may first need some light sanding. Periodic re-sealing is recommended.  This simply is a wipe on wipe off procedure. 

            Marble is simply limestone that has undergone pressure in the earth and crystallized to a harder state.  Un-crystallized limestone will be easier to scratch and should not be used in an area that a pristine appearance is desired.

            Serpentine “Marbles”, Sandstones, Slates and Soapstone do not contain calcium and are not subject to the same etching problems.  The serpentine and sandstone should be sealed.  Slate and Soapstone can be sealed or oiled with Mineral Oil. 

            Marble counter tops have been used extensively in banks, hotels and in European homes for centuries and have developed a fine “Patina” finish without the need of modern cleaners and sealers. Care should be taken when selecting your stone as to what amount of care or wear that you will be comfortable with.

Soapstone

Soapstone is a lot like leather.  You decide the tone of these countertops. Whether you want them to have a new DANIA type look; or let them accumulate patina w/an antiqued ANTHROPOLOGIE charm.

Each slab looks slighty different

Blocks of stone, are similar to a loaf of bread. When they cut a block out from the quarry, they slice them into slabs. So each “heel” (ends of the block), will look the most different. Here’s a good example of a vein moving through the block. The parenthesis indicate the slabs that are bookmatched (mirror image).

Marble/Limestone as a Kitchen Countertop

You can have softer stones (marble, limestone, travertine) in your kitchen, however we recommend them having a honed finish. That way if anything acidic (tomato, coffee, lemon etc) won’t etch as easily. If it had a polish finish, the acid would dull the surface where it was spilled, if not cleaned up right away. With a honed finish, if you accumulate scratches or stains, you can actually remove them yourself with comet/bon ami. Because its a light abrasive and a natural poultice (brings up stains). The travertine on the other hand is honed; however it is a lot more porous (stains easier) than most stones, even if you seal it. They both have been used before, its just a matter of a patina that would accumulate over time. Basically if you like rustic, that’s exactly what you will achieve :-)

Marble vs Quartz

Check the comparison between Marble Stone (natural) & Engineered Stone (fake). And to wrap your head around that the fake stuff is twice as expensive… What?! Okay, so the engineered doesn’t scratch, but you still have to seal it or it will stain. I would rather have a scratch in my marble, than have something that I spent a fortune on, look like IKEA! Lol…

Natural Marble w/ Charisma

Fake Engineered Stone w/a cold blank feeling