The Many Options in Countertops – Virtual Workshop Review

Kelsey Kimble did a fantastic job at our final virtual remodeling workshop for 2020. She covered The Many Options in Countertops including the different material types as well and what will fit best for your lifestyle.

Granite

• Granite is a light-colored igneous rock with grains large enough to be visible with the unaided eye.
• It forms from the slow crystallization of magma below Earth’s surface and is composed mainly of quartz and feldspar.
• It is the most common igneous rock found at Earth’s surface.
• Nearly maintenance-free but needs to be sealed.
• One of the hardest natural stones and almost completely scratch and heat resistant.

Marble

• Marble is a metamorphic rock that forms when limestone is subjected to the heat and pressure of metamorphism to form a unique crystalline structure.
• It occurs in large deposits that can be hundreds of feet thick and geographically extensive.
• Marble is a fairly soft stone and porous meaning it can scratch and stain easily.

Quartz

• Many of you have heard of quartz but what exactly is it?
  • Quartz is a chemical compound consisting of one part silicon and two parts oxygen. It is silicon dioxide (SiO₂).
  • It is one of the most abundant and widely distributed minerals found at Earth’s surface.
  • Quartz is found throughout the world.
  • It was one of the hardest minerals on Earth making it highly resistant to both mechanical and chemical weathering.
• A quartz countertop is not solid quartz
  • It’s about 10% of a polymeric or cement-based binder & 90% crushed up quartz, granite, marble, natural stone, or recycled industrial wase
  • That is why it’s usually referred to as engineered or man-made

Quartzite

• Quartzite is an abundant metamorphic rock. It forms naturally when sandstone is altered by heat and high pressure.
• Found in mountain ranges throughout the world.
• Physically durable (doesn’t scratch or etch) and heat and chemically resistant, harder than granite.
• Quartzite requires sealing so it doesn’t stain.
• A natural product, each slab offers exquisite one-of-a-kind looks to give your countertop a personal signature.

Soapstone

• Also known as steatite, soapstone is a metamorphic rock that is composed primarily of talc, making it relatively soft.
• Soapstone particles are extremely compact (nonporous) which makes it more sanitary and easier to wipe clean. It is more dense quartz, marble, or granite.
• It is among the most heat-resistant stone available, so setting a hot pan on the countertop won’t crack the surface.
• Soapstone darkens over time, so it will eventually develop a distinct patina that some homeowners find appealing and others don’t.

Butcher Block

• Butcher block is made from straight cuts of wood glued together into thick slabs.
• Made from nearly any wood we’ve done a lot of walnut.
• Wood needs to be oil-finished so it can be used for food prep.
• Not ideal near a heavily used sink.

Honorable Mentions

• • Cement

    

  • Laminate

    

  • Glass

    

  • Porcelain

Have fun with your counters!

Counters can be the focal point of your kitchen! No longer do you have to pick just one counter. It’s all a matter of balance. We love mixing materials whether that be an end of butcher block or a granite island and a quartz perimeter. Also, we love playing with colors!

Final Options

• Edges
• Finishes
• There are several options to finish the stone you select depending on the selection you made including honed polished, matte, or brushed.

Thanks, Kelsey for going through these great options. Look for new workshops with new topics in 2021!

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