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Different Kinds of Natural Stone

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Granite

Pulled from the earth in giant monolithic blocks, granite is the oldest, strongest, and hardest stone available. Due to this combination of strength and beauty, granite has become one of the most highly regarded materials for countertop. Take into account its sturdiness, broad color range, and abundant options in size and finish, and you have the perfect stone for bestowing a rich elegance in any kitchen. Granite-Countertop-2Granites innate quality to stand up under the most dramatic abuse is unmatched. RoomScene-Beige-Marble-LImestone-15Whether it’s in its capacity to withstand hot spots and pans placed directly upon its surface or the ability to survive as a cutting board under the assault of the sharpest knives, you’ll admire its durability and resilience. Feel free to make a mess, granite is for giving. Originally granite was available only in large slabs, limiting affordability to those with a sizable budget. Fortunately it has become a luxury that most homeowners ca now enjoy because when budget constraints prohibit the purchase of an entire slab, scaling back to the tile format can still ensure the same look and strength at a savings of nearly 50 percent! Proven to evoke and stimulate specific emotions, color sets the mood ns style within a space. From exotic blues, deep succulent plums, and romantic shades of red to pale hues of flaxen gold, finding the right shade of flaxen gold, finding the right shade of granite to fit your design needs will not present a problem. Found within this generous color palette are numerous surface patterns. 1351ProvinceLane-Southlake-TXVarying dramatically from the common and predictable speckled appearance, to the fluid movements of the heavily veined Juparano. No matter what your ultimate choice, it is advisable to inspect your slabs in advance and have a fabricator tag them. Surprises are fun, but not when they involve your expensive countertop. Granite offers considerable latitude in design options due to the wide variety of formats produced. Slabs are cut in thicknesses of 2 centimeter (3/4 inch) and 3 centimeters (1 ¼ inch), as well as custom sizes. Tiles range from 6-inch, 12-inch, 16-inch, 18-inch, to 28-iches square.(see all sizes) When choosing tiles over slabs, consider incorporating the larger size. Minimizing rout joints with result in a more slab like appearance. Texture contributes significantly to the overall perception of the granite’s surface. A part from the easily recognizable and highly popular polished, finishes include honed, flamed, and brushed. Each finish makes its own individual statement. The sleek polished finish is frequently perceived as elegant and formal, in contrast to the honed, which is generally viewed as casual or contemporary. The flamed finish is most often seen as industrial, while brushed exudes sensuality. Don’t assume that the look of the granite will remain the same when the surface texture is altered. Request a sample in the finish that you are considering, as the finishing process will often change the outward appearance. Inherent to granite is a large internal pore structure which causes it to be susceptible to staining, a fact that may come as a surprise to many. Opinions regarding its care vary. Some fabricators seal granite with a penetrating sealer, while other recommend routine maintenance with mineral oil. Yet another popular view is to let the stone breathe without any sealer, allowing stains to vanish naturally within the deep pore system over time.

Marble

Since early civilianization, marble has held the distinction and preference as the raw material for the world’s greatest works of art and the bones of architectural masterpieces. Its name alone conjures up images of opulence, wealth, and extravagance. With its rich color tones, mirror like finish, and dramatic veining, marble conveys the ultimate feeling of elegance and formality to any kitchen. Similar in value to granite in its slab and tile format, marble is a top-of-the-line stone and therefore this quality is reflected in its price. Cost can vary greatly from one source to the next, and while home centers may offer lower tile prices than smaller design shops (due to their ability to purchase in bulk), your available choices may be limited. Variations in quality must be noted as well. If possible, determine whether the stone you plan to purchase is first class (select) or commercial grade. RoomScene-Beige-Marble-LImestone-13The selection offers few, if any imperfections.The shades of color within the marble family are extraordinary, ranging from creamy neutrals and subtle earth tones to jade greens, tawny browns, and scarlet reds. Combining there colors with distinctive accents, borders, and patterns creates a options, marble is available in both 2 – and 3- centimeter slabs as well as the full range of tile sizes. Once again, opting will give you a more seamless appearance. In spite of its quintessential beauty, this stone choice will surely cause headaches if maintaining its polish is a priority. It is important to become familiar with marble’s negative aspects before deciding if this is the best countertop material for you. Due to its porosity and tendency toward staining, marble requires kid gloves to maintain its original mirror like finish. Sealing will ensure that offensive fluids are note absorbed, however one spill of an acidic liquid will instantly produce a dull etched spot, in most cases, a professional will need to be hired to restore the original finish. If you love the look of marble, but don’t want to be concerned with etching, choose the honed finish.

Slate

This stone exudes a warmth and texture that is second to none. Slate’s versatility ca n be interpreted as log-cabin rustic or sleek cosmopolitan-contemporary depending on it’s neighboring design elements. Surface texture stems from the composition of shale and clay as well as the method by which it is quarried. Splitting slate from the mountain by hand allows it to separate naturally into uneven sheets, which separate naturally into uneven sheets, which results in its characteristic cleft surface. Surprisingly, this majestic stone can be relatively inexpensive.CremaMarfilHomepage A typical slate slab will be comparable in price to that of an inexpensive granite slab. The tile format however, which ranges from the smallest mosaic to enormous 2-foot tiles, ill often cost less than many ceramics. Once can almost envision the creative manes of colors this stone embodies, such as Indian autumn, California gold, china lotus, violet garden, sea green, coper. Rust, and earth (just to name a few)(see all). Exotic, colorful slate is imported form overseas, as its domestic cousin has a tendency to remain in the less that exciting shades of somber gray, green, and plum, Africa, china, and south America produce some of the most dramatic and vivid colors. It is not uncommon for plant fossils to be found on the slate’s surface. When discovered, set aside these naturally artistic pieces of use as the focal point of your design. Options for assorted surface finishes and texture and add to the versatility of this stone. They include natural cleft, honed calibrated, and polished. Slate is available in the standard square tile format as well as tumbled, guillotine cut, mosaic, and random flagging.Employed as a countertop, slate is exceptionally dens and strong, acidic substance will not harm its surface and once sealed it remains virtually maintenance.