GRANITE
Because granite is so hard, it resists scratching, chipping, and discoloration due to heat, making it ideally suited for countertops in your home. It can be used in virtually any application in your home, including kitchens, baths, bars and fireplaces.
Because granite is a natural product, there are an almost endless array of colors and patterning available. Some display small crystals that are uniform and consistent throughout the slab, while others show elegantly flowing movement or large, random crystallization patterns.
Granite now comes in several different finishes, including, polished, honed, leather-ed, antiqued, flamed, and brushed.
MARBLE
Marble is composed of calcite, making it relatively soft. Pure marble is almost entirely white though it can vary in color from white to black. Impurities such as silica, iron oxide and graphite give it its characteristic rich veining, clouding and color. Because marble forms under varying degrees of heat and pressure, it exhibits a broad range of denseness and hardness.
Marble is typically specified for use in baths and as fireplace surrounds due to its relative softness. Generally, marble is not suitable for kitchens because it does scratch and chip easier than granite or quartz. However, because marble develops a patina as it ages in the home, it can make beautiful “old world” looking kitchen countertops.
QUARTZ
Engineered stone is 93% quartz material, with the remainder being a mix of resin, glass, dyes, etc. It is a manufactured product that is very hard, and resists scratching, chipping, and staining.It is well suited to the same type of applications as granite; however, it is not suitable for outdoor applications due to its susceptibility to UV light.
There is a broad assortment of colors available, including colors that are not typically found in nature. Because the material is “man-made”, the patterning is uniform and consistent throughout the slab. Engineered quartz comes in polished and honed finishes.
QUARTZITE
Quartzite is a quartz rich sandstone that goes through metamorphism. It’s very hard, scratch resistant, and stain resistant. But annual sealing is still recommended.
Quartzite is quickly becoming a very popular countertop favorite. It resembles the look of marble in its hazy grain like transparency while its movement is similar to granite only less rigid and more smooth.
PORCELAIN
Porcelain countertops are made from ceramic clay, and mineral coloring making it a highly durable, non-porous surface.
Porcelain countertops are extremely durable as they are heat, scratch, and UV resistant which allows the surface to be installed as countertops, cladding, and flooring in both indoors and outdoor applications. Similar to quartz, the surface is non-porous and comes in remarkably realistic designs that mimic natural stone, wood butcher block, and concrete countertops.