Originally Published on www.cectops.com

When you think of natural stone countertops, marble and granite are probably the only surfaces that come to your mind. However, there are many more options! For example, soapstone and quartzite are other natural stone surfaces that make great choices for countertops in the kitchen or bath. Natural stone is a classic choice for countertops because of their one-of-a-kind beauty and ease of care. Here is an overview of natural stone and some into depth information on its benefits.

Benefits:

Since natural stone comes from mother nature, each slab is unique with different shade variations, fissures, cracks, chips, pits, and pores. Don’t let this scare you away! This is what makes natural stone so beautiful! Some other great qualities of natural stone are how resistant it is. Natural stone is resistant to scratches, bacteria, stains, heat, and can be used for outdoor spaces. Depending on what finish you choose, it can alter the overall look and resistance of your countertops.

Finishes:

Finishes are the last step of the fabrication process before your slab gets delivered and installed in your home. Depending on your design tastes you can choose if you want your countertops to be smooth, textured, glossy, or have little to no shine and you achieve this is by the finish.

Polished: To achieve semi-gloss to high-gloss on your surface, polished is the way to go. Stains are less likely to occur on polished countertops, but a potential downfall to having a high shine surface is that scratches are easier to see.
Honed: Honed is a very popular finish for marble and creates a smooth, velvety, matte look. The benefit of having a honed surface is that scratches are difficult to see, but this makes the surface more susceptible to stains.

Care:

Caring for natural stone is simple. You should wipe it daily after use and clean spills with a soft cloth using mild soap and warm water. For more stubborn stains a nonabrasive bristled brush can be used. Always remember to use hot pads, trivets, cutting boards, placemats, and coasters to protect your surface from discoloration, scratches, and staining.

Applications:

Natural stone can be incorporated in many areas of your home. The most common places are for natural stone to be placed in the kitchens and bathrooms as countertops, but natural stone can be used in outdoor kitchens, as fireplace surrounds, flooring, backsplash and so much more.

Natural stone is art and can be admired in many areas of your home. It’s time to add mother nature’s greatest masterpiece into your home with Cutting Edge Countertops.

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