If it is a question of refreshing or renovating one’s home, it is a very stressful process that requires an enormous number of details to be determined and adapted to each other. Choosing the right material for the countertops is one of the most important details in that process.
Due to the large number of different materials, textures, surface treatments, color shades, thicknesses and more, it is very easy to get lost in that matter.
That post is written to simplify that process by presenting five different factors one should consider when choosing materials.
Stone countertops – a classic choice for kitchens, bathrooms or other spaces in your home!
In Stone Depot USA’s range there are mainly four different types of stone: natural granite and marble, as well as the artificial stones quartz and Brown marble stones.
You can read more about these four different types of stone in our other blog posts, however, in this post we want to present five different factors you should consider when choosing a type of stone.
Where and for what purpose will you use your stone Countertops?
A more important question than the price of the worktop is for what purpose the worktop will be used. Choosing the optimal type of stone depends very much on whether you want to install it in the bathroom, kitchen, as a window sill, table top or as a floor around the stove. In addition, you should think about how regularly the surface will be used.
All of this affects what properties the stone should have in order to last a long time in your home and your kitchen countertops. In areas such as kitchens countertops and bathrooms where the intensity of use is likely to be higher, it is most important to prefer resistance to water and stains. And if the surfaces are used less, the appearance and finish may be more important.
A good example is: a family with small children probably uses the kitchen counter not only for cooking, but also for feeding the children, doing homework and other activities that increase the wear and tear. With such intensity of use, it is very important that the worktop is resistant to scratches, easy to maintain, as well as resistant to stains and high temperatures. The best stone for such requirements is quartz, which has precisely the above-mentioned properties.
How to Planning for right stone for countertops
However, if the worktops are used to a lesser extent and its main function is to be a beautiful interior detail, elegant materials such as marble are an excellent choice.
If you are planning to renovate your home to prepare it for sale, it is best to focus on the practical, but also on the visual – then magnificent stones such as granite are the best.
Compared to other types of stone, the more expensive Brown is a good choice if you want to combine all the above-mentioned properties: an incredible resistance, a beautiful appearance and a long durability.
The desired stone thickness and surface treatment.
Before starting to evaluate the properties of other stone slabs, it is important to determine what thickness is necessary for the planned slabs.
Natural stones such as marble and granite are generally less flexible in terms of thickness and are available in 20mm and 30mm sizes. It is difficult to make them thinner or thicker. Some individual stone types are also available with a matte or flamed finish. For an additional cost, all stones can be surface treated, but this increases its price considerably.
Quartz, on the other hand, is a step forward and is usually available in different thicknesses (20mm and 30mm) and they often come with different surface treatment choices (e.g. matt, polished). Quartz is available in both monochrome minimalist styles, as well as bold patterns.
Brown is the most flexible of the four, its standard thicknesses are 20mm and 30mm, but they are also available in thicknesses of 8mm and 12mm. In case of similar requests, send us a separate message and we will try to find a solution.
Characteristics of the slab – an endless dilemma between price, durability and beauty.
It is inevitable that usually, the greater the demands you have on the slab, the more expensive it will be.
Granite is a natural stone that is fairly hard and durable, however it needs maintenance to avoid stains. Absolute black granite usually has a classic appearance, is either light or dark and does not have extravagant patterns in the texture. Black granite is the right choice for countertops.
Therefore, it is a perfect stone if you value permanence, minimalism and reasonable prices. In addition to kitchens and bathrooms, granite is also used as window sills, on terraces or on stairs – all thanks to its natural beauty and relatively high hardness.
Marble is a stone that emphasizes the natural beauty and patterns and also has a reasonable price, however it needs the most maintenance. Due to its sensitivity to water and stains, it is not the most practical choice for kitchens, which are used regularly for various activities.
Choose the right natural stone for countertops
Despite this, the Fantasy brown marble is one of the most popular stones in our range. Marble is perfect for bathrooms with underfloor heating, which keeps the floor dry and dries the floor if water gets there from other surfaces.
Quartz is an extremely hard artificial stone, which is very resistant to high temperatures, stains, scratches and liquids, and is available in different shades and with different patterns: from very minimalist single-colored stones to colorful stones with strong patterns.
Since quartz is an artificial stone, it may mean that it is a bit more expensive than marble and granite, but on the other hand, you can be sure that its pattern will not change over time thanks to a long shelf life.
Brown Marble stones have been in the Stone Depot USA range since 1984 and they are even more durable than quartz. Brown’s advantage over quartz is that it can withstand extreme temperature changes, both low minus degrees, as well as high plus degrees, and thanks to this, Browns is a good choice for outdoor environments.
In addition, it is available in stone tiles in special dimensions (up to 3170x1420mm) with which you can carry out huge projects where you will possibly need to use fixing points.
How the disc fits with the rest of the décor.
Regardless of the type of stone slab you order, it is extremely important to look around. When choosing the type and shade of the stone slab, you should consider that it should harmonize with the surroundings.
The most important thing is, of course, that the worktop matches the kitchen cabinets, but you should also take into account other things in the surroundings, such as window sills, floor tiles or other floor material, as well as the type of furniture that already exists or is planned in the interior.
If any of these things are not finally decided when ordering, we recommend that you print similar images, then you can consult with an on-site representative about the appropriate stone selection.
The final price of the slab – the main factor!
How much you want to spend on your slab is an important question to consider when looking for the type of stone that best suits your needs. It is also worth taking into account that different types of stone have different maintenance costs and guarantees. More expensive materials such as Calacatta’s quartz stones and Brown marble stones such as fantasy brown come with a long-term warranty from the manufacturer.
