How do I know which stone or material to use for my new kitchen countertops? Anyone who has or is about to undergo a kitchen renovation asks this very question. Choosing the ‘perfect’ material can be overwhelming. You should enjoy your kitchen countertops, bar or vanity tops, outdoor BBQs, and fireplaces for years to come, so choosing the best fit, function, and style can be incredibly nerve-wracking. Picking the perfect material for your kitchen may be daunting, but consider this: it took a millennium for Mother Nature to create marble, granite, and quartzite. It’s okay to take your time and pick the stone best suited for your kitchen remodel and the perfect slab or sample to convey your style and taste.
Depending on the material, especially natural stones like marble, granite, and quartzite, there is a wide range of choices from color to veining and thickness. It’s essential to consider porosity, durability, and resilience when selecting the right natural or engineered material for your kitchen countertops. Stones like granite, quartz, and quartzite are popular choices for kitchen makeovers. These materials are ideal hard surface options since they resist scratches, cuts, and stains. Therefore, they’re great for high-traffic areas and plenty of home-cooked meals. Depending on usage, some are better than others.
It’s always best to care for your stone countertops, whether natural or engineered. Keep in mind that ‘resistant’ doesn’t mean bullet or stainproof. Always wipe them down after every use, and never use harsh chemicals to clean them. Check out our FAQs and blog resources on our site to learn more about how to care for your kitchen countertops.
So, now that you’ve decided to choose a natural stone like granite or quartzite for your kitchen countertops, how do you determine how many slabs you need? The number of slabs needed for your kitchen countertops is a common question when you narrow down the materials and colors of interest. Price can vary greatly depending on slab selection. Generally, you pay per square footage or the whole slab. You may find more cost-efficient options if it’s an in-stock color rather than placing a custom order. Suppose the stone you select is a custom order slab, or your project requires more material due to size, layout, waste, or cutouts. In such cases, paying for the whole slab or buying an additional slab will be necessary and very common. The amount of material wasted, yes, counterintuitive, may result in higher costs.
An expert fabricator or stone specialist will minimize waste while preserving the flow and continuity of the veining to showcase its natural and inherent beauty. For example, a ‘waterfall’ design displays the stone from across the countertop and side to the floor. The fabricator will cut the slab and align the stone to emulate the vein’s natural flow from the top, moving down to the side, hence its name, waterfall.
Slabs are are always sold intact. ‘Cracks’ are a common concern when selecting the right slab. Are they a sign of weakness or cause the material to break easily? These cracks are actually called fissures, which are tiny hairline separations created when the various rocks, feldspar, minerals, and other natural elements form the stone after numerous heating and cooling cycles in the earth’s quarries (fun fact- There are an estimated 500,000 quarries found worldwide!). These fissures, not cracks, don’t compromise the durability of the slab. Rest assured, there is no need to panic if the slab you fall in love with has them.
At Marbleline, we educate our customers throughout the process to make it enjoyable and seamless. We partner with the best suppliers, including ABC, Nash, MSI, HG Stone, and Global Stone, to name a few. Together, we’ll find the perfect slab or slabs to minimize waste while preserving the beauty your project deserves, transforming your vision into reality.
