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As climate change impacts communities throughout the world, architects, designers, and environmentally conscious homeowners are more often choosing building materials like natural stone that have low embodied carbon and energy.

Engineered quartz and natural quartzite are both popular choices for countertops, backsplashes, bathrooms, and more. Here’s a quick and handy reference for understanding where they come from, what they’re made of, and how they differ.

It can be difficult to find reliable information about the practical properties of different types of countertop surfaces. In a quest to bring more data-driven information to the countertop industry, this article offers side-by-side performance testing of four categories of materials.

Aesthetic qualities and price are often the first criteria used to make countertop and flooring selections. But have you considered if each material is eco-friendly? A material’s life cycle should be considered during your home design and renovation projects.

Minerals are the components of all natural stones. The color of every natural stone, whether it’s jet black, glittery silver, or a kaleidoscope of Technicolor – comes from the individual minerals. Read more in this handy guide to the ingredients of your favorite natural stone.

Thought should be given to countertop material’s durability, maintenance, sustainability, and cost. Let’s take a comparative look at some of these issues before making a decision.

Soapstone is versatile and can be incorporated into a wide variety of designs. It has remained a go-to countertop material due to its long-known physical properties and classic old-world aesthetic.

Many people are curious about the differences between natural stone and manufactured surfaces, and my approach is always the same: be wary of marketing claims, learn as much as you can, understand the properties, and be informed.

Is quartz natural stone? Our geologist analyzed samples from several different quartz manufacturers. Sort fact from fiction using real scientific data to prove performance statistics.

Quartzite has been gaining in popularity as a countertop material in the past few years. With a look similar to marble and a durability comparable to granite, this natural stone seems to have it all.

By experimenting on stone samples, you’ll not only gather key bits of information, but you’ll also gain confidence in the real-world attributes of various stones.

ANSI/NSC373, the stone industry’s sustainability certification.

One of the most important steps in caring for marble is preventing stains and etches. Prevent etching and stains by religiously using cutting boards, trivets, and coasters.

Preparing for a kitchen remodel may seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are some tips on how to navigate the planning of your kitchen remodel.

Bookmatched slabs sometimes look like butterflies, or Rorschach (inkblot) tests, or many other fanciful shapes. Bar none, bookmatched slabs are one of the most dramatic and impressive ways to use natural stone.

Restoring your stone can bring it back to the look and luster it had when it was originally installed. Part of the beauty of natural stone is that the process can be repeated without worry so you can enjoy your investment for a lifetime.

A bit of geology can shed light on why or where we’d want to use a given stone. Geology also helps us appreciate that every slab of stone offers a little glimpse into deep time and the dramatic forces that shape the planet.

A fabricator is the craftsman who turns a rough slab into a finished product. While it’s important to choose the right material, you also need to find the right stone fabricator.

Once you’ve come to terms with soapstone’s softness, you can revel in its strengths. Soapstone is remarkably resistant to staining or damage from acids. The density of the stone makes it practically impervious.

The leftover materials from fabrication or construction are known as remnants. There are many different ways to address this issue and many advantages to identifying and using natural stone remnants in a project.