Educate
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.
Quartzite picks up where sandstone leaves off. It’s a metamorphic rock – one that’s been baked into an extra-tough stone by the heat and pressure that only comes from deep burial way down in Earth’s crust.
A strong trend in home design is adding texture to vertical surfaces, such as fireplaces and backsplash. Stacked Stone is a three-dimensional veneer is made of cut pieces of natural stone that are attached to a backing and installed like tile.
Sandstone, by the most basic definition, is any stone that’s made mostly of sand-sized pieces that have been stuck together into a solid rock. That loose definition leaves a lot of room for variation.
Going top to bottom in high-end natural stone may not be within reach for some, but that doesn’t mean they can’t add high-end touches to their designs and give their rooms a touch of luxe with these inexpensive interior design ideas.
Bluestone is a fine-grained sandstone from Pennsylvania and New York, characterized by its grey-blue color—but it’s not always blue.