Your kitchen is the heart (or stomach!) of your home. As a result, you spend a lot of time in your kitchen, whether it’s preparing meals or gathering with family and friends. This means when considering installing a new countertop, it’s essential to consider which countertop best fits your style, is aesthetically pleasing, and is functional for use.
Quartz Countertops
Quartz countertops are a stylish choice. With many new colors and designs coming to market, various options can complement the rest of your kitchen seamlessly. Quartz countertops may be an excellent option if you enjoy a more cohesive look since they are manufactured. It will be more uniform and consistent in its appearance than the other natural stone countertops on this list. That being said, Quartz is commonly available in a broader range of colors that do offer the look of natural stone and can imitate granite or marble countertops. Quartz is a mixture of stone-like material bound with resin. Due to how Quartz is made, it can check many of the boxes that people look for in countertops. Countertops need to be durable, easy to clean and maintain and be attractive. Quartz countertops are all of these. Quartz is less prone to chipping and denting due to its flexibility, requires little maintenance, and is relatively easy to wipe clean with a damp towel. Quartz is an excellent option for a highly durable, easy to maintain, and visually pleasing countertop.
Quartzite Countertops
Quartzite is a countertop that has gained traction for the sophisticated look that it can bring to a kitchen, bringing a similar aesthetic to marble. While it sounds like it could be identical to Quartz from its name, it is a different material. Quartzite countertops are generally found in shades ranging from white to gray and will have veining due to their natural formation. While quartzite is a relatively hard stone, it is less dense than Quartz but generally more durable than granite or marble. As a natural stone, quartzite requires more maintenance than a manufactured countertop option such as Quartz. You must seal it regularly to increase its longevity and prevent stains from penetrating the stone. If the stone is adequately sealed, you can perform cleaning efficiently. Quartzite’s durability, relatively easy maintenance, and ability to provide a luxurious look make this countertop material a great option.
Marble Countertops
Marble is a beloved and timeless material that people choose for their countertops to make a statement and elevate their kitchen. With marble being a natural stone, no two slabs are the same, ensuring that your kitchen will be unique with this beautiful countertop option! While marble is commonly seen in its gray and white form, different colors can appear in marble: black, gray, yellow, pink, gold, and green. These color variations can add to the uniqueness of the piece of marble you choose for your countertops. Marble is known to fall on the higher end of prices and has a reputation for being higher maintenance. Marble is not very heat resistant, can scratch easily, and even chip when hit with something heavy.
Additionally, it’s essential to be mindful when preparing any acidic foods that can cause damage to the marble. Marble is a bit needier in terms of care as well. Like quartzite, marble needs to be regularly sealed to prevent stains from penetrating the stone. With marble, sometimes it can be best to embrace its imperfections that may occur, such as chipping, as its flaws are where its character comes from.
Granite Countertops
Granite countertops are rich and beautiful and can command attention as the centerpiece of a kitchen. With the various colors it can be found in, from Alaska White Granite to Nordic Black Granite, granite can complement many different kitchen styles. As another purely natural stone, granite’s minerals and colors will appear differently, with each slab bringing uniqueness. Granite also requires sealing when it is installed and periodically after. When not appropriately sealed, as a porous stone, granite can be stained permanently. Overall, granite does take regular wear and tear well and can also take high heat without being damaged, meaning you can set a hot pan from the oven onto it, and it will not damage it. Granite is an excellent option for its timeless appeal and overall durability.
When choosing a countertop, there is a lot to take into consideration. Overall it would help if you considered which material works best for your lifestyle and ultimately bring your kitchen vision to life.
For help choosing the best countertop to fit your lifestyle, visit CTC tile store in Reno, Nevada today.