Kitchen Countertops

Care for your natural stone the way you would a car that you've purchased. If you want your stone to look the way it did when it first arrived, you'll need to give it a little tune up now and then. If you crash it, you’ll want professional help. Otherwise you should expect it to look great and perform perfectly.

Another concern many have is with etching. Certain natural stones will show matte spots when they encounter common acids, such as those found in fruit, wine, etc. For areas where this might be a concern, there are easy solutions.

If you’d like to use marble and other calcium based stones in areas with higher exposure to such acids, we recommend a honed surface instead of a polished surface, as acid etching generally creates a finish that’s nearly identical to honing, and so will be much harder to spot on honed countertops.

If you must have a polished marble countertop in your kitchen, then do! You’ll want to use trivets, coasters, and other items to protect it with, and if you experience etching, you can spot polish on your own, or bring in an expert to restore the finish. Stone can be restored repeatedly without concern.

Countertops are not meant to be changed with frequency. You’re likely to live with the countertop you select for many years, using it daily, and experiencing it every time you enter the room. It will be a statement about who you are, what you love, and how you see yourself.

Natural stone countertops are unique – no two are exactly alike. They’re drawn from the earth, made by nature, and are durable and beautiful, with a depth and character that – should you choose to allow it – can change over time, evolving with you – or that may be maintained in or restored to a pristine state with relative ease.

They are sanitary surfaces, easily cleaned, and are a primary focal point of most spaces they are installed into. Man-made imitations will never be as unique, beautiful or storied as a slab of real stone, forged by nature, pulled from the earth, sliced and finished into a singular work of natural art. You’ll likely live with your countertops for a long time. Choose a material that you love.

An etched, lightly stained, scratched marble surface may sound unappealing on paper, but in practice, it has an aesthetic appeal all its own. Like a perfectly broken-in pair of denim jeans or a finely aged leather jacket, there are some looks that can only be achieved through years of use, and which tell a story that’s unique to the owner.

Stone is a perfect canvas for this sort of rich ageing, and many of the commercial settings in which marble and stone have been traditionally used show just such a unique patina.

Antique and tumbled finishes have been developed to recreate this look, just as stonewashing was developed to artificially age blue jeans. The look has its own unique appeal.

A newer entry to the field, porcelain slabs generally assume the aesthetic of natural stone or other materials and come in sizes that make handling somewhat easier.

In some cases they can be scored and snapped like panes of glass. They are resistant to staining and etching and do not require sealing. As in all things, there is a trade off, however.

Many find the aesthetic less appealing, and experienced fabricators are required, as there are unique challenges related to the installation of porcelain slabs.

Factory installation and fabrication training is available, so make sure your fabricator/installer has been factory certified.

Calcium-based limestones may have small, tight grains and be very compact/dense. They may also have a large-grain and may not be well cemented together. Hard, dense, limestones are suitable for kitchen counter usage – but other varieties are better suited to bathroom vanity usage.

Dark grey/black limestones may be undesirable for kitchen counter use as etch marks appear whitish/grey against the dark background. Travertine is a form of limestone created near hot springs with holes throughout and mineral deposit inclusions.