Installing a stone countertop in your home can increase its aesthetic appeal and value. You can use countertop remnants if you’re undertaking a small project like creating mosaics, cutting boards, or tabletops. Here’s how a stone countertop can upgrade your home.
Improving Its Curb Appeal
A stone countertop can create a luxurious feel and a timeless aesthetic in your home. Stones like marble and granite have unique veins and colors that can enhance your home’s elegance. The natural stones’ uniqueness can make your house stand out and sell fast at a higher price should you consider selling.
Making Cleaning Easier
Cleaning countertops made of materials like wood can be challenging. Wooden countertops harbor bacteria and require limited exposure to water to reduce the risk of warping.
A stone countertop is easier to clean since stones like marble and granite are sealed upon installation, reducing their risk of harboring bacteria. Other stones, like quartz, are non-porous, so they resist staining.
Making Maintenance Easier
Stone countertops require minimal maintenance to retain their strength and visual appeal. You only need to use neutral soap and warm water to clean and keep them in a sanitary condition. Depending on the type of stone you choose, you may never have to worry about scratches and heat damage. For instance, granite is resistant to heat and scratches and can last a lifetime despite the occasional exposure to heat.
Common Types of Stone Countertops
Some of the most suitable countertop materials are granite, soapstone, marble, and quartz. Here’s an overview of each material:
Granite
Granite is the epitome of luxury, as it can transform modest-looking rooms into luxury spaces. It’s available in many colors, ranging from blue to black, brown, red, and white, so it can fit into your home’s theme. The material’s grain is also unique and difficult to replicate, so it can set your home apart from others. Granite is also heat and stain-resistant when sealed, and it can save you the costs of replacing your countertop too often.
Soapstone
Soapstone can be an excellent alternative to granite if you’d like your space to have an antique-like feel. It’s stain-resistant when sealed, making it low maintenance. Soapstone is also available in shades of gray, black, and green-you can choose the color that blends perfectly with your home’s decor.
Marble
Marble’s unique veining can increase the aesthetic appeal of your space. The material is a high-end natural stone, which can increase your home’s value. It has a near-perfect surface, so you can use it for baking and meal preparation. Marble countertops are durable and can serve you for a long time with proper care.
Quartzite
Quartzite is a natural stone with a beautiful smooth glassy surface that can improve your home’s appeal. The stone contains cementing materials that form streaks, further enhancing its beauty. It has a high density that makes it resistant to scratching and staining. Quartzite can give you the elegance of marble and the durability of granite.
Quartz
This engineered stone contains quartz particles and other minerals bound with resins. Quartz can be an excellent alternative to natural stones as it doesn’t require sealing. It has a non-porous surface that makes it stain and scratch-resistant, even without sealant application. You can find quartz in many patterns and colors, so your countertop doesn’t have to stick out from the rest of your decor.
Buy Countertop Remnants
You can buy countertop remnants instead of full slabs for creating small countertops or features like a backsplash. A stone countertop made from these remnants can improve your home’s aesthetic appeal, making it more marketable when selling. These countertops can also make cleaning your home easier since stone is non-porous and less likely to harbor bacteria.
