What Granite And Marble For Luxury Kitchen Worktops?
Each have their pros and cons, and there is no right or wrong answer.
However, if your marble surface is sealed and the offending material is removed quickly, you should be fine.
In our experience, because granites are the post popular kitchen stone worksurface, they also tend to be more susceptible to trend, meaning that they can also quickly go out of trend.
Now it tends to be less so, and whenever we install it now we tend to hone it to remove the polished surface, or flame it, a process which textures and antiques the surface.
How Are Granite Countertops Made? Granite Shorts Ep.3 Www.Marble.Com | Duration 7 Minutes 9 Seconds
They are typically more aggressive, bolder, harsher and less refined, and we tend to opt for using them in a scullery or pantry environment where the worksurfaces are likely to get more wear and looks are less important.
It also diffuses reflections from light sources within the room.
If you are going to use oak, we would suggest not using it near sinks or wet areas.
Artichoke are fans of basalt, which is warm to the touch and softer to the feel than granite.
It stains easily with acid (wine, lemon juice etc) and it can chip.
Hopefully this blog post will act as a useful guide for each material, but feel free to contact us if you’d like to discuss your options.
With reasonable care, granite worktops will stay looking new for many years.
Certainly a few years ago, polished black granite was a popular choice.
Because of the way granite if formed geologically (it is volcanic as opposed to marble which is formed from sea bed activity), its patterns are, in our view, less exciting.
Over time (in under ten years), these lacquers will wear, particularly in heavy use areas around the sink.
Being man-made, there are no natural fissures or graining, making it a great choice for contemporary kitchens in particular.
It can also be “grained” and made to look like marbles and natural stone.
Depending on the shape and size of the piece, it can be cast on site or bought in pre-cast.
Best Types Of Kitchen Worktop: Granite Quartz Marble Laminate Glass Or Wood? by realhomes.com
You’re going to be using them multiple times a day, so it’s important to choose a kitchen worktop type – or types if you’re picking more than one material for your kitchen – that you like the look of, as well as a surface that will suit your lifestyle.
Do you tend to put hot pans straight on the work surface or do you tend to use a trivet?
Best Granite Sealer 2018 * Top 10 Granite Sealers | Duration 7 Minutes 10 Seconds
However, these can be costly and require specialist fitting.
It’s stylish, beautiful and is associated with luxurious kitchen schemes.
Employing industrial techniques, natural quartz is fortified with resin to create a truly hard-wearing and customisable worktop.
However, you may see this as a benefit as the worktop will age over time, gaining a beautiful patina.
Make sure you shop carefully if you are considering laminates because there is a huge variation in quality.
It is one of the most popular worktop materials in luxury kitchens, both traditional and contemporary.
They are heat and scratch resistant to a point, but can’t compete with solid stone or quartz.
However, there is no reason you couldn’t use it to make a statement and take advantage of its benefits on a kitchen island or in a small workspace.
Boo-kmatching is a process where two pieces of the same stone slap are joined to create a mirrored pattern in the surface.
However non-specialist laminates and some timber worktops can be bought in standard sizes or by the metre, then cut to size and fitted by a tradesperson or you, if you are fitting your own kitchen.
Think about how you plan to use your kitchen: will there be lots of cooking, or is your aim to entertain and impress lots of guests?
Are you prepared for the upkeep of a high gloss work surface or would a matt finish be better suited to your family (ie, you have small children who like to touch everything)?
Packed with fabulous readers’ homes, trend features, project advice and easy updates, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it.
Cheaper options will damage easily and may not carry some of the benefits listed above.
Marble is visually striking due to the naturally occuring streaking in the stone.
Although the resin exterior is waterproof, if any water gets within the substrate material, it can cause irreparable damage.
It’s a porcelain product that is heat resistant, scratch resistant and can be book-matched.
Composite Worktops: Engineered Stone Quartz Versus Solid Surface Kitchen Worktops by housebeautiful.com
There are two types – engineered stone (quartz) and solid surface – and each has distinct advantages and disadvantages.
Care must also be taken to avoid putting extremely hot cookware directly onto a quartz surface as it may scorch.
These worktops can be seamlessly moulded to create curved features and integrated sinks and joins are invisible.
They’re both very hardwearing and may be a less expensive option than natural stone such as granite or marble.
Colour can be added to the mix along with elements such as glass or mirrored chips to give a speckled appearance.
It’s possible to get an inconspicuous seam between two lengths of quartz but it won’t be invisible.
The exact combination and proportions vary and you can choose from a huge number of colours in plain and stone-like effects.
Marble Vs Onyx | Countertop Comparison | Duration 2 Minutes 58 Seconds
Avoid placing very hot pots and pans on them as they can melt, and cutting on the worktop isn’t recommended as scratches will appear, although they can be repaired by a specialist.
Marble and Quartz by marbleandquartz.com
As it is a natural stone no 2 slabs of granite will be identical and this means your kitchen worktop is unique.
I couldn’t be any happier as the work completed was fantastic.
I will definitely recommend my friends and family and anyone who is looking to improve their kitchen.
It has the exquisiteness of a natural stone and hard wearing durability which makes it the perfect material to have as a kitchen worktop.
Granite worktops are hard wearing and are easy to keep clean making it perfect for your kitchen worktop.
Not only do we offer a template within 48 hours, but a complete installation within 5 working days.
KItchen Lessons and Living With Cararra Marble Worktops by florencefinds.com
I also wish we had had a bit more flexibility and given a bit more thought to the configuration.
We babied them, told everyone (read:family,) what not to do on them and tried to keep them perfect.
Then we had a baby and didn’t have time/the inclination to baby the worktops too and people were in the house ‘helping’ all the time.
But they still look almost exactly as they did when we got them unless you get your nose down to the worktop level to inspect them.
As you can see, it required a certain viewpoint and particular settings on my camera to capture these.
They happen when anything acidic hits the worktop so fruit, cleaning products, some drinks and tomatoes to name but a few.
You really can’t see them unless light is bouncing off the work surface where the etch is.
You can never figure out what caused them, but there they are.
I like things with natural character and the veining in our worktops is stunning.
They also were the least expensive option, saving us hundreds if not thousands on some other choices.
We went for a composite type worktop, and while it looked lovely, it showed the scratches easily.
It was possible to have it re-polished, but we moved so never did.
The one in my current house is ten years old, and looks in better condition than my year old composite one did.
Kitchen Sink Guide | Duration 5 Minutes 6 Seconds
I also like that facts that if a tile does get damaged, they are easy to lift and replace (unlike “proper” tiles).
I have a meeting with the electrician first thing in the morning to plan where all the new sockets etc are going in our extension.
Would be interested to hear from anyone who has a quartz worktop……do they really scratch & chip too?
There are however always things that pop up with the benefit of hindsight and if you are using a space differently to the original layout, then things have changed again for us with the addition of a little one.
What isn’t good is that they are so long, occasionally when you pull one end, it puts the draw out of line instead of opening it and the drawer catches.
Being an ex-display kitchen we were limited to what the cupboard set up was, but we didn’t give enough thought to waste and recycling storage and because we have a lot of drawers and only a few cupboards, which are glass fronted, we have nowhere to put chopping boards and nowhere to store bottles that are taller than a large jar – the hidden cupboards have three shallow shelves in them.
All of them were warned off it by kitchen companies and the majority were still happy with their choice.
I didn’t want (essentially) white worktops with horrible yellow or orange stains on them.
They have been sealed before and after installation and it works.
You can be as careful as you like and etches will appear.
It’s pretty instant too and you can even spread the etch by wiping the offending item along with the cloth.
Our worktops are honed (so not shiny,) marble and the etches are still more matte, but less noticeable as a result.
We had to put a tea towel under the chopping board to protect it!
It made me realise however that, while unfashionable laminate worktops can be really practical – they are cheap, don’t show up the marks, are easy to clean.
Apparently hoovers can collect little bits of grit etc that rub against the tiles and can cause small scratches over time.
Still keep going back to the marble, particularly tonight after googling quartz this evening.
To be honest we don’t treat it will much care at all – hot dishes from the oven are sat down on it etc.
Marble Vs Onyx | Countertop Comparison | Duration 2 Minutes 59 Seconds
One piece of advice is definitely go direct to a marble / stone yard and buy the stone you do choose from them.
Encore Acrylic Marble Kitchen Worktop Accessories by larkandlarks.co.uk
Rails and associated components need to be purchased separately from this section, they are not included with the cabinets.
The range includes individually switched fluorescent striplights and budget striplights.
Care must be taken where lights are enclosed in a cabinet to ensure there is adequate ventilation.
This modification option can be selected on all applicable cabinets in our pre-built kitchen cabinet range so that the cabinets are supplied ready modified to accept our rails.
Light fittings should not be fitted in the vicinity of flammable surfaces.
What Are Quartz Worktops Made Of? by surreymarbleandgranite.co.uk
Unlike natural stone, engineered stone is completely uniform in colour.
Adding mica and other reflective minerals can turn a plain black worktop into a starry night sky.
Quartz worktops are tough and robust, often withstanding years of wear without a mark.
In most cases, wiping the surface down with a mild soap and water will be enough to keep it looking its best.
Whether you’re using tiles or slabs, it’s essential to prepare the surface properly before you start work.
Stone floors are typically scratch and stain resistant, but that doesn’t mean they’re impervious to damage.