pro's & Con's of Stone

How to pick the perfect stone slab.

When you’re redoing your kitchen or bathroom, you’ve got a lot of decisions to make. From picking paint colors to choosing fixtures, it can feel overwhelming. But one fun part is choosing the stone for your countertops and accents. Natural stone slabs come in lots of different types, and you can get creative with how you use them, like mixing them up for a cool island. Knowing were to start can be hard, but we’ll help you figure out how to pick the right stone for your new countertops in a way that’s easy to understand.

4 key points

How To Narrow Your Choices

Here are some ways to help you narrow down your choices when selecting the perfect stone slab for your project:

01

Define your preferences by thinking about how you'll be using the space. For instance, if you enjoy baking, a marble countertop might be ideal for working with dough. If you prefer low-maintenance options, consider quartzite.

02

Consider the color scheme and design of your kitchen or bathroom. Do the colors of your flooring, cabinetry, and walls complement each other? Once you have a color palette in mind, decide on your cabinetry style and finish, as these will heavily influence your design.

03

Your choice of flooring will help narrow down your stone options. Consider the type, color, and finish of your flooring, as it's a dominant element in your design. Your flooring choice will impact which stone slab complements it best.

04

Pay attention to the color, pattern, and texture of the stone, and consider different finishes like polished, leathered, antiqued, or honed. Remember that small samples can look different from full stone slabs, so take the time to visualize how the stone will look in your space.

This or That

Design Choices to Consider

Honed stone countertops have a smooth, natural finish and grain patterns in the stone. They are typically more porous and require more maintenance than polished or polished honed countertops. Polished stone countertops have a mirror-like, highly polished finish that does not show the natural grain patterns but does offer a smooth surface.

Countertop edges are the finishing touch to your kitchen countertop installation. Your choice of countertop edge style is included with any new countertop purchase. There are many different types to choose from, depending on the size of your kitchen and your preferred décor style.

A bright countertop is a great way to help give the illusion of space in small kitchens as the hue will help bounce and reflect light around the room, resulting in your kitchen feeling more airy and spacious. Dark on the other hand, can add drama and warmth to a space. Opting for a dark colour means your marks will hide longer and you won't need to worry as much about maintenance.

Pros & Cons Of

Pros & Cons of Marble

Marble Countertop Pros

Look: Nothing can rival the look of marble kitchen countertops. There’s a richness to them and a character to the stone that others can’t touch. But what usually arouses people about marble countertops is the veining.
Great for Cooking: Marble remains cool naturally, which makes it a great surface for baking or other cooking. Marble, however, isn’t completely heat resistant, so don’t place hot pots and pans directly on marble countertops.
Added Value: Some experts maintain that marble countertops have the ability to increase your home’s value. Whether it really drives an increase in value remains open to debate, but the presence of marble countertops can create a perceived sense of additional value.
Longevity: With regular upkeep, maintenance and sealing, marble countertops will last a long time in your home.

Marble Countertop Cons

Porous: Marble will stain and acidic liquids will stain permanently. You can avoid substantial staining by sealing marble countertops at least annually. It’s best to seal marble once it’s installed. Should you find some stains, the Marble Institute recommends a solution of 12% hydrogen peroxide and a few drops of ammonia to clean the stain with a cloth until the stain is gone.
Etching: Marble will scratch or if exposed to acid for a prolonged period, it will etch where the polish or sealant fades. You can hone marble to help hide etching. For light scratches and water spots, you can use dry #0000 steel wool to buff it out.
Cost: Marble countertops run more expensive than other countertop options, so it’s not in everyone’s budget. Though there are several types of marble that can be more affordable, they’ll likely remain more expensive.

Pros & Cons Of

Pros & Cons of Granite

Granite Countertop Pros

Durable: Granite countertops resist damage from heat and scratch better than almost all other types of countertops. They’ll also last longer than most.
Resale value: A home seller can expect to recover around 25% of the retail cost of recently installed granite tops.
Natural: Apart from the necessary post-installation sealing products, granite is as natural a product as one can find.
Unique: There hasn’t been, and never will be, another granite countertop that exactly matches yours.

Granite Countertop Cons

Price: Premium building materials are seldom cheap. Granite countertops are certainly no exception to the rule.
Maintenance: To prevent staining easily, granite tops should be sealed once. For higer traffic surfaces, you can look at resealing every 5 years.
Installation: Professional installation is a necessity in all but the smallest, most simple installations.
Limited repair options: Granite is difficult to damage. However, if it does sustain significant damage, repairs can be costly, difficult or simply not possible. Repair is usually performed by professionals.

Pros & Cons Of

Pros & Cons of Quartz

Quartz Countertop Pros

Color and design options: Quartz countertops have nearly unlimited colors available. The design options can be anything from simple patterns, to complex imitations of granite or marble.
Contemporary: Crisp, clean looks whether a rich color or subtle design, can fit the style needs of any modern kitchen.
Maintenance-free: The non-porous surface requires no sealing or special care. Simple cleaning keeps them looking great.
Durable: Quartz tops should last a lifetime with minimal scratching or chipping.
Resale value: As their popularity has increased, so has their value in regards to buyer appeal when selling your home.

Quartz Countertop Cons

Price: Having one of the highest price tags of all countertop types, the luxury of having quartz countertops comes at a significant price.
Vulnerable to heat damage: The resins and fillers that provide quartz’s durability also make irreparable damage from hot pans a possibility.
Manufactured product: Although most of the materials in quartz tops are naturally occurring. The process of making them is not natural. They can be made to mimic natural stone, but in essence, they are not.
Professionally installed only: DIY installation is not recommended. Professional tools and training are required for best results.

Have a question?

Big or small, we can answer any questions you might have about your next natural stone project.