Things To Know Before Buying The Kitchen Benchtop Stone

The upcoming project of kitchen renovation must be an exciting feeling as you are going to get the dream kitchen after the renovation work. Countertops are undoubtedly one of the additions that you have suggested but selecting the best option can be tricky. The unending options in laminate, concrete, stone, butcher block and the available varieties of customization will throw you into a more confused state of mind.

However, the kitchen benchtop stone is still the perennial favourite of homeowners. Stone is the most durable material which is available in multiple options and various price ranges. But before you finalize the product, you must make sure to pick the best material that will suit the needs of your home.

Know about the stones

Do you know how many varieties of stone are available for making these countertops? The information is vital as it will help you to start analysing the qualities. For the kitchen benchtop stone, you will get six options:

1.    Quartz
2.    Granite
3.    Limestone
4.    Slate
5.    Soapstone
6.    Marble

There are pros and cons of each type, and so, the decision depends on your requirement and level of use. For example, granite is a common material that is used in kitchen countertops, but granite is a porous material, and it can get affected by grease and oil. So you need to seal your granite benchtop every year. Similarly, marble is fragile in nature and they cannot last for years. So always check their benefits and disadvantages before you install.

Analysing the variants

Quartz is eh only man-made stone in the list of the six options. The rest of the five are natural stones and have quarries. So, there is less control over the pattern of veining, colour, and texture of these stones, and the price will be higher. On the contrary, the engineered Quartz can offer a wide variety of patterns and colours while mimicking the appearance of granite and marble. The price of such stones will be comparatively lower. Granite and marble variants of kitchen benchtop stone are the most expensive ones. So, you can search them online and choose an affordable one according to your budget.

Heat resistance factor

The kitchen implies working on heat, and there is a high chance of surface heating when you keep the hot utensils, or the oven is heating. So you need to use heat-resistant natural stones which can resist the high temperatures, unlike the Quartz that usually cracks on exposure to extreme heat.

Durability factor

Once you get to know the weight capacity of the kitchen benchtop stone, you can assess the durability of the countertop. The following parameters do affect the durability:

•    How far the material can tolerate the shocks and heat?
•    How much weight it can bear? You can place the heavy kitchen appliances and utensils on your benchtop according to its load bearing capacity. .
Heat and shocks will be regular for the benchtops. So you need to choose such a material that can absorb the extreme conditions.

The porosity of the surface

When it comes to the selection of the kitchen benchtop stone, it is better to choose a non-porous surface so that you can clean it with soap or a mild detergent and water.

•    Quartz is a completely non-porous surface that doesn’t even require sealing. It shows high resistance to stains and does not accommodate the growth of mould, mildew or bacteria.

•    Slate and soapstone are also non-porous without the requirement for sealing.
 
Limestone marble and granite are porous stones that get the stains easily. So sealing is mandatory for using any of these kitchen benchtop stone.  Soalways keep in mind the factors discussed above to make the correct decision and enjoy an exceptionally durable kitchen benchtop.