Marble counter tops in Colorado Springs? On the other hand, granite is an igneous rock composed of grains of compressed quartz, feldspar, mica and similar materials. This means that granite is slightly harder than marble, but both offer reasonably good durability. Comparing marble and granite head to head in important categories will assist you in deciding which stone to use in your building or renovation project. Appearance: These are both beautiful options for countertops. Granite shows the grains we mentioned. They appear as specks that are varied in color, so a granite slab might contain a variety of hues – blue, green, orange, pink, red, etc., typically in medium to dark shades.
“I’ve had people say, “Why does my marble countertop already look horrible only three months after it was installed?’ ” says Bruno. “I ask them what cleansers they’re using, or tell them to ask their cleaning person or their husband. If it’s something abrasive, they’re stripping away the sealant and leaving the stone wide open to stains.” But stains aren’t the only things you have to be concerned about. Marble is also prone to what’s called etching-that is, dull marks on the surface caused by contact with acidic substances. You’d be surprised how many cooking ingredients are acidic-lemon juice, vinegar, tomato sauce; the list goes on. Etching marks can’t just be buffed away; they require more aggressive treatment.
The durability of the stone you choose is dictated by its makeup. Most marbles are made of calcite, which is a very soft and porous mineral. This means that marble will be more likely to absorb stains and to etch or lose its finish over time. Having a honed, or matte finish, for your marble counter can help disguise some of the etching. However, not all marble is made primarily of calcite. Green marble, made of serpentine, does not etch as easily, but it can spall or flake with prolonged contact with water. Quartzites that are labeled as marble, like Thassos or Azul Celeste, are extremely durable and much harder than some granites.
When it comes to countertops, quartz is quickly becoming an affordable and low maintenance alternative to our beloved marble. There are even new trends for accessorizing your countertops, like vintage plate racks made to display your grandmother’s china. Hardware and metal finishes continue to push the envelope-think brass, nickel, and matte black. Removable wallpaper companies are making it even easier to experiment with pattern on walls and backsplashes. Consider 2020 as the year of the kitchen! Carrara marble like that shown here will always be in style, but if you’re a red wine drinker, quartz could be a much better fit for you and your kitchen. While it looks like a natural stone, engineered quartz is more affordable and less prone to stains. Find even more details at Premier designer stone and quartz Denver.
Granite is a granular igneous rock which has a phaneritic texture, it is formed by the slow crystallization of the magma under the surface of the earth. Many items that we encounter in our daily activities especially in big cities where pavers, floor tiles and cemetery monuments are made from granite. Many famous places like Mount Rushmore, Yosemite Valley and Torres del Paine in Chile are granite hubs.