What Stone Is Best for Your Space?

— January 29, 2021

There are so many gorgeous options for stone countertops that it can be hard to choose which one is right for your kitchen or bathroom. How can you pick the best stone for your space? Let’s talk about the factors you should keep in mind as well as the appearance, pros, and cons of the most popular options.

Factors to Consider

Where do you even start when trying to decide which stone to get? These are the things you should think about as you look through all the options.

Appearance

What style are you looking for in your kitchen or bathroom? What’s your color scheme? You’ll probably want to choose a different stone for a warm, rustic style than you would for a modern, minimalistic look.

Maintenance Level

Are you good at wiping up spills right away? Are you OK with oiling your countertops regularly? Or is your household full of hustle and bustle, where you would be better off with low-maintenance counters?

Heat, Stain, and Chip Resistance

Do you always use a cutting board and pot holders to protect your countertops? Or do you like to chop and place hot pans right on your counters? Think about how you use your countertops to decide the importance of heat, stain, and chip resistance.

Cost

Costs vary widely on stone countertops, so if you have a tight budget, be sure to factor in the cost of the stone countertops you like best.

Granite

Granite is the most popular stone for countertops. It’s available in both slabs and tiles as well as matte, leathered, and polished finishes.

Look

Each slab of granite is unique, and there is a huge variety of colors and patterns available to help you find the perfect one for your project.

Pros

Heat, cut, and scratch-resistant
Stain-resistant when properly sealed
More affordable than many other stone counters

Cons

Needs periodic resealing
Corners and edges can chip

Marble

Marble has a classic look that is found in world-class architecture all over the globe. Many people consider marble one of the most beautiful types of natural stone in the world.

Look

Generally whitish with darker veining, marble is available in various hues including greens, pinks, and neutral tones.

Pros

Beautiful, classic look
Instant character added to your space

Cons

Prone to staining and etching
Needs to be sealed well and often

Quartz

While quartz looks like stone, it’s an engineered material that needs much less maintenance than natural stone counters. Quartz is a combination of resin, color, and natural stone.

Look

Quartz countertops are available in a wide variety of colors and patterns. Man-made so variation is limited from slab to slab.

Pros

Relatively low maintenance
Available in many patterns and colors
Doesn’t need sealing

Cons

Corners and edges can chip
Can be expensive

Quartzite

Quartzite is unique, exotic, and one-of-a-kind. Each slab is a work of art, cut using highly advanced diamond blade technology.

Look

Usually white to grey, quartzite may also have red, pink, blue, yellow, orange, or green hues. Quartzite always has unique, beautiful veining.

Pros

Relatively low maintenance
Heat, stain, scratch, and etch resistant
Unique
Durable

Cons

Needs to be sealed regularly
Expensive

Soapstone

Made mostly from talc, soapstone feels different than any other stone countertops. Soapstone also darkens over time, which could be either a pro or a con depending on your taste.

Look

Soapstone comes in a range of hues ranging from light to dark gray and always has distinct veining. It can also be green, blue, and black.

Pros

Heat, stain, and bacteria resistant
Small scratches are easy to repair
Doesn’t require sealant

Cons

Needs frequent applications of mineral oil
Cuts, scratches, and nicks easily

Request a Quote Today

Are you ready to add stunning stone countertops to your Raleigh kitchen or bathroom? Request a quote today by clicking here or calling 919-462-8084. If you still can’t decide which stone is best for your space, come check out our 15,000 sq. ft. showroom in Cary, NC. We have more than 1,000 slabs in stock to help you choose the perfect one for your project.