When in the process of choosing the best material to use for your new kitchen countertops, you must have come across quartz as a good choice. True enough, many property owners are considering quartz kitchen countertops mainly for its beauty and many other benefits.

However, before coming up with a final decision on whether you should actually get it, it is best to know about the pros and cons of quartz. Just like any other product or material out there, you can’t expect quartz to be absolutely perfect. There will always be downsides to it despite the number of benefits you can get out of it. What matters most is that the pros would outweigh the cons. To help you decide, read on and find out the best and the not-so-good things about quartz used as countertops for the kitchen.

The Pros of Quartz Kitchen Countertops

Quartz is such a beautiful natural stone. Compared to granite or marble countertops, you have more color choices when you choose quartz. Especially when you want to stick to a color theme for your kitchen or your entire home, then quartz would be your ideal choice.

It also looks very elegant, classy and timeless. Years from the time it was installed, your quartz tops would still be as beautiful and trendy as it is today. Its style and design simply don’t get old. Because of this elegant touch, your quartz countertops would certainly help increase the overall value of your home.

Another great feature of quartz is its durability. It doesn’t chip nor crack all too quickly. Should there be any chips or scratches you would see over time, you can easily get those repaired without having to replace the entire countertop.

It is hard but not quite as hard as granite. This only means that quartz countertops are easier to shape and customize according to your preferred design.

Most importantly, quartz kitchen tops are non-porous. It is very stain-resistant. If you spill wine, juice, tomato sauce and other liquids, it wouldn’t absorb as much compared to marble, granite or just plain concrete. This makes it one of the best choices for the kitchen.

Quartz Countertops: What Could Be Better

While there’s pretty much nothing you can do at the moment to improve a natural stone, it is good enough to know in advance what you can expect from a quartz countertop including some of its flaws.

As earlier mentioned, quartz is not as hard as granite. It is very scratch resistant and in fact, you can cut even without a chopping board. However, you should just use a chopping board anyway because quartz can actually dull down even your most expensive knives.

Furthermore, unlike granite, quartz won’t take the heat of your pans well. You should always have a trivet ready in case you need to place hot pans directly from the stove onto your tops.

In addition, quartz can be quite pricey compared to other stone types. However, with all the benefits and very little flaws you’ll encounter with quartz, it is definitely worth the investment.

If you’re looking for reasonably priced and exceptionally built kitchen countertops made of quartz and other stone materials, Stone World is the company to call. We have a team of experts ready to assist you. We service areas around Orlando, Windermere, Longwood, Clermont, Maitland and surrounding cities. Call us at 407-341-4688 for a free estimate.

Some people are under the impression that granite countertops fall under the category of manufactured stone countertops. While it is true to some extent, granite tops are mainly natural stone. The forces of nature are responsible for making granite countertops as durable and attractive as they are. Granite is formed in layers of igneous rock that is found in mountains and plains all over the world. There are only a few spots around the world that produce the high quality of granite that’s used to make countertops.

Natural granite is formed when the magma found below the earth’s surface slowly starts to crystalize. Granite is composed of mostly feldspar and quartz but has other crystals such as mica and amphiboles present in it too. You might say the granite found in people’s kitchen and bath countertops are offspring of what was once molten lava. The minerals found in granite give it the traditional pink, red, grey, white or black color it usually has. Blues, greens, gold and other colors are sometimes found in granite too in less dominating fashion than the previous colors mentioned.

Other uses for granite include making tombstones, statues, monuments and they are even used as pavers sometimes too.

One of the Most Durable Natural Stones

Because granite is formed from the slow crystallization of super-heated lava it gives it a very strong bond. That’s why granite is such a durable countertop material. Since the finished state of granite requires constant pressure over thousands of years it’s a very dense rock material. It actually rivals the hardness of diamonds.

Because of its durability granite has literally “carved out” its place in history. Ancient Egyptians carved many hieroglyphics on granite and even the 10 commandments were etched onto granite slabs too. Mount Rushmore’s location was chosen because of its large granite composition in the rock found there.

Slabs of granite are so heavy once quarried that ancient culture’s that harvested the rock had to use logs as rollers to transport it over long distances.

Modern Day Granite Countertops

For years only the rich and famous could afford granite countertops. Even as late as the 1980’s granite countertops were associated with wealth and most kitchen counters were still being made using not so durable laminate materials. All that changed in the 1990’s when the technology to mass produce granite slabs became readily available.

Countertops were a natural fit for granite. Whereas laminate counter tops could be easily scratched using just a dull knife, granite was a material that was nearly scratch proof unless a person went to an extreme effort to do it. Now granite is used in countertops in a wide variety of different types of homes in all different price ranges.

If you are thinking about using granite countertops on your new or remodeled kitchen or bath, you must know that it’s truly a great choice. It will improve the look of any type of counter and last the life of most homes too. Stone World is the best company to call if you have any questions or concerns regarding granite countertops. If you live in the Orlando area, Windermere, Groveland, Titusville, Oakland and other surrounding areas, we are available to come to your property to help you out. Call us at 407-341-4688 for a free estimate

When deciding on the natural stone material you want for countertops in your kitchen, the ones that must have surely crossed your mind are granite, quartz or marble. However, there’s one more that you should definitely consider - soapstone countertops.

Soapstone may not be as famous as these other more well-known kitchen countertops, but it is definitely gaining popularity among homeowners. It is the perfect choice if you’re torn between granite and marble. It has the darkness of granite and those pretty natural veining and lines of marble. Usually available in shades of grey, another top choice are black soapstone countertops.

Just like other natural stone materials, soapstone offers a number of advantages that not a lot of homeowners should know about. These advantages are truly beneficial especially if you use soapstone for your kitchen.

1. Soapstone is simply beautiful.

As earlier mentioned, soapstone is the ideal choice when you want the darkness of granite but you also love the veining of marble. Other than the more common black and dark grey shades, others are able to source soapstone colors that are very light so that it’s very close to white, bluish grey and even green.

2. Soapstone is fairly durable.

You must know that soapstone is not as durable as granite, but it isn’t weak either. It is quite soft so you must always use a chopping board when preparing ingredients on your soapstone countertops. But it is less brittle or more pliable. It doesn’t crack should you be placing very heavy objects on top of it.

3. Soapstone is easy to maintain.

It is a very non-porous material, which means that soapstone is more stain-resistant compared to other natural stones. It is sanitary and very easy to clean - simply use mild soap and a clean rag. It doesn’t absorb harmful bacteria, too, which is essential in the kitchen especially if you like cooking and preparing ingredients on your countertop. Best of all, it doesn’t require any sealing in the future unlike materials like granite.

Soapstone is a very good choice when you’re looking for a low-maintenance natural stone material for your kitchen countertops. It may not be as durable as granite and not as many color choices as quartz, but it has plenty of great advantages too. With soapstone, you are definitely on your way to a trendy and very beautiful kitchen countertop.

Stone World installs a variety of kitchen countertops in different materials including soapstone. Our team of experts will help you transform your kitchen into an elegant masterpiece that will certainly exceed your expectations. Our workmanship is kept topnotch but are prices remain competitive. We service areas around Orlando, Windermere, Winter Garden, Lake Nona and other surrounding communities in Central Florida. Call us at 407-341-4688 for a free estimate.

Your bathroom is a sacred place. This is one of the few or maybe even the only area in your home where you can have utmost privacy. The bathroom should be a place where you can feel relaxed and comfortable. Of course, you absolutely deserve one that is beautiful. You can start by checking out your options from a variety of stone showers.

Bathroom tiles go out of style. While they should last for many years and cleaning is fairly easy since we are just so used to it already, you can get stone showers, which are way more elegant and luxurious, even more durable and easier to clean — no gross and dirty grout in between! And if you need more reasons to get stone showers for your bath, read on.

1. Stone Showers are Unique

Because stone is primarily made of natural materials, it comes in different and completely unique patterns. You can have yours customized according to your preference, of course. But rest assured, you will most likely not find any other shower that’s exactly identical to yours.

2. Stone Showers are Beautiful and Elegant

Beautiful may even be an understatement because tiles can be quite pretty too. Stone showers are simply extraordinary because while it has become a popular choice among property owners, it isn’t very common yet. Yes, it is far from ordinary and it exudes class and elegance unlike no other.

3. Stone Showers are Durable and Easy to Maintain

Cleaning is pretty easy for as long as you use the recommended solutions and cleaning materials. In just one wipe, you can get all the dirt off. As mentioned earlier, no icky grout to worry about. The stone that surrounds your shower area would look clean and new without all the fuss.

4. Stone Showers Add Value to Your Home

These may seem pricey at first, but when you think about, it is very much worth it. For instance, you don’t have to replace it over the years the way you would with bathroom tiles. You don’t have to use as much cleaning materials on this material for showers. Best of all, it adds value to your home. Of course, these stone showers look and feel luxurious, which is good when you’re deciding on a price tag should you wish to sell your property in the future.

Bathroom remodel and products such as showers made of stone are Stone World’s expertise. We have a team of experienced staff who have installed these showers countless times. You can be guaranteed that you will get nothing less than the most luxurious bathroom as soon as we got the job done. We service Orlando, Maitland, Ocoee, Lake Mary and surrounding areas. Call us at 407-341-4688 for a free quote.