Choosing Natural Stone, Compare Chart.
A quick guide to help you choose, compare a Natural Stone for your project.
Page1:Granite, Marble, Travertine, Limestone.
Go to Page2: Slate, Soapstone, SandStone, Onyx.
| Popular Applications | Useful Stone Information | Care & Maintenance | |
|---|---|---|---|
In short: Granite is striking, functional and the most durable of all Natural Stones. If you can imagine it - you can use Granite. |
Polished surface Granite, is not recommend for places like: bathroom floors, washing rooms, side walks. Honed finish Granite is a better choice in such applications. Because of it's non-skid surface. |
Granite is a worry-free surface that practically takes care of itself. It is extremely durable, stain-resistant and easy to care for. Hot pots and pans won't damage Granites surface, and it won't chip, scratch or crack under normal use. Cutting boards are recommended to protect your knives from becoming dull. Once Granite is sealed and maintained it should not stain. |
|
Marble is best to use where it won't to be subjected to frequent use and abuse. |
Marble is not recommended for use in kitchens (kitchen counter tops) or in high traffic area applications as it is more prone to stains than Granite. Marble is highly reactive to the acids found in vinegar, orange juice, and lemons. These acids will etch the stone and leave dull marks or rings. Marble is a soft stone. It should not be cut on because it will scratch easily. But, it's not as soft as Soapstone. Marble is a delicate material that has care procedure similar to that of a fine piece of wood. Cutting directly on Marble will create scratches. |
Marble is vulnerable to all types of stains including water spills. Avoid leaving any spilled substances on Marble for any period of time to reduce staining (including juices, alcoholic beverages, oils, greases, cosmetics, and standing water). Marble is sealed with a penetrating sealer to help prevent the absorption of stains into the stone. It is recommended that Marble be resealed periodically with a penetrating stone sealer on all horizontal surfaces. |
|
Travertine is a type of Limestone that is very popular for interior and exterior wall cladding, as well as flooring applications. |
Travertine can be used for countertops but it's not recommended. It scratches, stains, and absorbs liquids easier than other natural stones. Similar to Limestone, Travertine also varies in hardness, density, and porosity. Some Travertine stones are harder than others. If you plan to use Travertine for your countertop, make sure it is a harder and less porous stone. |
Travertine is a calcareous stone. It is highly reactive to the acids found in lemons, vinegar, alcohol, etc. These acids will etch the stone by leaving marks and rings. It is usually a more porous stone than Marble and needs to be sealed. If left untreated it will soak up liquids and water. |
|
Limestone is popular building stone because it is widely available and easy to work with. Like Marble and Granite, quality Limestone is used in a wide range of interior and exterior building applications. |
Limestone is a very heavy material and is often cumbersome not only to transport, but also to work with. This is reflected in the sticker price and many people decide to skip this stone in favor of lighter stones that do not require as much investment that Limestone dos. Limestone is limited to a color and texture selection of what is being quarried. In other words, the vibrant shades of blue that led you to look into Limestone for your counters may not be available when you are in the position to make the purchase and you will either need to wait until that is available again or choose another stone for your countertops. |
Limestone is very porous and need to be sealed more frequently. The amount of sealer to be used depends on the porosity of the stone and it is best to ask your supplier. Two or three thin coats are more effective than one thick coat. All Limestone has a saturation point and when this is reached it is incapable of absorbing any more sealer. Even though Limestone may require occasional sealing and more frequent dusting to prevent scratching, it is a beautiful and durable natural stone. |
