Hi igor_the7th-ga,
This has been quite a shopping trip! Of course I can’t make your
choice for you, but here’s what I’ve done – Beginning with the four
options you chose and then adding a few of my own, I’ve put together a
list of common stone countertop options and outlined the pros and cons
of each. Condensing the data like this should make it easier for you
to compare your options and make a decision.
Note – the price estimates that I’m giving you come from a variety of
websites. Most of the countertop companies only price specific
products and jobs. Therefore, I thought it might be useful just to
grab any price estimates I came across and let you see them.
=====================
HONED GRANITE
=====================
PROS
Natural
Many natural colors available
Honing gives a nice matte finish
The most durable of all the stone counter options
Comes in large slabs so fewer joints are necessary
CONS
Requires sealant – every six months to a year
If not sealed then will stain.
Honed stone colors are not as vibrant as a polished stone.
Uneven coloring in natural granite
Hard to match color if adding a section at a later time
Inflexible – can crack on impact
Joints cannot be made invisible
Hard on breakables
Caution: Black granite is sometimes faked, and then will “fade” over
time. If the granite countertop is not truly black granite, it could
be an import that has been dyed. Over time this dye wears off.
http://www.ntc-stone.com/tips.htm#fading
Price estimates
$65 to $100 per square foot installed.
$75 to $200 per square foot installed
===========================
BLACK TRAVERTINE
============================
Travertine is in the calcite-based family of marble and as such is
generally not recommended for kitchens since it is highly susceptible
to etching by acidic foods. Most of what applies to Marble in general,
also applies to Travertine, so I’ve outlined the pros and cons of
marble just below.
PROS
Small scratches can be buffed out
Usually sealed to prevent staining and etching
CONS
Etched by acids
Scratches easily
(some interior designers feel travertine is suitable for kitchens. See
discussion below under “ Specific References.”)
=======================
MARBLE
=======================
Marble is generally not recommended for kitchens.
PROS
Depth of color
Smooth non-stick finish
CONS
Soft
Needs regular application of sealant
Can be etched by acids such as vinegar
Subject to oil stains, rust stains,
Can lose shine with hard wear (usually only a problem in marble
floors)
Efflorescence - appears as a white powdery residue on the surface of
the stone – reaction to water.
Price can run about $75 per square foot installed.
Price varies according to edging the type of marble.
* Serpentine, not a true marble, but a green marble look-alike is
often used in kitchens instead because it does not react to acids.
However, it does not come in black.
=========================
TUMBLED STONE – OLEAN
=========================
*you will have to double check this with a dealer, but it appears to
me that Olean products only come as tiles, not continuous countertop.
PROS
Numerous colors and patterns
Can match floor, trim etc to countertop
Heat resistant
Single tiles easily replaced
CONS
Tiles can crack
Grout maintenance
Color or pattern could be discontinued making tile replacement
difficult
Can stain if not sealed
Sensitive to certain cleansers
==========================
SOAPSTONE
===========================
Soapstone is made up of mineral deposits – the main mineral components
in soapstone include talc, chlorite, dolomite and magnetite, giving a
warm, soft feeling to the touch. Because of its durability, soapstone
is the science-lab workbench surface of choice.
PROS
Natural
Warmer feel than granite or marble
Won’t burn or stain
Easier to cut and shape than marble or granite
It is inert, so acids and alkalis will not etch the surface
Joints can be made invisible
CONS
Requires frequent application of mineral oil to maintain patina –
otherwise turns light grey until it ages.
Soft, prone to chipping
Slabs are smaller than granite, so more joints needed
Cost
$50 to $60 per square foot installed.
$75 to $150 per square foot installed
==========================
ENGINEERED QUARTZ
===========================
Engineered stone is a surfacing material that results combining
natural materials with binders and pigments. Engineered quartz is
typically made up of 93 percent quartz particles. The result is a
dense, nonporous material that has the grainy look and colder feel of
natural stone, but, has a consistent color and the ability to be
moulded into different shapes.
PROS
Can be made in any color.
Color is uniform
Does not require sealant
Harder and more durable than “natural” stone.
Does not scorch or scratch
More flexible than granite – will not crack as easily
CONS
Joints cannot be made invisible
Expensive
Prices run up to $200 per linear foot.
==========================
ARTIFICIAL – CORIAN etc
========================
PROS
Nonporous
Easy to clean and maintain
Easy to apply
Seamless
Softer on breakables
Wide choice of colors
Can match color if adding more countertop later
CONS
Artificial – never quite looks natural
Can burn / scorch / melt
Can be cut with sharp knives
Corian colors
http://www.coriansamples.com/StoreFront.bok#
================================================
OVERALL COMPARISON OF COUNTERTOP MATERIALS
================================================
These websites do side-by-side comparisons of major countertop
surfaces.
COUNTERTOPS – YOUR OPTIONS
Click on the list on the right side of this page to select the
material
http://www.kitchens.com/Remodeling-And-Design/Products-and-materials/countertops/default.htm
COUNTERTOP MATERIALS COMPARISON CHART
http://www.brookswood.com/Countertop%20materials%20selector%20chart.htm
COMPARISON LIST OF COUNTERTOP MATERIALS
http://interiordec.about.com/cs/kitchencountertop/tp/tp_kitcounter.htm
GRANITE VS CORIAN
http://www.homebuilderdirectory.com/granite/default.htm#granite
COUNTERTOP – BACTERIAL CONTAMINATION COMPARISON
http://www.westwoodtile.com/contamination.html
====================
GENERAL REFERENCES
====================
The National Training Center for Stone and Masonry Trades
http://www.ntc-stone.com/tips.htm
Countertop Considerations
http://www.delawarewoman.com/200208/countertop.html
WHY GRANITE COUNTERTOPS and other questions
http://www.distinctivemarbleandgranite.com/why.htm
Countertop Creations: Setting the kitchen apart with options from
quartz to European tile.
http://www.optionsmag.com/issues/winter_2002/f_countertop.htm
Stone maintenance
http://members.aol.com/pinibarak/html/stone.htm
Comparison – Granite and Marble
http://www.corian-counters.com/FAQs_Granite.htm
MARBLE (and Travertine) VS GRANITE
http://www.asgranite.com/counter-faqs.html
=========================
SPECIFIC REFERENCES
=========================
STONE AND TILE TIPS FOR THE INDUSTRY
COMMON STONE PROBLEMS - MARBLE
http://www.vermont-marble.com/marblecare.htm
CARE AND CLEANING OF INTERIOR MARBLE SURFACES
http://www.vermont-marble.com/marblecare3.htm
---------------------
SOAPSTONE INSTALLATION
http://www.stonetrade.com/oiling_and_installation_tips.htm
http://www.stonetrade.com/soapstone_counter_tops.htm
Home installation of soapstone countertop
http://www.witzgall.org/countertop.htm
-------------------------
ENGINEERED QUARTZ
http://www.kitchens.com/Remodeling-And-Design/Trends/kbis-countertops-3.htm
Quartz Engineered Stone Countertop Surfaces
http://216.239.53.100/search?sourceid=navclient-menuext&q=cache:http%3A//www.homeissues.com/viewarticle.cgi%3Farticle%3D90%26category%3D3
------------------
Olean – Tumbled Stone
*website is slow to load, contains pop ups. Hard to navigate.
http://www.americanolean.com/view_tiles.cfm?category=3&series_ID=52
Olean – Performance Characteristics
http://www.americanolean.com/performance_comparison.cfm#
Olean grout and tile care
http://www.americanolean.com/tile_care.cfm
-------------------
Travertine
*go to the very last post on this page
“Travertine (like any other calcite-based stone) is the wrong choice
as a material for a kitchen countertop, period. Its porosity is not
really an issue, its chemical make-up is. You can control a certain
degree of porosity (with a stone sealer, also dubbed "impregnator");
you cannot control the chemical make-up of natural stone. Those
blotches that you see are etch marks (surface damages, that is, not
stains). They can be fixed professionally, but they can't be
prevented.”
Travertine Cure / Clean
http://www.findstone.com/curetrav.htm
““Travertines are much softer in appearance and color (than other
natural stones), and they’re just beautiful. I think there’s been a
lot of misinformation about what’s appropriate for a countertop and
what’s not. As soon as people hear ‘travertine’ or ‘limestone,’ they
automatically say, ‘Oh, I don’t want that in my kitchen. It’s going to
get dirty and stained.’ Well, if you don’t seal it, it probably will.
But the sealers on the market today are so good that you can use
virtually anything you want.”
http://www.hawaiiremodeling.com/hr82002/default.cfm?articleid=5
“…we are seeing a resurgence of interest in travertine, marble and
limestone on the kitchen counters and floors. We estimate 15 percent
of today's kitchens are using the calcium - based stones."..”
Selecting Stone
http://www.alphagranite.com/about/selecting_stone.html
========================================
USER DISCUSSION RE COUNTERTOP MATERIALS
========================================
TRAVERTINE
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=travertine+countertop
GRANITE
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=granite+countertop
MARBLE
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=marble+countertop
SLATE
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=SLATE+countertop
So, that should give you a good comparison of the countertop options
you were looking at plus a few more you may want to consider. Not
that my opinion matters in your final selection, but I must say the
engineered quartz (which I had never heard of until I started on this
question) and the soapstone hold the greatest appeal for me.
Thanks so much for your question. If anything I’ve said isn’t clear,
or if any of the links don’t work, please don’t hesitate to ask for a
clarification. I’d be happy to oblige.
-K~
Search terms:
Countertop options stone
Countertop materials comparison
Countertop [granite] [soapstone] [travertine] etc … |
