A few things to know about travertine countertops

There are plenty of people out there who are availing travertine countertops Jacksonville these days. The good thing about travertine is that it looks a lot less costly but at the same time it happens to look really sophisticated as well. Apart from countertops they are also using it in their bathrooms, walls, and floors. In fact, as a material travertine has been used for centuries. It was used in coliseums that date back to 2000 years. Contemporary architects are using them as well. Travertine is basically a kind of limestone that is created because of extreme pressure and heat. It looks a lot like marble but happens to be highly porous as well.

It is also referred to as onyx marble at times. The best sources for the raw material for travertine countertops Fort Myers are countries and regions such as Italy, Turkey, Mexico, and the Middle East. One of the best things about travertine is that it is found in a wide array of earthy colors. The major reason for that is the fact that it happens to be a natural stone. It is found in a number of beautiful shades such as the following:

·         walnut

·         gold

·         cream

·         coral

·         red

·         beige

·         ivory

These colors are formed because of the mixture of travertine with impurities such as iron. They also have natural holes and veining. It is these characteristics that make them so appealing in the first place. When you have travertine countertops at home they would add plenty of beauty to your home décor. They look really gorgeous. This is the reason why apart from countertops they are also used as flooring tiles, pavings, and wall coverings. These countertops are available in a wide range of finishes such as polished, brushed, matte, or tumbled.

Facts about soapstone countertops

As far as countertops made from natural stone are concerned there are plenty of options out there. Normally the most popular options in this regard are granite and marble. But you can also go for soapstone countertops as well. The advantage of marble is its light veining structure and the striking aspect of granite is its dark beauty. Soapstone however can be considered a viable alternative to both these choices. It is durable and requires relatively lesser maintenance. It also has a lovely feeling to it, the kind that you associate with days gone by.

Maintenance

The good thing about soapstone is that it does not stain.

However, with passage of time and usage soapstone countertops Jacksonville do get dark. This is a non porous and inert stone. This means that you do not need to spend money sealing it. At times, this stone is treated with mineral oil. The main aim here is to achieve an appearance that is even toned and dark.

Daily care

As opposed to marble, soapstone is not bothered by acids such as red wine and lemon juice. In fact, this is one major reason why it is such a preferred choice when it comes to worktops used in laboratories. 

Soapstone countertops also happen to be resistant to heat as well. You can keep hot cooking utensils on it straightaway without any fear whatsoever. All you need in order to clean it is water and soap.

Durability

Soapstone is not really hard. In fact, it is more on the softer side. This is the reason why it is vulnerable to nicks and scratches. However, you can easily address such a situation with sandpaper.

Colors

It is available in a wide range of colors such as gray, black, and greenish hues. The extent of veining also differs from one slab to another.

Factors in favor of quartz countertops

One of the major positive aspects of quartz countertops Ocala is that they offer a combination of beauty and other virtues that you would not find in many other surfaces. This is the reason why quartz happens to be such an ideal material for countertops. It also helps that as a material quartz is resistant to scratches and it can be cleaned quite easily. It also does not need to be sealed or polished.

Appearance

Obviously the thing that works the best in favor of these countertops is the appearance factor. The thing with quartz is that its appearance can be controlled at the time of manufacturing itself.

This is something that is unique to quartz kitchen countertops and is not available with many other such materials out there. The material itself happens to be quite flexible and this is the reason why it is so easy to alter the pattern, color, and texture of the final product as such. It also helps that quartz does not have a lot of defects and this is the reason why in the manufacturing process so little waste is generated.

High amount of strength

As a material quartz is quite strong. In most cases these countertops are made by combining natural quartz, a resin binder, and a colorant.

Quartz takes up almost 93 per cent in quartz countertops. Since the material itself is a strong one the strength of the final product is comparable to the likes of marble and granite as well. Its level of thickness is much similar to the aforementioned materials.

Non porous nature

As a material quartz is naturally able to resist scratches and stains. Much of this is because of its non porous nature. This is also one major reason why the material need not be treated in any way or sealed as such. 

What do you need to know about onyx countertops?

As such onyx countertops happen to be quite rare. Their look is also awesome and unique to say the least. However, at the same time it also needs to be said that you need to understand the ways in which this particular countertop material can be used. This stone is very rarely used horizontally when it is used as countertop. As such, onyx happens to be a dramatic stone and strikingly so. It comes in a wide range of swirling patterns as well as pastel colors. However, it also needs to be said that onyx can get scratched quite easily and it also loses color just as easily as well.

This is the reason why it can look used and older than what it actually may be. Apart from countertops onyx can also be used to make sinks that can add quite a lot of dramatic effect to your home as such. One of the greatest features of onyx countertops Fort Myers is that they are translucent. Yes, light can be transmitted through the material. This is the reason why you would find at so many homes these countertops are backlit. The main idea in those cases is to make sure that proper use can be made of this wonderful property of this stone.

You can also make backsplash with onyx.

A few words on the stone itself

Onyx can be described as a calcareous stone. It is formed when limestone gets dissolved and is deposited again as a new form of stone. It is formed in caves as well when drip water accumulates to form stalagmites and stalactites. As such, onyx happens to be a soft stone that is highly brittle as well. This is why when you get countertops made from this stone you need to be really careful.

A few words on marble countertops

The thing with marble countertops is that they are really beautiful and much of this is because of the fact that they happen to be natural stones by origin. The natural nature of this material makes sure that it is as durable as they come. Marble does not stain or get cracked that easily. This means you can perform any and every food preparation related work on such a countertop and not worry if it would be damaged at all. Its durability also means that it stays protected against high temperatures pretty easily. In case of less durable materials such temperatures could lead to fire or a severe burn at the very least.

However, you also need to keep in mind that there are limits to what marble can withstand. If you want to make sure that your marble kitchen countertops stay in top condition for years to come do use some kind of protection. For example if you want to place a hot cooking pot on it do use padding or a pot holder for that matter. It still needs to be said that it takes a natural disaster like an earthquake or a tornado to crack a marble surface. 

This happens when heavy material such as debris land on the surface.

Thickness of marble

Yet another key characteristic of marble is that it is pretty thick as far as its size and weight are concerned. Since they are so thick marble kitchen countertops Fort Myers tend to be fairly rigid as well. In this case you need to keep in mind that the beauty of marble can be lessened because of exposure to acidic elements. They normally come in two major kinds of finishes – polished and honed. As far as countertops are concerned, they are normally honed in order to make sure that they stay protected from damage.

The beauty of granite countertops

Any and every granite fabricator out there would tell you that your rooms would look the best with a granite countertop. With this addition you would be able to add plenty of elegance to your home for sure. In case you are building a kitchen from the ground up or remodeling one these countertops are something that you need to give some serious consideration. In this context it is also important to keep in mind that if you do install granite countertops at home they should at least match the décor of the room where the installation is being done. You should also make an effort to choose a piece that would be in keeping to any and every change that you make to the décor of that particular room.

It should never happen that you have to discard them just because they no longer suit the décor of that room or even your home in general.

The utility of these countertops

As any granite fabricator Ocala would tell you, granite countertops are capable of significantly improving the overall look and appeal of your kitchen or any other room that they are put in. However, it would be wrong to assume that their utility is restricted only to the aesthetic side of things.

Any granite fabricator Jacksonville would tell you that there are several other uses of these countertops as well. They are fully capable of raising the value of your home. You can be sure that this would come in handy when you decide to sell your house and move on in life. They are also capable of playing the role of cutting boards. In spite of being how beautiful they are you can be sure that you would not be damaging them even if you used them for such a purpose.