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 Solid
Surface counter tops are most popularly requested in man-made
product because the natural stone industry does little to
promote their natural product, stressing it's durability and
competitive costs. Granite is the preferred stone because
it offers a wide range of attractive color and markings, and
has a very high resistance to staining, abrasion and heat.
Natural Stone
materials commonly used for counter tops are granite, marble,
Travertine, and, to a lesser degree Limestone, Soapstone and
Slate.
Granite is formed
through volcanic action from the very basic magma which cooled
and, through the seepage of minerals and gaseous materials
forms the complex chemical crystalline structure common to
all granites.
All granites are extremely hard and dense making them able
to take very high polishes. They are very stain resistant,
particularly when sealed at the production facility. They
are resistant to scratching and abrasion and are unaffected
by high temperatures that may occur in proximity to a stove
or oven, making them ideal for kitchen use. Unlike marble,
granite is generally very sound and does not require extensive
patching or repair.
If there are 300
varieties of granite available, then, there are likely to be that number
of different prices, as prices start at the quarry and are subject to
ease of block extraction, waste, difficulties of transport to mills
where production begins by sawing blocks to slabs. The size of blocks
depends on working around intrusions and natural faults and seams. The
industry tries to work near the "ideal" that will produce
slabs 9'-0" x 5'-0", however, conditions cause a wide and
un-predictable variation.
Each job must be figured
on near custom basis with wide material cost variation coupled with
unpredictable slab size availability making waste difficult to
understand. Frequently job size requirements will leave a large portion
of a slab un-used and this becomes waste as odds are against this piece
being useful on another job utilizing the same variety as there is such
wide variation of markings and color tones from on "block" to
another.
 Marble
is a stone that is organic in origin, formed by plant and
sea creature remains in ocean beds, accumulating over many
1,000's of years; compressed by weight of overburden of both
land and water, under-going metamorphic change, through great
heat, upheaval, and pressures, over a long period of time.
Colors and markings are as wide ranging as the locations of
world-wide deposits. Veining is caused by seepage containing
mineral and chemical pigmentation before and during the long
period of formation.
Brecciaed varieties have occurred through breaking up of formed
or partially formed deposits that "re-cement" over
the long periods of development.
Although marbles are very beautiful in color, markings and
veining, they do require a lot of care when used as counter
surfaces as they will scratch, the polish will abrade, and
they will stain unless properly sealed and on occasion, re-sealed.
Marble is frequently
unsound requiring expert mending with specially formulated epoxies and
poly-esters which are allowed under industry standards, resulting in
visual and structurally acceptable finished product.
Travertine is similar to
marble but formed in warmer under-water conditions where air trapped
during formation causes voids to form creating many "holes"
that are frequently filled with tinted cements and occasionally filled
with polyester. It takes all of the care that marble requires.
Soap stone is
a material that has been used for about 100 years, primarily
for laboratory tops and sinks due to it's unique acid and
chemical resistance. It also has a high degree of resistance
to intense heat, making it useful for fire-place and stove
linings. It is available only in one color and will not finish
higher than a hone (dull, smooth) finish. It's one color is
a utilitarian bluish gray with little granular or veining
variation. Accordingly, it is very rarely considered for architectural
counter and lavatory tops.
Man made products, such
as terrazzo, agglomerates, "cultured", etc. are created by
mixtures of an agglomerate, (such as marble chips), and a matrix, (such
as Portland cement, poly-ester resin, etc.), tinted or colored, with
mineral or chemical colors.
In summary, it should be
noted Granite is the hardest of all Stone next to diamond. There really is no
comparison to the man made products which will burn, scratch and stain. Surprisingly,
Granite is oftentimes less expensive then the synthetic or man made
products which competitors attempt to fashion under Granite but fail
miserably in those attempts. In selecting Granite, it
should be noted that Granite is a lifetime product while replicas must
be sanded, buffed or polished to restore the loss of luster and it's
life is very short compared to Granite.
Please take us for "Granite"
and contact us
:)
STONE
SAMPLES
Colors may vary
due to monitor variations - Click on samples below to see a larger image
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