The kitchen is one of the busiest rooms in your home. It is where families meet after long days to cook, share meals, play games, and even get homework done. And great countertops like quartz, quartzite, sintered stone, and granite provide quality for busy kitchens.
But which are the absolute best countertops to bolster busy kitchens? It takes a strong surface to withstand multiple tasks and many busybodies, after all.
Read on for a guide to the best surfaces, their distinct advantages, and advice on making the right selection for your home or business kitchen.
Quartz
This engineered blend of real crushed stone and enhancing resins offers superior durability in the face of many challenges. Quartz is hardy, temperature resistant, and strong enough to handle many different tasks. It is also built to be completely non-porous. While some countertops need to be sealed regularly, quartz has the protective and shiny seal built right in, so they are extremely low-maintenance. If they have any flaw, it is the low-heat resistant factor, withstanding only up to 150 degrees Fahrenheit due to its resin content.
Sintered stone
A relatively new, ground-breaking material, and next generation on from quartz, this product is a blend of man-made materials and natural minerals processed under a technology that replicates natural stone metamorphic change, but at an accelerated rate. This process undergoes tons of pressure and heat to create a zero-porosity and stain and heat-resistant countertop material.
Sintered stone is 100% natural based, containing minerals from granite, glass, ceramic, and natural oxides.
Quartzite
This natural metamorphic rock is composed almost entirely of mineral quartz. It is the second most porous, meaning they will readily absorb water, however, it does not to etch like marble.
It is the most desired stone after marble because of its soft veining and light colors; the veining variety stands out among all other natural stones.
Quartzite is one of the hardest countertop materials compared to granite, marble, and quartz; therefore, it is the least likely to scratch. However, it's another stone that needs frequent sealing because of its porosity.
Granite
Granite is durable and long-lasting. Unlike quartz, granite is a completely natural stone. It is hardy, temperature-resistant, and easy to clean. However, granite does need regular re-sealing. Without sealant, granite is very porous, meaning that it will absorb stains, liquids, and pathogens. However, a trustworthy granite supplier can re-seal your granite at regular intervals. The combination of strong stone and protective sealant offers superior durability for busy kitchens. Best of all, granite is an affordable surface.
Marble
The leader in style and elegance, marble has long been considered the countertops equivalent of silk or suede. White marble countertops, especially, are the desired product because of its unmatched beauty; however, marble etches. Etching is the physical reaction of marble when acids interact with the stone’s calcium carbonate content, meaning that if anything acidic drops on the countertop it will leave dull marks. Honing the stone does help reduce the visibility of these marks.
Just practice protective measures, and your marble will stay in top shape. Wipe up spills right away and clean them with gentle soap after cooking or dining.
Knowing these characteristics and following proper care will help you enjoy your marble countertops.
If you are in the market for new kitchen surfaces start shopping with Legacy Countertops today. We are the best resource for residential and commercial countertops in Alpharetta, GA. Visit us to see our selection, learn about ordering custom countertops, and get design advice to optimize your busy kitchen.
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