When you are considering which material to choose for your kitchen counters, many facets must be carefully examined and weighed before making a decision. After all, when it comes to granite and marble, neither are budget options. And if you are going to spend a penny on materials to furnish your home, you must make the right decision. So, let us see what are the characteristics of both granite and marble. Along the way, we’ll mention how those traits translate into practical benefits.
The characteristics of granite
This igneous rock is usually made up of quartz and feldspar which give granite its amazing colorful appearance. Since these minerals come in a variety of colors, it’s no surprise that you can find granite countertops in just about every color. Grey, pink, black, green, and the list goes on and on. This diverse selection of colors is one of the characteristics that makes granite such a popular surface. And although it is not a modest option, it is a tough material. Which brings us to another sought-after quality when it comes to finding a good countertop for your home, durability.
The strength of granite is another key aspect of what makes people select this as their countertop. On the Mohs scale (a scale for measuring the hardness of a substance), which goes from 1 to 10, granites are in the range of 6 to 7. Therefore, they are considered hard. This feature stands out when selected as a countertop because it means that a granite countertop will hold up well to regular events that can put a surface under “attack” from everyday use. For example, imagine a hungry teenager trying to separate two pieces of frozen meat. Your solution may be to firmly bounce the frozen balloon against a hard surface to separate them. Therefore, for its diverse beauty and strength, granite countertops are the choice of many people like you who choose new countertops.
Noble qualities of marble
The elegance of marble really shines through its soft, delicate shades that vary in color. Compared to granite, marble needs a little more maintenance. It weighs about 5 on the Mohs scale and is considered a softer stone than granite. The mineral calcite is a key part of the shiny and even shiny appearance that marble is known for. Because calcite is a small-sized crystalline formation, it lends a distinctive shine to a marble countertop. However, that key mineral also generates caution, a reaction known as etching.
The shiny surface of a marble countertop can sometimes be etched. Some people refer to these etching marks as “spots” or “dull spots.” In reality, this etching is the result of the shine caused by the calcite being devoured by acidic liquids that can be found in the home, such as citrus juices, soda or vinegar, among others. When these acids come into contact with calcite, they eat away at it and the result is a “dazzled” marble. It is treatable with commercial products, however this is something to consider when choosing new countertops.
The bottom line is that both granite and marble can stain and there are some necessary maintenance treatments that all natural stone requires. These include sealing and the use of a neutral PHP cleaner that will not dissolve the sealant. But no matter which you choose, granite or marble, you’ll have a beautiful and durable natural stone to serve as the “heart of your home,” the kitchen.
