When remodelling a kitchen, you'll need to select a benchtop. Here are several benefits that natural stone offers.
Beautiful and Natural
Many people love stone for its decorative appearance. A slab of rock consists of various coloured minerals that swirl together to form unique designs. This natural variation provides many options when choosing a benchtop. Some slabs have vivid colour contrasts, while others are quite uniform. You can pick from diverse hues like white, black, green, tan and yellow. Rock is especially appealing because of its organic aesthetic, which tends to evoke a feeling of calm and meditation.
Customisation Options
You can change the look of a stone benchtop depending on what finish and edge you choose. A counter can look more rustic with a matte finish or more sophisticated with a mirror-like finish.
Other customisation options include choosing the slab thickness and its edge profile. You can opt for a thicker or slimmer slab of rock. Plus, you can select a more simple or more detailed edge. Bear in mind that stone is heavy, and your cabinetry will need to be robust to hold its weight, particularly if the slab is chunky.
Durable
Lasting for many years, a stone countertop is an investment of sorts. It will typically endure for longer than materials such as laminate, so you won't have to pay for a replacement for a long time.
However, you need to take care of the stone to maintain its condition. Seal it as regularly as recommended, which will create a less porous surface that offers some protection from stains. A sealant will typically block food from penetrating the rock immediately. Though acidic foods, in particular, can etch a surface if you're not careful.
The type of stone also affects how easy it is to care for. Granite is more resilient than marble in general. The colour of a slab can influence how reactive it is to spills and damage. Sometimes darker pieces of granite are more resilient than ones with lighter hues, for example.
Versatile
Because stone kitchen benchtops are so long-lasting, they're likely to survive kitchen remodels and renovations over the years. However, this will often not be a problem, as stone in general is versatile and fits diverse kitchen styles and settings. It complements rustic, country, industrial and contemporary kitchens. If you choose a simple edge style for the counter at the initial installation, it can be more adaptable, fitting into different settings.
Find out more about stone kitchen benchtops.