If you would like to go for a natural stone kitchen worktop we would recommend Granite. Due to its good resistance to heat and cold, granite is a perfect fit for the kitchen – you can place hot pots, pans and ovenware directly onto the worksurface. Granite has minimum porosity, although it can still absorb small amount of liquid (especially when compared to quartz composite surfaces). Granite has a dense structure. It is hard and not easily damaged in the course of daily use.
Granite is an igneous rock produced by volcanic activity over millions of years. Granite is found all over the world giving unique textures and colours. Once it is quarried and cut into slabs the face of the slab is polished to produce a magnificent addition to your kitchen.
Granite is a natural product so natural flaws can occur. Each slab will be different and we would always recommend that our customers view the slabs before any work commences. A sample can be provided but will only give you an indication as even two slabs from the same block can be very different.
Marble is a metamorphic rock swirled or clouded with colour (although some, calcite and dolomite marbles for example, are pure white). The unique texture derives from the size and uniformity of the grains within it, its special colours due to the various elements and compounds it contains. This brecciation is a part of marble’s appeal – rocks recrystallised under intense heat and pressure being created at their most natural. The luxurious appearance and cool touch of marble make it an ever popular choice and the perfect material for bathrooms and living areas.
Less durable and more porous than granite, and more easily scratched or stained, we do not recommend the use of marble in higher maintenance areas such as kitchens.
Limestone is a sedimentary rock, composed mainly of skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral, forams and molluscs. Its major materials are the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate (CaCO3). Limestone looks better as it is allowed to age or mature. The longer it takes to form, the more beautiful the surface details. Some limestone slabs are embedded with fossils, giving the surface a much more natural beauty.
Because limestone is relatively soft, will stain, scratch, etch, and look worn over time, we do not recommend it for use in kitchen worktops.
Your kitchen is at the heart of your home and our quality worktops will create the perfect impression. We can help you decide what is the best product to create the look you are going for. Our experts will talk you through the process and will help to ensure a perfect result .