Marble

Marble is a luxurious, breathtaking stone. It is softer than many natural stones, which is what makes it so great for sculpting. It can also be a great choice for countertops as well—it just needs a little extra love and care when it comes to maintenance.

It needs to be sealed because it’s a porous stone, but you can depend on marble to hold its own against hot kitchen items. It is unlikely to scorch or sustain thermal shock, but if you’re feeling cautious, you can always use a hot pad.

Some people even install their marble outdoors to let it age naturally for a highly coveted, rustic appearance.

Quartzite

Quartzite is known for its stunning looks. Actually, its aesthetic is often compared to marble. But what people love about quartzite is the fact that it’s harder than marble. It still needs to be sealed, but it’s not as sensitive to acids or as likely to etch. It is extremely heat resistant, and it remains tough against stains, chemicals, and liquid damage too.

Soapstone

Soapstone is our natural stone selection that does not require sealant. This soft, natural stone contains a large percentage of talc, which is what gives it its unique feel. It has a dark aesthetic—known for its dark blue, gray, green, and black hues—so it can really make a rustic kitchen shine.

Soapstone can sometimes be vulnerable to scratches, but these scratches can be buffed out. We do still recommend using a cutting board when dicing food, though.

Because it doesn’t stain easily, soapstone is yet another great choice for an outdoor kitchen. It is heat resistant and very easy to clean.

Quartz

Quartz is our most well-loved engineered stone. This nonporous material does not need to be sealed—the additives included in its composition seal its pores and make it resistant to stains and liquid damage.

We do want to warn you about quartz’s reaction to heat, though. Since resins are included in its makeup, and resins are a type of plastic, you should never set hot pots and pans directly on the surface of quartz. To prevent scorching and other types of damage, use a hot pad.

Quartz comes in all sorts of patterns and designs, and it can even mimic the look of natural stone. But while it holds many of natural stone’s qualities, it should never be installed outdoors because it can fade under direct sunlight.

Granite

Granite is a tried-and-true material that comes in all sorts of bold colorations and patterns. It’s known for its hardness and its extreme heat resistance.

Much like many of our natural stones, granite is porous and requires a sealing routine in order to keep it tough and durable. These slabs are chemical resistant and super easy to clean, spiffing up with just a bit of soap and water.

Granite works well in outdoor kitchens in the same way that marble, soapstone, and quartzite do. Just beware that dark slabs of granite can soak up the sunlight and become hot to the touch!

Our Beautiful Variety

At Stone Concepts, Inc., we’re proud of the stone countertops stone types that we offer. To learn more about our selection or to schedule a consultation, get in touch with us today.