Selecting stones

When selecting a stone for your resurfacing project, the material is chosen based on the area where the stone will be installed. This way you can determine the most durable option without compromising the look. There is a vast selection of resurfacing options, for now we will look into the most common options: Marble, Quartz, Granite, Quartzite. Before we get into the composition details of each material, take note of the activities surrounding the stone to determine which option suits your interior design idea.

Quartzite

For instance, will you be resurfacing a vanity top in your bathroom or adding a featured wall in your living room? In these two surface installation, one is sitting next to a sink exposed to water and the another can be covering a fireplace wall in which case is exposed to heat. Determine the resurfacing area is the first step.

MARBLE: Marble is the softest stone, maintenance associated with this type of material is considered to be at a higher-frequency than other stones that are denser in composition. The soft white tones of calacatta, statuario or the famous brilliant white of Thassos marble make this stone an attractive option to redress your floors, walls, and counters. However the tedious maintenance associated with this type of stone are not suitable. Natural characteristics of Marble: Marble is composed of calcium carbonate and other minerals. Considering that calcite is one of the main properties of this stone, it is prone to etching, carving and scratching. Areas where there are high levels of water exposure may alter the colour appearance of the stone. In order to maintain its natural beauty it is important to seal every 5-6 months depending on the traffic and exposure to water. The tedious maintenance has given rise to the marble-imitations available in quartz finishes.

Marble

QUARTZ: Quartz is an engineered product composed of natural stone with mixed-in resins making it a non-porous surface. This feature has put quartz at the forefront of counter options. However, it is important to note that the stone is still made up of natural composites; which means that its resistance to heat and stain is not 100% guaranteed. The wear and tear is not as fragile as a marble stone and does not require vigilant care, however acidic substances such as lemon, wine, olive oil should not be forgotten on the surface because it will end up absorbing it resulting to an altered appearance in colour or polish removal. The colour options available in quartz are endless making it a regularly favourable stone.

Quartz

GRANITE & QUARTZITE: I’m placing these 2 types of stones under the same category since they are often confused and namely because they are often categorized as granite. The main difference between the two is that granite is denser and harder in composition. Quartzite contains more crystalline properties making the surface more fragile in nature compared to granite. Essentially both surfaces are very dense in composition and the uniqueness of colour makes it an excellent option for unique and natural tone expressions. It is a natural stone and the piece you will be selecting will be solely yours as there is not one slab that is identical to the other. Unlike quartz, granite and quartzite is amassed from the quarry and after polishing then the real colour is revealed. As mentioned earlier, it is a natural stone and the tedious maintenance is applicable in this selection. Considering that it is harder in density and resistant to high levels of heat, sealing the surface once a year can be a sufficient frequency to maintain a flawless surface.