Australia
Benchtop Stone Selection
There is no such thing as a bad stone, there are however inappropriate selections for a given application and unrealistic expectations for a given stone type. The informed selection of natural stone is also influenced by the end user. To some, etching, or weathering, brings about a character that is unique to one's home.
The ideal benchtop is harder than the objects around it so that it doesn’t get scratched, strong enough to withstand the occasional impact from a heavy pot and resistant to acids like lemon juice and vinegar.
While travertine, marble and limestone are quite beautiful to look at, they require more maintenance than a granite surface would. They are highly porous and therefore stain easily. Over time, normal cooking ingredients such as orange juice, wine or turmeric can harm the stone. These stones are best saved for lighter trafficked areas such as bathroom vanity tops, bath hobs, flooring or as wall cladding.
Granite is tough, durable, has low porosity and is easy to clean. It is for this reason it has gained widespread use as kitchen benchtops. It comes in a variety of colours and pattern variations. Granite’s resistance to all types of weather is also the perfect solution for external application.
