This is one of the top questions we get at Granite Plus, “If I spill wine on this will it stain?” Natural Stone has depth and gives personality and character to any space. Whether a natural stone can be permeable or not is always a surprise as we are dealing with nature and only time will tell, but it is not something to worry about when putting a little piece of earth into your home.
Quartzite, Granite and Marble are the most common rocks for countertops. Quartzite has distinct and absolutely gorgeous veining and the variations of colors in quartzite is almost unbelievable. These natural characteristics make quartzite the top choice for interior designers for this reason. Quartzite is a very hard rock. The chances of any etching or chipping are slim, but does it pass the test for the wine drinkers? Although quartzite is one of the hardest rocks available for countertops, we have come across some quartzites that are permeable in their natural state. Natural stones are not installed in their natural state; they are sealed so you can enjoy that glass of Cabernet.
Granite is also a hard rock. Etching and chipping are not generally a concern. There is an extensive number of granites available today and their permeability varies. In general, Granite is the least porous of the rocks and permeability may be less noticeable due to its characteristics. Granite has many variations of minerals causing a multitude of color variation and shapes.
Marble is absolutely opulent and its light colors, with ravishing movement, are always in high demand. In recent years manmade materials are working hard to impersonate these characteristics, but there is nothing that compares to the look of natural marble. There are different classifications with marble when having a conversation of etching, chipping, and permeability. There are soft marbles and hard marbles. Soft marble in its natural state is the most permeable of the natural stones, but the look of soft marbles is the most desired. You can enjoy a glass of Merlot on a soft marble worry free by having it dry treated and sealed. Dry treat is a treatment that will protect your marble from permeability and etching and it is warrantied for 15 years. Hard marbles are less permeable and less likely to etch than soft marble.
Granting all of this information, these days you do not have to be concerned with putting natural stone in your home. These exquisite rocks are sealed before they are sent to the fabricators and then again when installed into a home. Once you have a little piece, or maybe I should say big piece, of nature in your home, like a plant, it might need a little loving care sometimes, but it is very simple to protect your natural countertops and it is worth the beauty and character it will bring into your home. Use a natural stone friendly cleaner daily and about once a month use a cleaner plus sealer. That is it, and you can enjoy your rock with your Shiraz forever.
Choosing a natural stone is exciting, but it can also be overwhelming. Tassels Interiors has been serving Bay County and surrounding areas for over 20 years and the designers at Tassels have given some insight on how to ‘Raise the Bar’ on your project.
“Elements of interior design are INFUSED with Space, Balance, Texture, Pattern, Light, Color, Form and Function. In the end, design flows like a ‘Fine Wine.’ When selecting a stone of your choice keep in mind it is a major investment and a large element in your overall design plan. If selected properly it will withstand the test of time, comparable to your favorite ‘Wine.’ When there is a strong directional pattern in the natural stone, such as a vein, the flow match is especially important to create a consistent line of movement. You may consider utilizing the stone as your backsplash or coordinating a decorative tile, allowing one or the other to be the STAR of the show. We are seeing a move towards more modern spaces, meaning keep it simple and clean, less movement in your stone or if you want dramatics add a bold stone to balance the simplicity of your form.”
Tassels team can help you create a unique and personalized design for your space that speaks to your STYLE.
