Healthy Indoors Magazine
Issue link: https://hi.healthyindoors.com/i/1498232
Healthy Indoors | 39 CONS: Some stone patterns are not perfect, can get stained or scorched. DGHH: A- Price Point: Medium NATURAL STONE The natural stone category is huge right now. Granite, marble, and quartzite being the most popular. In some parts of the country, granite is now the "entry" lev- el countertops offered, even though they are more expensive. These mined mineral stones are durable and heat resistant, but they do require regular maintenance to keep them looking good. A sealer needs to be applied usually once a year to prevent staining and water absorption, and these sealers are not human friendly. While the stone itself is ultra-heat resistant, the sealers are not and will discolor if you're not careful. PROS: Hard and durable, beautiful natural stone colors and patterns, thick ter and chip resistant, integral sink bowls to eliminate caulk joints. CONS: Scratches easily and is not repairable, limited colors and patterns, strong initial odor. DGHH: B- Price Point: Low SOLID SURFACE Solid surfacing is a lot like cultured marble. It too consists of marble dust, polyester, and dyes, but acrylic is also added into the mix. This makes the material more repairable for scratches and gouges and offers both a glossy and a matte finish. Solid surfacing can be used all over the home, including tub and shower surrounds. These were the hottest countertop materials available, un- til quartz came along. Pricing is about the middle of all the choices. PROS: Many colors and patterns, du- rable, integral sink bowls, repairable. slabs that look and feel substantial. CONS: Sealing is required to avoid stains, cracking and chipping is not un- common, natural stone can have ran- dom mineral streaks that some people find unattractive. DGHH: B- Price Point: Medium to High QUARTZ Quartz is the hottest trend in the coun- tertop space. Consisting of 90-95 percent natural stone quartz with a polyester resin blended in, these man-made slabs look al- most exactly like the real deal without the required regular sealing. Soap and water to clean is about the only thing you'll ever need to do. The material itself is inert, so chemically sensitive clients typically have no problems with quartz. PROS: Excellent color and pattern