Are you hoping to install a marble or granite countertop in your renovation project? Natural stone slab for Toronto homes are available at better stone importers in the GTA, and the best way to select stone is to visit a showroom and talk to knowledgeable staff.

 

Before visiting a stone importer’s showroom, it can be useful to know a few basic facts about these two popular natural stone choices. This article will give you a brief overview of the respective advantages and disadvantages of the two types of stone.

 

 

Marble is the most luxurious countertop material available. Historically, marble was the stone used by the wealthy to create an atmosphere of beauty and luxury. Buildings like the Taj Mahal feature marble elements and accents, and classical sculptures such as Michelangelo’s David were carved from white marble. With centuries of history behind it, we associate marble with elegance and luxury.

 

A metamorphic stone, marble is created when limestone is subjected to intense heat and pressure.

 

Marble used to be extremely costly, because of the work-intensive nature of the extraction process. With the technological advances of recent decades, the price of marble has dropped significantly, putting it within reach of many Toronto homeowners. While it is still at the top of the list of high-end countertop materials, investing in marble also adds resale value to your home.

 

Marble is available in a range of colours and patterns, from classic white and neutral shades to vibrant jewel tones.

 

Marble also has some disadvantages when compared with granite. It’s a softer stone, so it can be scratched more easily. Also, acidic foods and liquids like tomatoes, vinegar, orange juice, and red wine can stain the surface. In order to keep your marble countertop from staining, you must maintain the seal, which means testing it periodically to see if it needs resealing, and applying a commercial product.

 

 

Granite is the most popular natural stone countertop material. It is slightly less expensive than marble, but it also adds resale value to your home. One of the hardest substances in the world, granite is very tough and it resists heat, scratches, stains, and chipping. Granite, as a stone, gets top marks for durability!

 

An igneous rock, granite is formed when magma cools between the earth’s layers. Almost every region of the world has deposits of this particular stone.

 

Granite is available in a huge range of colours and patterns, and each slab is unique – one of nature’s art works!

 

The disadvantages of granite countertops include some of the same criticisms that are leveled with marble countertops, such as the need to reseal the surface periodically (although this is not required as often as with marble.)

 

Recently, concerns have been raised regarding granite possibly emitting radon. There is a possibility that granite containing uranium deposits could emit radon, but in 2010, Health Canada tested thirty-three types of granite and found no significant radon emissions in any of the samples.

 

Natural stone countertops can add a great deal of beauty to your everyday life, as well as value to your home. Visit a Toronto stone importer’s showroom and learn more about marble, granite, and other types of stone.