What Are Granite and Marble Slabs?
Are you wondering about the
merits and uses of
granite or
marble slab in Toronto?
Natural stone is an excellent addition to any home due to its exceptional
durability and classic look that never goes out of style. Natural stone complements
nearly every existing décor and it blends well with many different design
elements already in the home.
Granite and marble are the two
most common types of natural stone that are used in the home. Both granite and
marble are available in either tile or slab form. The form of granite and
marble plays a big role in how the material is used in the home. For instance,
tiles are generally smaller and are used in a number of different ways,
including flooring and tiling. Slabs are larger pieces of the material, which
makes them useful for bigger applications such as creating countertops, vanities
and other larger surfaces in the home.
Granite and marble tiles are
more readily available than slabs due to the difficulty in finding larger
deposits of these rocks in the Earth’s crust, as well as the work required to
remove larger pieces intact. There is a high demand for both marble and granite
slabs, which is reflected in the increased costs of these materials over tiles.
The Benefits of Granite Slabs
Granite is an excellent choice
for kitchen countertops as well as bathroom vanities. Granite is naturally
resistant to the different types of everyday stresses that may be present for
surfaces in both the kitchen and the bathroom. It is relatively waterproof,
stain resistant and antimicrobial on its own, but these properties can all be
enhanced with the use of a sealant.
Granite is also resistant to
acidity, which helps to protect it against the various types of spills that
occur in the kitchen. Fruit juices, cola and coffee all contain acids which can
harm the finish of other countertop materials, but granite countertops can
withstand exposure to these liquids due to the exceptional hardness and
non-porous nature of the rock.
Granite countertops can be
finished to a polished, matte or textured look to go along with a huge variety
of colours and patterns.
The Benefits of Marble Slabs
Marble is softer than granite
and is a porous natural stone. Granite has a hard appearance while marble has a
softer, often translucent appearance. The veining and swirls that are present
in many slabs of marble can reflect light, providing an appealing, often
transparent look to the stone.
The porous nature of marble
requires regular resealing in order for it to provide maximum water and stain
resistance.
Both granite and marble slabs
offer exceptional durability that provide a long lasting beauty that will never
go out of style. With minimal maintenance, these natural stone countertops and
vanities can improve the resale value of the home while offering enhanced
performance over most traditional types of materials.
Protect your natural stone investment by taking the time to
find the highest quality granite and marble slab in Toronto for your new
kitchen countertops and bathroom vanities.