The use of natural stone slab in Toronto homes is an easy way to add character and style to any room in the house. Natural stone is relatively easy to maintain and offers long-lasting protection against every day wear and tear. Choosing between the different types of stone will be a challenge for buyers as each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Consider the benefits of the most popular natural stone: granite, marble and porcelain. Buyers should have an understanding of the properties of each type of natural stone slab to assess what their needs will be.

 

 

For kitchen use, granite sits at the top of the list. Highly durable, granite is the strongest of the natural stone selections. Flecked with a salt-and-pepper appearance due to crystallized minerals trapped within the rock, granite offers a wonderful array of natural designs and colours that compliment any style. From modern to classic designs, choosing granite will give buyers a sense of security and provide a high return on investment. Granite requires very little maintenance and is not as porous as other natural stone slabs, making it great for countertops. When cooking, granite can withstand hot pots and pans placed directly on its surface. Cutting up ingredients is also not a problem on its strong surface, as it withstands any scratches and stains. Seal granite surfaces annually for best results and protection.

 

Granite is also a popular choice for high-traffic areas like hallways and entranceways. Other uses include bathrooms, floors, backsplashes, outdoor counter tops and patios.

 

 

Moving to the bathroom, a top choice among natural stone slab buyers is marble. This luxurious natural stone exudes luxury and sophistication. Kings and queens have adorned palaces with marble’s soft, milky appearance. Lying in a tub filled to the brim with bubbles is perfectly complimented with a soft and comforting environment. Marble offers bathroom décor this calming effect. Modern designs incorporate marble slabs in shower floors, accent walls, shelves and tub surrounds. Marble is softer than granite and requires a little more TLC. Make sure to wipe up any spills quickly as marble stains easier than other natural stones. Sealing at least once a year will definitely extend your marble’s beauty for years to come!

 

 

Porcelain slabs, not tiles, are also making a wave in modern decorating. Clay is fired in a kiln with glass and other minerals to create beautiful patterns and designs. While granite and marble are naturally designed, porcelain is manufactured. Porcelain is great for floors and countertops as well – consider using porcelain in the bathroom as well as the kitchen. Its natural properties make it virtually impermeable to water and fluids. It is often used to line showers given its high resistance. Compared to non-porcelain or ceramic tiles and slabs, porcelain is graded by the Porcelain Enamel Institute (PEI) to assist buyers in understanding how strong the porcelain is and how it should be used accordingly.