Helpful Tips from the Experts: Selecting the Right Natural Stone Type for Your Home

Selecting the right colors, textures, and styles for your home can be a time consuming and frustrating process. So many options and materials to choose from can be overwhelming. Most people have a general idea of what they like as far as colors that make them feel “at home”. From paint and curtains, flooring to counter tops, baths and more, the available decor gives homeowners an unending supply of decisions.

When exploring natural stone such as granite, marble, travertine, limestone, onyx or quartzite for use in you project, consider the following benefits.

Natural stone surfaces offer the best appearance available. A large part of the benefit is that every individual piece of stone is different from any other, ensuring that you will have a 100 percent unique and timeless look that will impact the aesthetics of your home or business dramatically.

Another major benefit is the high level of perceived value that natural stone brings to the table. People understand and appreciate the way natural stone looks, and whenever it is installed, it carries a connotation of luxury and elegance that people most definitely will notice. In many cases, installing natural stone finishes can add substantially to the value of your home or property. Read more here: http://www.chron.com/news/article/GHBA-Remodelers-Council-Choose-countertops-8302869.php

With all the choices available, it is important to narrow down the styles and materials that will work best in your particular environment. You may have seen in a magazine or on T.V a look that you really love, but will it truly work in your home? Softer stone, like travertine, can be easily scratched and damaged by pets’s nails or by heavy foot traffic for example. You need to have realistic expectations of what you are looking to add into your home, and how much time you are willing to dedicate to its care.

“People come in with various degrees of tile knowledge and anticipation of what they want,” Childs said. “We try to guide them through the process as a bridge between the client and their contractor, a bridge between the possibilities in tile and the finished product. We make sure [the contractor] doesn’t install a tile indoors that’s meant only for outdoors, for example, and we make sure it’s what the client wants.” – See more at: Atlas Marble & Tile Provides The Foundation For A Beautiful Home 

Most home decorating centers or contractors will have an in-depth understanding of the benefits and limitations for the available materials and will ask questions about your home and the look you are trying to achieve. This will help guarantee your selection will be on track with your overall design goal. Durability and functionality are of the utmost importance when selecting high traffic/high use areas like floors, counter tops, baths/showers etc.

Granite is considered to be the most durable natural stone counter top available. It is resistant to scratches, cracks and chips, making it perfect for everyday use. It is also very easy to maintain. Whereas marble is also very strong and resistant to damage, it is more porous than granite and therefore stains much more easily. If you choose marble for your countertops, you will need to be prepared to provide it with regular care and attention!

When it comes to choosing between marble and granite in terms of appearance, it really falls down to personal taste. Some people prefer granite as it looks more natural. It is also available in a wide range of colours and patterns, ensuring there is something suitable for every colour scheme. On the other hand, marble is popular due to its luxury aesthetics. It is most often found in black or white. The great thing about marble and granite is that they look beautiful in both modern and traditional settings. Check out the full article from Civil Engineer here.

 Whether it is for your kitchen, bath or flooring, you will find the right look and feel with the wide range of available colors, durability and luxury of natural stone. Enlisting the help of a professional will guarantee the right fit for your home and style.