Is the stone right for your project? While onyx and marbles are quite beautiful with their translucent colors, bright whites, and intense swirls and markings, think twice if you are putting in kitchen countertops. If you love to cook or have children, this isn't the best of combinations.
|
|
These stones, as well as travertine are best saved for lighter trafficked
areas. Granite and soapstone are both very durable natural stones and work wonderful for kitchen countertops. These will last many life times with heavy use in your kitchen. Think about how you will use the stone. Once you know the type of stone you are going to use, narrow down your color preferences. How do you choose a color or narrow it down? |
Look at color charts and samples to get a feel for what you like. When you're out and about, pay attention to what others have done with color. Think about what color makes you feel good.
Do you like dark stones? The darker stones tend to be harder, and shinier with less chance of staining or discoloring. They also need to be sealed less frequently, if even at all! But, they tend to show fingerprints and dust more readily. If you have a smaller kitchen, a dark stone may make your kitchen appear smaller.
Find a Pre-Screened Ceramic Tile Contractor in Your Area
If you love the look of lighter colored stones, they will expand a small
room and make it seem larger. Dust and fingerprints aren't so apparent. But,
lighter stones are more apt to stain and they need to be sealed more
frequently.
Look at the different patterns... solids, swirls, dots. There are so many to
choose from, you're bound to find one that's totally you. Other than
choosing the right type of stone for your project, color is important. You
will look at it every day. Go with the look and color you love. Take your
time.
Think about the thickness of your stone. A 3/4 inch stone is best suited for
vertical wall applications and fireplace surrounds while 1 1/4 is preferable
for countertops.
Have you thought about your surface finish? I prefer polished for its shine,
ease of care, and maintenance but I know it's not for everyone. If you don't
like a shiny look, a honed finish may be for you. This matted surface does
take a little more maintenance and care and it's more susceptible to stains
and aluminum markings.
A flamed or brushed finish still has a shine but it is more dimpled or rough
to the touch giving your stone a natural look. This finish isn't a great
choice for countertops because of the textured surface. It will be harder to
clean. Ask your fabricator about the pros and cons of different finishes for
your project before heading out to look at stone. Then, make the appropriate
selection.
Your fabricator will tell you how much stone you need, as in how many slabs.
Do you know What size slabs you want or need? This is so you are able to
minimize your seams. Slabs of different stones come in many different sizes.
Since stone is a natural product, there is no such thing as "one size fits
all". If your countertop is 100 inches long and the slab is only 80 inches
long, you will have a seam. With this information in hand, you're off to the
stone yard/ showroom.
How to Finance your
New Home Project - FirstAgain
can
help provide funds for your new home improvement project if financing is
required.
Apply online today
!
See HomeAdditionPlus.com's Ceramic Tile Calculator
About the Author - Darren Thorson fabricates and installs natural stone near Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is also co-author of http//www.natural-stone-interiors.com, a site dedicated to helping homeowners choose natural stone. For tips, hints, and ideas every month, go to http//www.natural-stone-interiors.com/the-stone-circle.html
Additional Ceramic Tile Resources from Amazon.com
 |
 |
 |
Building the kitchen of your dreams doesn’t have to be a long, drawn-out process. We can help you get started today. In just seconds, we’ll search our pre-screened network to find a well-established kitchen remodeling company with the right combination of service and products you’re looking for. [Learn More]
