Stone Beautiful

Terrazzo & Marble Supply Company

Advanced technology has made it easier to quarry and mill natural stone. The resulting abundance of beautiful granite, limestone and marble makes it more affordable to specify stone counters in kitchens and baths. But how do you pick the right stone for the job? As with most finish materials, it's a balance between aesthetics and performance.

With stone, getting the aesthetics right is a hands-on process. Scott Fortman, AIA, principal with Gibbons, Fortman, Weber Architects in Chicago, has traveled to Italy to personally select stone for high-end homes he has designed. You don't have to visit the quarry to get the perfect selection for most jobs; however, Fortman does recommend going to the stone suppliers' warehouse rather than relying on samples. "It's tough to get the right look based on a sample because every batch of stone is different," he says. "We go to the stone yards with the client and mark the slab we want made into the counter."

Kevin Winkler, AIA, an architect with Wentworth Studio in Washington, D.C., also brings clients along. "Some veins are unobtrusive in appearance, some are flagrant, so it is best to have the client there to select the slab to ensure there is nothing in the color or pattern that they don't know about." You can also ask the fabricator to tape out the counter pattern on the slab so that you can see how veins or colors will accent the design.

Brad Meyer, national sales manager, Terrazzo & Marble Supply Co., Wheeling Ill., says that stone porosity is a consideration when choosing counter materials. To avoid staining, all stone should be treated with a sealant when installed and later, at recommended intervals. You also need to understand how a particular stone reacts to different substances. "Granites and quartz tend to be more acid-resistant than marbles and limestone," says Meyer. For example, foods such as lemons and vinegar contain enough acid to dull a marble or limestone finish.

Whether that's a problem depends on the clients' taste. Despite acid sensitivity, many cooking enthusiasts prefer marble kitchen countertops because of their traditional use in rolling dough. "Some people want the 'Italian farmhouse' look of a marble counter that will show its age with use," says Winkler. "Others prefer a more finished look. For instance, Giallo Venziano granite with a sandy or oatmeally brown and black with white quartz flecks that will hide stains and use." Winkler finds black granite increasingly popular because it has a fine finish. "As kitchens are more open to view from the rest of the house, home owners like the counters to have a furniture-quality appearance."

That furniture appearance can include the way the stone is shaped. Fortman adds more substance to stone counters by specifying a 1.5-inch edge sculpted to match mill work in the kitchen or bath. "The fabricators have many different knives with which to finish the stone and can create custom details to integrate with your designs," says Fortman. In fact, he once designed a seamless transition from a stone bathroom counter to a wood cabinet.

Here are five points to consider when choosing stone for a countertop.

1. Porosity. Find out what type of sealant is best to use, and how often.
2. Acid Resistance. Acid-based items such as orange juice or red-wine vinegar can potentially dull calcium-carbonate-based natural stones such as marble or limestone.
3. Color/Veining Variation. If you make a color selection based on seeing a small sample, be sure you are aware of potential color variation across larger pieces of the material.
4. Abrasive Resistance. Most granite and quartz surface stone is durable enough to withstand common residential use. The high gloss finish of polished marble and limestone is subject to scratching or dulling.
5. Balance of Color and Function. Granite and quartz surfaces can be more durable than marble or limestone, but the latter may be more colorful.