Choosing
the right material for your home is important in terms
of appearance, functionality and maintenance. Moreover,
since each natural stone is unique in its composition and
properties, it is particularly important to view the actual
slab to be used in your project.
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Granite: An
excellent choice for kitchen countertops and
other heavily used surfaces |
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Granite
is one of the most popular natural stones on the
market.
Available in a striking array of colors, granite’s
durability and longevity make it ideal for kitchen
countertops and other heavily used surfaces, including
table tops, bathroom vanity tops and shower walls.
While some synthetic surfaces scratch easily and melt
under hot cookware, granite resists heat. Granite is
also one of the most bacteria-resistant kitchen surfaces and it is not affected by citric acid, coffee, tea,
alcohol, or wine. It is also nearly impossible to scratch
and with proper cleaning, will not stain under normal
use (ask ICM about sealants to further improve resistance
to staining).
A leading consumer magazine recently compared granite
with engineered stone, ceramic tile, laminate, butcher
block, and other manufactured surfaces. Granite received
the highest overall performance rating as a kitchen
countertop material. |
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Marble: Beautiful
for furniture tops, bathrooms, fireplace facing
and hearths |
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Because
of its beauty and elegance, marble is also an occassional
choice for countertops. See also Marble Institute of America Soundness Classification.
Marble should be cared for as you would a fine wood
finish. Using coasters on table tops and cleaning up
spills immediately will help prolong marble’s
natural beauty. |
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Travertine,
Limestone & Slate: Beautiful
enhancements for your home |
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Travertine,
limestone and slate are other examples of natural stone
used in residential applications.
Travertine is a type of limestone and one of the most
popular natural stones for interior and exterior wall
cladding, interior and exterior paving, statuary and
curbing.
Popular applications include countertops, flooring,
interior and exterior wall cladding, and exterior paving.
Additional slate applications include kitchen countertops,
fireplace facings and tabletops.
Travertine, limestone and slate should be cared for
as you would a fine wood finish. Using coasters on
table tops and cleaning up spills immediately will
help prolong these stones natural beauty. |
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