Home is a place where a person gets shelter and peace of mind. Therefore, keeping the house clean and beautiful is the responsibility of the dweller. Like bedrooms, living rooms, and washrooms, one has to maintain the beauty of the kitchen as well. This can be done by using proper stone benchtops in kitchens. Benchtops enhance the beauty and elegance of the kitchen, making it attractive. Usually, such benchtops are available in a variety of material and color, such as marble, granite, limestone and engineered stone. Out of this entire range, granite benchtops are the most common as they are cheaper than the other types. Granite benchtops are easy to install. These days, there are a few benchtop companies that offer their customer a wide range of variety to choose from. Post the designing, the company takes the entire responsibility of contacting a cabinet maker and manufacturing and installing stone benchtop at the person’s kitchen.
Engineered Stone:
Engineered stone is a composite stone material. It is usually made up of around 90% of quartz stone that is joined by a polymer resin. For beauty enhancement, engineered stones sometimes possess colored glass, mirrors, shells, and metals within it. Like granite and marble, engineered stone can be used for all purposes but is mainly chosen for kitchens and bathrooms. Being more resilient than natural stone materials, this type of stone bench top is more in demand.
Features of Engineered Stone:
Engineered stone is usually stain proof as it is non-porous. Stains of liquids can be easily removed from it by using any preferred surface cleaner. Due to its non-porous property, it is more hygienic for public washrooms.
Unlike natural stones, engineered stones possess a uniform structure that gives it more value.
Differences Between Natural Stone and Engineered Stone:
There are four principle differences between the two.
Natural vs. man-made: Granite is a more common choice for high end projects. This is because of its durability and style. The minerals like quartz, tourmaline, topaz, garnet, and titanite present within it, contribute to its crystalline appearance and scintillating look. However, engineered stone is manmade. It is manufactured in a facility and is comprised of 95% natural stone and 5% resin.
Flaws and consistency: Since granite is a natural stone it usually includes many flaws and irregularities. Therefore, slabs usually vary in color, shape, and thickness. Engineered stones being machine made have perfect shape and consistency. They can be replicated to achieve the same look. But because of its artificial manufacturing, it sometimes lacks the original stunning beauty of granite stone.
Strength and durability: As granite counters possess natural divots and fissures, they are usually more prone to cracking. But, adequately sealed granite counters do not have this issue. However, engineered stone is harder and heavier and therefore almost crack and fissure resistant.
Maintenance: Granite being more porous usually gets stained easily if acids, coloring agents, and oil are involved. However, engineered stone is completely non-porous and therefore stain resistant.
Advantages of Stone Bench Tops:
Quality is the most imminent benefit of using stone bench tops. It provides high quality and durability.
Beauty is the next factor. Stone indeed has amazing aesthetic quality.it is smooth to touch and has spectacular beauty due to its stunning features like the mixture of color and shades.
Durability is the most important factor and the final one. Due to its natural presence stone bench tops are sturdy and long lasting. It is usually stain and scratch proof and does not degrade over time.