Countertop Materials

Ancient Materials | Contemporary Transformations

Granite, marble, quartz and quartzite are some of the most beautiful and durable materials available for use in your kitchen or bath but it can be hard to determine which is best for your project. We have put together some common characteristics of each material type to help you determine which material is best for your needs.

GRANITE

Since the time of Ancient Egypt, craftsmen have used granite to bring natural beauty and elegance to homes and public spaces. GMT Stoneworks continues this proud tradition by providing the latest in traditional or contemporary trends, and flawless, professional installation.

Formed of liquid magma deep in the earth’s crust, granite is one of the hardest natural products known to man, and once polished, will retain its luster indefinitely.

Granite is ideal for use in your kitchen or bath because it is:

  • Heat and scratch resistant
  • Difficult to chip
  • Stain resistant with proper care
  • Resistant to mold and mildew
  • Available in many colors to match any decor
  • Will have small visual cracks that are considered part of the stone.
  • Seams are visible and felt when you run your hand along it.
  • Will need to be sealed once a year

MARBLE

Centuries ago, Greek sculptors prized marble for its satiny texture and luxurious sheen. Today, those same qualities make marble one of the finest materials available for the fabrication of countertops and vanities. A symbol of refinement and quality, marble is formed when limestone or dolomite is metamorphosed into an interlocking mosaic of crystals.

Marble is ideal for use in your bath because it is:

  • Not recommended for use in kitchens or any other “high volume” area.
  • Is a natural product that is more porous than granite and therefore, more susceptible to staining, chipping, etching and scratching
  • Has a timeless, elegant and beautiful look
  • Will scratch in transport (from factory to slab yard to our shop to your home).
  • Will have small visual cracks that are considered part of the stone.
  • Has marks of efflorescence (appears as a white powdery residue on the surface of the stone).
  • Can come with shade, veining, and pattern variances from one end of the slab to the other.
  • Loses shine with wear.
  • Requires frequent applications of sealant.
  • Seams are visible and felt when you run your hand along it.

QUARTZ

“In 1963, the technology of creating engineered stone was developed by the Breton company in northeast Italy, who licensed the process under the trademark Bretonstone®. Over 50 years later, Breton is still alive and kicking. The process consists of blending pulverized natural stone aggregate with a mix of polymers, removing the air, then heating and shaping the material into slabs that have the hardness and appearance of natural stone. ” ~ TheSpruce.com

Engineered quartz slabs come in a large variety of colors and designs through a growing number of companies. The appeal of quartz is timeless in the design of the product and it is becoming more readily available.

  • are a manufactured. Many colors/designs have a consistent look throughout which helps reduce the appearance of seams.
  • Over time, exposure to direct sunlight may discolor the resin that binds the slab together.
  • Doesn’t need to be sealed
  • Is non-porous which helps to be stain-resistant
  • highly scratch resistant, but it can and does scratch. Tight-grained, dark, solid colors are especially susceptible to scratches are are often difficult to fix.
  • Available in a wide variety of colors and designs
  • Resin used in manufacturing most quartz countertops is a plastic, so it is prone to melting in heat above 300 degrees Fahrenheit

QUARTZITE

Quartzite is an increasingly popular natural stone choice among homeowners and interior designers.  It is a very hard metamorphic rock that originated as sandstone. Through a process of high heating and pressurization sandstone is transformed into Quartzite, an extremely strong and durable natural stone. It is ideal for any countertop surface due to its strength, long-lasting composition and timeless beauty.

  • More durable than granite or quartz
  • Is denser and less porous than granite
  • It can look like marble but won’t etch or scratch like marble.
  • Will need to be sealed once a year
  • Seams are visible and felt when you run your hand along it.
  • Tends to be more expensive because of the durability, rarity and the unique elegance of the stone.