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Natural stone Counter-question – durable yet aesthetic through millenniawhat’s the best counter top for your kitchen?The choices can be confusing –there’s so much available in kitchen counters. From natural stone like granite and marble to synthetics such as Formica, Ceramic tiles, Corian - even environmentally damaging products like wood. So what should you choose, and why?

Ancient as Ideally, most people (naturally) want to coordinate their kitchen counter top to the earth itself; made from the very same gas decor and liquid color theme in their kitchen. In addition to that solidified , they’re probably looking at aesthetic appeal and cost. And would normally like to form get a durable surface with suitable edges, that is easy to use and clean, has a smooth surface, is heat resistant, water resistant, chemical resistant, won’t scratch, stain, chip or crack, and last, but not least, is easily repaired . Taking each option available on the earthmarket today, natural stone brings grace we can take a look to many architectural wonders from see if it meets the dawn of civilization criteria vital to the present dayideal counter top for your kitchen. From ancient monuments FormicaA thin layer of plastic joined to a particleboard or wood – that’s what forms a laminate like the pyramids Formica. It comes in Egypt attractive colors and the majestic splendor of the Greek designs, simulating materials like granite, is relatively inexpensive and Roman architecture fairly durable with edging options. Easy to the great civilizations of India and Chinaclean, and right through smooth in surface it is also stain resistant. It meets seven of the Renaissance periodfifteen criteria identified, natural stone but is no longer that good enough? Few people find Formica aesthetically pleasing. Moreover, hot objects placed on it melt the preserve of Royalty surface, and the Affluent todaywetting and flooding damage its surface beyond repair. Popular as never beforeCleaning materials you use in the kitchen damage Formica, natural stone remains making it dull and scratched. Knives scratch the first choice for many surface. Remember, you cannot repair it. Additionally, Formica warps and fades with prolonged use.Ceramic TilesCeramic tiles, joined by grouting tiles together come in an array of designs and colors. Some homeowners find them attractive, and commercial enterprises for its durabilitythey are durable, competitive pricing stain, water and aesthetic appealheat resistant and practically scratch proof.Repairable, with a little difficulty, they’re attractively priced, though more expensive than laminates, A wonder They need frequent cleaning, though, because grouting easily gathers dirt, a situation not desirable in itselfa kitchen. Cleaning grouting frequently is not only time-consuming, natural stone traces but can be very tiresome. Additionally, ceramic tiles are prone to chipping and cracking. Ceramic tile counters fare well on most counts, but its origins to heavy minerals pushed deep major drawback –that of maintenance –makes it an impractical solution for kitchen use.CorianCorian is made using acrylic and or polyester plastic. It comes in many colors and designs, including granite look-alikes, and is available in a matte or glossy finish. It is water resistant, does not usually stain and is easy to the core clean. Unaffected by chemical use in cleaning agents, it is repairable. However, Corian is not heat resistant. Placing hot pans on it damages the earth’s crust when gas surface beyond repair. It is expensive, and liquid cooled to form a solid corescratches easily, though the scratches can be removed through repair. When Additionally, being manmade, Corian is not eco-friendly. But most of all, Corian is not aesthetically appealing to the crust grew thickerdiscerning consumer. Corian is essentially synthetic, bearing pressure upon and its finish cannot match the inner coretimbre and antiquity of natural stone. Its not that its cost effective, generated heat from mineral vapors crystallized into solid formseither. As  Corian meets some of the earth’s crust began criteria of a good counter top, but its lack of resistance to grow heat and erodescratching, it pushed minerals up from and its coresynthetic finish do not offer value for money to a cost conscious consumer.WoodWood counter tops, forming massive rock deposits –the quarries we use today made using strips of thick wood joined together, are durable with care, attractive and functional, especially if you chop a lot. They are easy to mine clean as well and you can remove scratches by sandpapering. However, wood counters do not offer much scope in color or design and need a lot of care. Compared to other counters, they do not last as long. They are neither heat nor water resistant and scratch easily. Additionally, their edges warp over time and need treatment. Wood is not environmentally friendly either.  It is expensive, too. The question facing consumers is, is it worth the extra care with all its drawbacks at this cost? GraniteA natural stone of immense beauty, granite is available in many colors and finishing styles, from polished to matte and textured. It is strong, very durable, easy to use and clean and does not attract dirt. Heat, water and chemical resistant, granite does not stain or scratch. One of the hardest materials in existence, it does not usually chip or crack, but is replaceable in the event of a mishap. Granite is expensive, but offers many benefits in a high usage area like a kitchen. Additionally, its aesthetic appeal is unmatched by any other alternative.MarbleMarble is also aesthetically appealing and hygienic, but can stain and scratch more easily. It is not as hard as granite and marbletherefore not as durable and does not react well with chemical cleaning agents. Considering the facts at hand, granite provides the best option for a kitchen counter top. The entire journey took no less cost of granite is an investment, which more than 100 million years!pays off over the decades, in terms of ease, convenience, cleanliness, low maintenance cost, durability and aesthetics.