All About Countertops
CBS Exotic Stones in Winchester, MA
By Laura
When remodeling kitchens and baths, one of my favorite items to select are the stone countertops. I love nothing more than going to a stone yard and walking amongst the giant slabs, seeing old favorites like Carrara Marble and Taj Mahal Quartzite; and discovering new favorites like Blue Ocean Quartzite and Ironsbridge Quartz.
There are several different stone materials that are available for countertops, the four most recognizable are Granite, Marble, Quartzite, and Quartz. The first three are natural stones, extracted from a quarry. The latter, Quartz, is an engineered stone that is manufactured from natural quartz and polyester resin.
Each stone has different properties that are appealing, whether it be because of the ease of maintaining the stone, the color choices available, the durability, and of course, the price.
Quartzite and Quartz are two of my preferred materials. Both are durable, easy to clean and maintain, and can be found in a large array of colors and finishes. Polished stones are easily the most popular finish for kitchen countertops and will appear glossy, with a mirror-like shine.
Honed countertops are smooth like polished countertops, but the finishing process is cut short, resulting in more of a matte appearance.
And finally, leathered countertops start with a honed finish, but instead of having a smooth appearance, fabricators perform a brushing technique which adds texture to the surface.
Below is an example of the same exact material, Calcatta Cremo Marble, polished and honed.
Polished marble
Honed marble
At Wolfe Design Build, we’ve used all of these materials, plus wood species and more. Here are a few of the beautiful countertops that we’ve installed in our kitchens.
Absolute black brushed granite
Misty Wave Quartz
Walnut countertop with a cherry stain
Supreme White Quartzite
Pental quartz misterio
Pental quartz misterio