05-06-2013, 09:52 PM
Davester,
I hear you about quartz. Many of the flavors of quartz are bland and unnatural in appearance. Some, though, can be stunning. I’d already chosen and installed granite into the kitchen in my old apartment when I saw some examples of quartz and similar materials that would’ve given the stone I chose a defintie run for its money in beauty. My old apartment has Crema Bordeaux granite combined with cherry cabinetry and a porcelain backsplash that mimics travertine near perfectly. I’ve fooled real estate agents with it - lol!
I’ve seen soapstone and it looks nice. however, I wouldn’t go near it due to the maintenance issues. Granite in itself requires more maintenance than I prefer and soapstone is even more work. I wouldn’t want to have to oil the countertops regularly nor would I want a countertop that scratches easily. That’s just me, though.
Robert
> If you're primarily going for low maintenance, then
> "quartz" countertops are better than "granite". They
> are not "fused quartz" though. They are basically
> quartz sand mixed with acrylic resin glue and coloring.
> Personally I don't care for them purely based on how
> they look. However, if the look appeals to you then
> they are a good (if expensive) choice.
>
> Another material to consider is soapstone. Soapstone is
> completely non-porous and you can set hot pots and pans
> on it with no issue whatsoever. It has a really nice
> texture also. The downside of soapstone is that to keep
> it looking its best you have to oil it every 6 months or
> so (reapplication is necessary because it is nonporous
> so the oil eventually evaporates from the surface) and
> it is softer than granite, so it can be scratched
> (though it's very easy to sand out the scratches to
> make it look like new again). Since it is soft, you can
> work it with carbide-tipped woodworking tools, so a DIY
> installation is definitely possible.
I hear you about quartz. Many of the flavors of quartz are bland and unnatural in appearance. Some, though, can be stunning. I’d already chosen and installed granite into the kitchen in my old apartment when I saw some examples of quartz and similar materials that would’ve given the stone I chose a defintie run for its money in beauty. My old apartment has Crema Bordeaux granite combined with cherry cabinetry and a porcelain backsplash that mimics travertine near perfectly. I’ve fooled real estate agents with it - lol!
I’ve seen soapstone and it looks nice. however, I wouldn’t go near it due to the maintenance issues. Granite in itself requires more maintenance than I prefer and soapstone is even more work. I wouldn’t want to have to oil the countertops regularly nor would I want a countertop that scratches easily. That’s just me, though.
Robert
> If you're primarily going for low maintenance, then
> "quartz" countertops are better than "granite". They
> are not "fused quartz" though. They are basically
> quartz sand mixed with acrylic resin glue and coloring.
> Personally I don't care for them purely based on how
> they look. However, if the look appeals to you then
> they are a good (if expensive) choice.
>
> Another material to consider is soapstone. Soapstone is
> completely non-porous and you can set hot pots and pans
> on it with no issue whatsoever. It has a really nice
> texture also. The downside of soapstone is that to keep
> it looking its best you have to oil it every 6 months or
> so (reapplication is necessary because it is nonporous
> so the oil eventually evaporates from the surface) and
> it is softer than granite, so it can be scratched
> (though it's very easy to sand out the scratches to
> make it look like new again). Since it is soft, you can
> work it with carbide-tipped woodworking tools, so a DIY
> installation is definitely possible.