Everyone says natural stone stains

'Natural stone is porous and stained' - is what you hear colloquially or from kitchen suppliers who experience more margins and convenience when selling a composite or ceramic top. This is of course not entirely untrue, but that is where our personal advice comes into play.

These types of natural stone do not stain

Granite and quartzite are ideal for use as kitchen countertops. The types of stone do not contain lime and are so hard that they do not scratch. There are also the 'Cristallo' types, which are actually classified as quartzites. These types of stone contain a type of rock crystal, which also gives them semi-transparent properties. What is very nice about a natural stone top is that it is a natural product. The side of the stone is therefore not white, beige or gray as you see with a ceramic type. These types of stone can also withstand heat extremely well. So you don't have to worry about a hot pan on your countertop.

Which types of stone do stain?

Calcareous natural stone types in particular cause stains. This is not, as is said, because it is porous, but because the basis of, for example, marble, travertine, Belgian bluestone and onyx is actually lime. Lime does not tolerate acids well. Consider the limescale in your coffee machine or on your tap, which you often remove with (cleaning) vinegar, which is actually acidic. The acidic liquid from fruits, for example, but also from balsamic vinegar or wine, causes it to attack the stone, causing a matte stain.

What is the advantage of these types of stone? That's simply the look. Nothing is as beautiful as a beautiful veined marble in which you discover endless new parts. The colors often fit nicely into contemporary interiors and often complement the kitchen cabinets.

Marble in the kitchen

We actually don't recommend that. What we are good at is finding an alternative type of stone in quartzite. The major external difference between marble and quartzite is in the drawing or pattern of the material. Quartzite was very hot during its formation, causing various minerals to crystallize. You rarely see a strong drawing in quartzite types, but the colors flow more subtly into each other. This is often not a compromise for the appearance of the entire kitchen, but it is very pleasant for the ease of use and the durability of the worktop.