When shopping for granite countertops or other natural stone products, such as marble, you’ll find that your options are limited to about nine categories: marble, onyx, limestone, quartzite, granite, travertine, sandstone, slate, serpentine, and soapstone.
But geologists have a different view. They think of hundreds of different kinds of rocks. They base their definitions on how the rock was formed, what minerals it contains, and its texture. Commercial bases his definition of a stone on how it looks and how it works. After all, that’s what counts in a granite countertop or a marble floor.
Therefore, stone that acts and looks like granite, for example, will be called “granite” commercially, even though it may not exactly fit into the category of granite based on scientific analysis. The important thing is that the stone really looks and acts like granite. It needs to be polished well. It has to be hard and durable. And it has to have the coloration and pattern expected from granite. The same applies to any other category of stone from a business perspective.
Whether scientifically “granite” or something else, like diabase, gneiss, or basalt, a granite countertop is a treasure. It is strong, durable, beautiful and easy to care for. Marble too, although it could actually be limestone, can be a good option for countertops, at least in areas where wear is a bit less than in the kitchen. (Warning here: marble in the kitchen is very popular with pastry enthusiasts. They love to knead dough on a marble surface. So a little marble in the kitchen can be a very good thing.)
Whatever it’s called, natural stone offers a unique decorating option. There will be no other granite countertop exactly the same as the one in the kitchen where it is installed. The same goes for marble and all the others.
However, there are some special care issues that come with natural stone. They are easy, but they are also important. More porous stones, such as many granites and marbles, benefit from sealing. Sealing granite countertops and marble countertops is just a matter of wiping off the sealer and wiping it clean so that no residue remains.
Cleaning granite countertops and other natural stone surfaces is also easy. Granite cleaners are special products for use on natural stone. They remove substances that can damage or stain the stone without damaging them. Daily cleaning of granite and other stone countertops will help ensure many years of beauty and service.
Granite countertop polishing can also be done with a commercial product. Granite polish works on other surfaces too. The polishing process is somewhat more detailed than sealing and cleaning, but like sealing, it does not have to be done very often to maintain the appearance of the stone.