Anywhere in the home, natural stone is a beauty to behold. Having a countertop made out of high quality, properly installed and polished natural stone gives the room an elegant, highly stylistic look that would rightfully belong on the cover page of any home decoration magazine.
Still, there are different types of natural stone and each of them has a distinct advantage that makes it fit into a different environment within the home. Whether it’s heat resistance that makes a stone type good for a kitchen, or non-porousness that makes it a perfect fit for a bathroom, it’s always good to know in advance which type belongs where.
Granite
Prized for its luxurious look, granite is the perfect choice when it comes to conveying a sense of high status and stability. Since it is inherently compact in structure, granite is extremely tough and can endure both shocks and heat with equal ease, making it well-suited for kitchen countertops. Granite slabs also come in a variety of colors, such as African Ivory, and patterns, which means there is a perfect slab for every kitchen.
Limestone
Perhaps one of the oldest building materials ever, limestone is what the Ancient Egyptians used for the Great Pyramid in Giza. The fact that it still stands today, some 4,500 years after it was built, is an awesome testament to the amazing durability of limestone. In home decoration, limestone is best used in places where its durability can be put to good use, such as wall and floor tiles. Limestone is also very suitable for carving.
Soapstone
Soapstone has had a surprising number of uses throughout history, since it was being used for making things such as pots, stoves, smoking pipes, reusable ice cubes, and floor tiles. Named after its relative softness, soapstone comes in different grades, with the hardest ones being used in kitchen countertops and other home locations. Soapstone doesn’t conduct heat nor electricity, which makes it a very good insulator and a versatile natural stone.
Travertine
Rather than being formed over thousands of years in the crust of the Earth, travertine is created by a hot spring’s water splashing against a surface and gradually forming a mineral deposit. This process gives travertine a distinct look with pitted holes. Each variety of travertine has a different look, depending on the composition of the water. In home construction, travertine is best used in facades and to pave garden paths.
Marble
Used since time immemorial to create gorgeous statues and other historical artifacts, marble is another highly valued type of natural stone. Different materials present during its formation will create the characteristic veined look, while its natural shininess makes all of its home decoration applications look glamorous.
