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Here at Artisan Natural Stone we know it can be complicated & confusing when trying to bring the theme of a room together, but just ordering stone countertops & hoping for the best is an expensive & unnecessary risk. When selecting your stone, take color samples of the cabinet, back splash, wall paint, flooring & kitchen appliances to the supplier's yard with you. Take pictures of those items if a sample isn't available. Place the samples on or around the stone to get a good idea of what the decorating combination will look like. Don't be afraid of contrast. Dark cabinetry like cherry wood with black granite countertop may overpower the room, just as a natural stained cabinet with a tan countertop can tend to blend together. With the correct tools in place making a selection becomes a lot easier & the more steps you take in this process the more confident you will have in your decision making abilities.

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The convenience of shopping online for granite countertops is tempting, but it should not replace seeing the stone with your own eyes. Fine color patterns are difficult to photograph & the subtle differences in shades & textures may be missed. Even shopping in-store poses some challenge for color selection. Stone of the same color & classification can often vary. It is always best hand selecting the countertops you need at the suppliers yard. If this is not a possibility Artisan Natural Stone will walk you through other options. Stone countertops are one of the easiest & most cost effective ways to add value to your home. Stone is one the hardest, most durable materials available, making it desirable amongst builders & homeowners. When choosing countertops, you will see a variety of prices. Although just because one material costs more than another does not necessarily make it better. Some of the least expensive stones can be the best structurally. The stone industry is a very labor intensive one, it takes a lot of man hours to quarry & finish granite and marble. So countries labor rates can significantly affect the pricing. Rare colors & special treatments can push the price of certain materials higher as well. Keep this in mind when selecting countertop materials. Lastly you should always inspect your stone thoroughly. Look for cracks, fissures, glue fills & dull spots. (Hint: use the light by viewing the stone at an angle; this will help you in locating any imperfections)

Granite: Granite is an extremely durable countertop surface. It is highly resistant to scratching & staining along with being completely resistant to burning. Granite is available in many different colors, shades, vein patterns & prices. This makes it a wonderful countertop that will beautify your space, while giving the peace of mind of a surface that will last for many years, with minimal maintenance.

Quartz: Quartz / Created Stone not unlike granite countertops are highly resistant to staining, although less durable to scratches & heat. Since Quartz is a man-made product it is available in a variety of more consistent patterns & muted colors. This makes it a viable option for those hard to compliment color schemes. Quartz countertops can help you achieve the designer look you want, along with a low maintenance countertop surface. All while staying within the budget.

Marble: Marble is considerably less durable & stain resistant than the previous two options, although it remains resistant to burning. Marble countertops have a look & feel that cannot be accomplished with any other material. Marbles beauty is unparalleled & in the correct application, with the proper care will give you a beautifully inviting countertop surface along with the classic look that will stand the tests of time.

Maintenance: At Artisan Natural Stone we seal all of our countertops with a high grade stone sealant. The sealer we use recommends you reseal once every 10 years, although it is very simple to do & can be done as often as desired. As far as every day cleaning we at Artisan Natural Stone recommend basic Windex or soap & water. There are a multitude of stone cleaning products on the market today; some of which work & some that do not. These products tend to be expensive & unnecessary. We also provide full granite countertop, quartz countertop & marble countertop maintenance & repair services through Artisan Natural Stone upon request.

For more information email us at: Ryan@Artisan-Natural-Stone.com