Stone Care Products |
Services Tampa Bay Area |
Services San Jose Area |
Services West Los Angeles Area |
About Us |
Kitchen Countertops
Kitchen countertops come in many styles and range in price greatly. How do you know what to
choose and what is practical for your family.
Here at Integrity Stone and Tile Cleaning, we see all types of kitchen countertops everyday, and have first hand experience with what types of countertops are the easiest and the hardest to maintain.
Installing natural stone or any countertop can be a rewarding experience.
If you have no idea on what you would like check out Kitchen Countertop Ideas for our recommendations on some common kitchen countertops.
We also provide you with information on how to maintain different countertop surfaces.
If it's products you're looking for, click the stone care products link on the right to find what you need.
We also sell granite countertop sealer, marble countertop sealer and have services for any natural stone cleaning, sealing and refinishing.
Just click the Services link to find out more information.
Some of the most popular kitchen countertops we see are of course granite countertops.
Granite countertops can be expensive and from our perspective can be quite rewarding.
Not only are they easy to maintain, they can increase the value of your home significantly.
We also see a fair amount of marble countertops in the kitchen, which can be much more high maintenance than granite countertops.
Although we don't recommend any calcium based natural stone countertop (marble, travertine, limestone), we still see them in many homes.
Here is a list with a brief description of each and our perspective on how easy or difficult to maintain them.
Granite Countertops - are made from granitic rock and sliced into slabs that can be bought from fabricators and stone stores or warehouses. Usually very hard and easily maintained. Will resist etch marks from everyday foods and liquids like lemonade and vinegar. The porosity or ability to absorb liquids varies with type of granite. Darker granites tend to be more dense or less porous.
Marble Countertops - are calcium based stone made from CaCO3. Marble, travertine, limestone and onyx are all calcium based stones and are all reactive with any acid. So any household or food and liquid that is acidic, will react with the calcium in the stone and etch or eat away some of the stone. Higher maintenance stone due to sensitivity to acids. Not recommended for kitchen countertops. Can be refinished or restored.
Limestone Countertops - are calcium based stone made from CaCO3. Limestone marble, travertine and onyx are all calcium based stones and are all reactive with any acid. So any household or food and liquid that is acidic, will react with the calcium in the stone and etch or eat away some of the stone. Higher maintenance stone due to sensitivity to acids. Can be refinished or restored.
Soapstone Countertops - are made from a metamorphic rock that is primarily made of talc which is very high in magnesium. Because it's mostly made from talc it's very soft and can feel soapy to the touch. Very easy to maintain and is not sensitive to acids and alkaline liquids. Can be resurfaced and to enhance it's color, use mineral oil.
The following types of countertops are considered engineered stone countertops. These are countertops that have some elements of natural countertops, like quartz, mixed with resins or plastics.
Quartz Countertops - are a man-made material with more than 70% made up of quartz and the rest made up from resins. Very dense, uniform in appearance with usually a consistant pattern that can be identified. Non-porous, which means does not need to be sealed, but can be susceptiple to strong acids and strong alkalis and high heat. Generally easy to mainatin except for any strong heat and strong chemical contact.
Corian Countertops - are a brand name for solid surface material made by Dupont. It is made up of an acrylic polymer and alumina tryhydrate (ATH). Non-porous material which means they don't need to be sealed and area stain resistant. Can be damaged by strong chemicals (acids and alkalis) and do not withstand high heat. Over all easy to maintain, except for the strong chemicals susceptability and high heat.
Zodiaq Countertops - are quartz countertops made by Dupont. Same charactertistics as quartz countertops. Overall easy to maintain, except for the strong chemical susceptability and high heat.
Caesarstone Countertops - are quartz countertops made by Caesarstone. Same charactertistics as quartz countertops. Overall easy to maintain, except for the strong chemical susceptability and high heat.
Silestone Countertops - are quartz countertops made by Cosentino. Same charactertistics as quartz countertops. Overall easy to maintain, except for the strong chemical susceptability and high heat.
Cambria Countertops - are quartz countertops made by Cambria. Same charactertistics as quartz countertops. Overall easy to maintain, except for the strong chemical susceptability and high heat.
Concrete Countertops - are exactly that, concrete. Can cost more than granite or marble and any of the other man made countertops or less if you do them yourself. They need to be sealed properly at installation and every year after they're installed. High maintenance and stain and be etched from both acidic and alkaline chemicals. If they have no sealer or wax, then they will be resitant to heat, but most likely will have a sealer or wax to protect from staining.
Recycled Glass Countertops - are made from glass that are both post-consumer and pre-consumber sources and either cement or resins. Although the glass is not porours the matrix they are in is porous and can stain and are susceptiple to chemical etching. It is recommended by the manufactures to seal every six months.
Tile Countertops - can be both natural (marble, granite, etc.) or ceramic or porcelain and even different types of clays (Terra Cotta, Saltillo). Ceramic or porcelain tiles are stain resistant because they are non-porous, but the grout lines are porous and can be stained. Natural stone and the clay tiles are porous and can be stained. Ceramic and porcelain are heat resistant as well as some natural stones.
As we've outlined above, there are many types of kitchen countertops to choose from. The type you choose will depend on your sense of style and most of all your budget.
When it comes to kitchen countertops or just maintaining natural stone and tile and grout, we strive to help educate our customers on the best protection they can have, helping them save time and money in costly restoration costs down the road.
Here at Integrity Stone and Tile Cleaning, we see all types of kitchen countertops everyday, and have first hand experience with what types of countertops are the easiest and the hardest to maintain.
Installing natural stone or any countertop can be a rewarding experience.
If you have no idea on what you would like check out Kitchen Countertop Ideas for our recommendations on some common kitchen countertops.
We also provide you with information on how to maintain different countertop surfaces.
If it's products you're looking for, click the stone care products link on the right to find what you need.
We also sell granite countertop sealer, marble countertop sealer and have services for any natural stone cleaning, sealing and refinishing.
Just click the Services link to find out more information.
Types of Kitchen Countertops
Some of the most popular kitchen countertops we see are of course granite countertops.
Granite countertops can be expensive and from our perspective can be quite rewarding.
Not only are they easy to maintain, they can increase the value of your home significantly.
We also see a fair amount of marble countertops in the kitchen, which can be much more high maintenance than granite countertops.
Although we don't recommend any calcium based natural stone countertop (marble, travertine, limestone), we still see them in many homes.
Here is a list with a brief description of each and our perspective on how easy or difficult to maintain them.
Granite Countertops - are made from granitic rock and sliced into slabs that can be bought from fabricators and stone stores or warehouses. Usually very hard and easily maintained. Will resist etch marks from everyday foods and liquids like lemonade and vinegar. The porosity or ability to absorb liquids varies with type of granite. Darker granites tend to be more dense or less porous.
Marble Countertops - are calcium based stone made from CaCO3. Marble, travertine, limestone and onyx are all calcium based stones and are all reactive with any acid. So any household or food and liquid that is acidic, will react with the calcium in the stone and etch or eat away some of the stone. Higher maintenance stone due to sensitivity to acids. Not recommended for kitchen countertops. Can be refinished or restored.
Limestone Countertops - are calcium based stone made from CaCO3. Limestone marble, travertine and onyx are all calcium based stones and are all reactive with any acid. So any household or food and liquid that is acidic, will react with the calcium in the stone and etch or eat away some of the stone. Higher maintenance stone due to sensitivity to acids. Can be refinished or restored.
Soapstone Countertops - are made from a metamorphic rock that is primarily made of talc which is very high in magnesium. Because it's mostly made from talc it's very soft and can feel soapy to the touch. Very easy to maintain and is not sensitive to acids and alkaline liquids. Can be resurfaced and to enhance it's color, use mineral oil.
The following types of countertops are considered engineered stone countertops. These are countertops that have some elements of natural countertops, like quartz, mixed with resins or plastics.
Quartz Countertops - are a man-made material with more than 70% made up of quartz and the rest made up from resins. Very dense, uniform in appearance with usually a consistant pattern that can be identified. Non-porous, which means does not need to be sealed, but can be susceptiple to strong acids and strong alkalis and high heat. Generally easy to mainatin except for any strong heat and strong chemical contact.
Corian Countertops - are a brand name for solid surface material made by Dupont. It is made up of an acrylic polymer and alumina tryhydrate (ATH). Non-porous material which means they don't need to be sealed and area stain resistant. Can be damaged by strong chemicals (acids and alkalis) and do not withstand high heat. Over all easy to maintain, except for the strong chemicals susceptability and high heat.
Zodiaq Countertops - are quartz countertops made by Dupont. Same charactertistics as quartz countertops. Overall easy to maintain, except for the strong chemical susceptability and high heat.
Caesarstone Countertops - are quartz countertops made by Caesarstone. Same charactertistics as quartz countertops. Overall easy to maintain, except for the strong chemical susceptability and high heat.
Silestone Countertops - are quartz countertops made by Cosentino. Same charactertistics as quartz countertops. Overall easy to maintain, except for the strong chemical susceptability and high heat.
Cambria Countertops - are quartz countertops made by Cambria. Same charactertistics as quartz countertops. Overall easy to maintain, except for the strong chemical susceptability and high heat.
Concrete Countertops - are exactly that, concrete. Can cost more than granite or marble and any of the other man made countertops or less if you do them yourself. They need to be sealed properly at installation and every year after they're installed. High maintenance and stain and be etched from both acidic and alkaline chemicals. If they have no sealer or wax, then they will be resitant to heat, but most likely will have a sealer or wax to protect from staining.
Recycled Glass Countertops - are made from glass that are both post-consumer and pre-consumber sources and either cement or resins. Although the glass is not porours the matrix they are in is porous and can stain and are susceptiple to chemical etching. It is recommended by the manufactures to seal every six months.
Tile Countertops - can be both natural (marble, granite, etc.) or ceramic or porcelain and even different types of clays (Terra Cotta, Saltillo). Ceramic or porcelain tiles are stain resistant because they are non-porous, but the grout lines are porous and can be stained. Natural stone and the clay tiles are porous and can be stained. Ceramic and porcelain are heat resistant as well as some natural stones.
As we've outlined above, there are many types of kitchen countertops to choose from. The type you choose will depend on your sense of style and most of all your budget.
When it comes to kitchen countertops or just maintaining natural stone and tile and grout, we strive to help educate our customers on the best protection they can have, helping them save time and money in costly restoration costs down the road.
Stone Care Products
Are you a do-it-yourselfer? Always working on your home on one project to another. Check the link below to buy stone care products.
We know you can do it yourself and offer you the same products we use to clean stone and tile.
We Recommend MB-1 Marble, Granite and More Cleaner
Natural stone neutral floor cleaner that's safe for all surfaces, tile, stone, and wood.
We Recommend MB-3 Soap Scum Remover for Shower Cleaning
For cleaning any natural stone, ceramic tile and porcelain shower we recommend MB-3.
We Recommend MB-5 Marble, Granite and More Spray
For daily cleaning of marble, granite and all engineered stones. Great for metal and glass too!
Services
Tile and Grout
Marble
Travertine
Limestone
Granite
Other Surfaces
Countertops
Helpful Links
Apollo Beach, Bayonet Point, Belleair Beach, Brandon, Citrus Park, Clearwater, Dunedin, East Lake, Gibsonite, Hillsborough County, Holiday, Hudson, Indian Rocks Beach, Lake Fern, Keystone, Land O’ Lakes, Largo, Lutz, Madeira Beach, New Port Richey, North Redington Beach, Odessa, Oldsmar, Palm Harbor,, Pasco County, Pinellas County, Pinellas Park, Port Richey, Redington Shores, Riverview, Safety Harbor, Saint Petersburg, Seffner, Seminole, Spring Hill, tampa, Tarpon Springs, Trinity, Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills,
San Jose and Surrounding Cities we Proudly Serve!
Almaden Valley, Atherton, Belmont, Campbell, Cupertino, Danville, Dublin, East Palo Alto, Evergreen, Fremont, Gilroy, Half Moon Bay, Hillsborough, Livermore, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Menlo Park, Milpitas, Monet Sereno, Monte Vista, Morgan Hill, Mountain View, Naglee Park, Palo Alto, Pleasanton, Portola Valley, San Carlos, San Jose, San Martin, San Ramon, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Saratoga, Scotts Valley, Silicon Valley, Stanford, Sunnyvale, Sunol, Union City, West Menlo Park, Willow Glen and Woodside,
Keep Up To Date
Facebook Page
San Jose, California
Facebook Page
Tampa, Florida
Copyright © 2006-2021 Integrity-Tile-and-Grout-Cleaning.com