Top modern furniture shopping Philippines: Natural stones are a product of the Earth that result from geological changes and mineral compositions that have been occurring for millions of years. Since the formations are natural, the stones have no date of birth nor an expiry date. These materials are quarried from the Earth’s surface and throughout history they have been used as a prime building material for timeless monuments that are still standing today. This is a true testament to the strength, durability and endless lustre of the stones. Today, many homeowners opt for natural stone over other building materials for a variety of reasons. These versatile materials can be used both indoor and outdoor in various places, including flooring, wall cladding, bathroom, pooja room, countertop, walkway/driveway, landscaping, timeless monuments and more. There are endless benefits and there is no limit to what you can do with natural stones. Not only are they unique, rare and beautiful, but they are also durable, easy to maintain, environmentally friendly, versatile and aesthetic. Discover even more info on https://homeu.ph/blogs/news/sintered-stone-vs-marble-comparision.
Mosaic tiles rose to popularity a few years ago and are still going strong. However, the mixed square tiles that make for a sort of pixel-y look are less popular nowadays. Rectangular tiles that create more of a subtle, streaked look are more in style. If you want to try something a little more avant-garde, experiment with going vertical rather than horizontal.
Because marble slabs are usually smaller than granite slabs, you may need more pieces to complete a full kitchen if using marble. Granite counters range in cost from $40 to $75 a square foot on average. More exotic stones, such as stones colored blue, may range in cost as high as $500 a square foot. For a 30-square-foot counter, the average material cost is around $1,000 to $1,500. Fabrication and labor add around $330 to the cost of the stone, a sink cutout adds another $100, and edging adds about $10 a linear foot on average. This makes the 30-square-foot granite counter cost between $3,000 and $3,500 installed. Fabrication, installation, cutout, and edging costs for marble are around the same cost. Material costs for marble are higher, starting at around $60 a square foot and going as high as $100. This makes the material costs for a marble counter of the same size between $1,800 and $3,000 making the total range $3,800 to $5,000 on average.
Under normal use, the sealant should last about a year before it needs to be reapplied, Bruno advises, “so long as you aren’t using harsh cleansers on your countertop.” You’ll know it’s time for more sealant when you no longer see water drops beading on the surface. Clean daily—with care. To ensure that the sealant remains effective, you should wipe down your countertop daily using a nonabrasive cloth or sponge and only a mild soap (such as dish detergent) and water. Clear up spilled food right away, before it can seep in and cause a stain or discoloration (that can happen overnight, even with sealant in place). And obviously, keep some good-sized cutting boards on hand for food prep so that staining substances won’t come in contact with the countertop. Coasters help, too—red wine and coffee-cup rings are common culprits.
Both marble and granite countertops are quite durable, but ONLY if they are properly sealed every one or two years. Granite and marble are porous, so without a seal, liquids will penetrate and stain. When the seal fades and is not replaced, these stones can be easily marred by oil, wine, juice and anything acidic. Marble is especially vulnerable to acidic foods and liquids, so be very careful to keep them off the marble or to clean up immediately after contact.
Maintenance: Sealants are used on both granite and marble to prevent staining and etching. Marble requires sealing much more frequently i.e. twice a year (recommended by professionals) whereas for granite sealing once every two years is sufficient. The actual requirement for resealing depends on how heavily the surface was used and how regularly the stone’s cleaning was done. See additional information on homeu.ph.
