Stone Kitchen Backsplashes
When considering stone as the material for a kitchen backsplash, it’s important to realize that because the backsplash receives far less punishment than the countertop, there are many more options available. The varieties of stone available on the market today include popular and ubiquitous granite, marble, slate, travertine, limestone, soapstone and CaesarStone®, each of which comes in a variety of colors and finishes. Each of these types of stone has its own set of characteristics, benefits and drawbacks.
Actually, granite is the only stone that has virtually no drawbacks, except that it is somewhat porous and requires annual or sometimes more frequent maintenance with a penetrating sealer to deter stains. Otherwise, granite is superior with its diamond-like hardness, and imperviousness to extreme heat, ultraviolet light, acids and abrasions. Granite is an igneous rock, which means it was once molten and formed with mineral flecks and cooled deep within the earth’s surface.
Consisting of limestone that has undergone extraordinarily intense heat and pressure, marble is luxurious, yet soft and porous, requiring regular waxing and sealing. While not ideal as countertop material, it is fine for backsplashes if not located near a heat source. Similarly, regular limestone has limited countertop use, but may be considered for backsplashes.
A fine-grained, metamorphic stone derived from sedimentary rock shale, slate is usually uniform in color, but veined patterns have been recently introduced from overseas. Slate is a low-porous surface that is heat resistant and less absorbent than even granite, and therefore is ideal for both countertops and backsplashes.
A metamorphosed, igneous stone that feels "soapy", soapstone is low maintenance and very resilient with a non-porous surface that is smooth and resistant to burning or staining. But it can scratch, so while it isn’t commonly used for countertops, it can make a lovely backsplash.
Finally, CeasarStone®, an engineered stone with 94% quartz and 6% high-performance polymers, is extremely durable, yet very flexible, and suitable for a wide range of domestic, commercial and industrial application.
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