Natural stone provides organic beauty, indisputable strength and ultra durability. The perfect choice for countertops in the kitchen and bath, Wood and Stone has a variety of natuarl stone choices available including Granite, Soapstone, Limestone, Slate, Marble and Quartz.
Granite
Granite is one of the oldest and most respected building materials. Traditionally, it is the ideal material chosen when permanence, enduring color and texture, and complete freedom from deterioration and maintenance are paramount.
Granite is dense and coarse grained making it one of the hardest materials on earth, ranking close to that of quartz and diamonds. Granite can be used indoors and outdoors. Both eye-catching and ageless, it is available in a slew of striking colors, textures and finishes that will complement any décor. Granite has become the material of choice for countertops and bath vanities, reception desks, conference tables, fireplaces, pedestals and bistro tables. Its inherent strength makes it highly resistant to wear and tear on interior flooring applications as well. When used outdoors, granite’s mineralogical composition can endure freeze and thaw cycles. The diamond-like hardness of granite makes it impervious to extreme heat, ultraviolet light, acids and abrasions. However, it is somewhat porous and requires regular sealing to deter stains.
Quartz
Quartz surfaces and countertops offer the ultimate combination of form and function, allowing for a more diverse, durable and practical countertop surfacing material than either granite or marble. With its stain, scratch and heat-resistant properties, quartz is the ideal choice for care-free countertops and comes in a huge variety of colors.
Quartz is found in great abundance in the earth, second only to water as the most common mineral-based form on our planet. It is naturally hard and scratch resistant. Quartz ranks a 7.0 on Moh's Hardness Scale, which is used to measure the scratch-resistance of a material. Only diamonds, topaz and sapphire are harder than quartz.
Quartz countertops are produced by combining ground natural quartz with a resin plus binders and the desired colorant. A ratio of 93% quartz to 7% resin is generally used. Adding pigments to raw quartz in the production process creates colors to suit nearly any kitchen scheme. The engineering and finishing phases of quartz-counter manufacturing are virtually the same throughout the industry, which means companies like Caesarstone,
