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Quartz is a low maintenance and durable engineered material that can produce unique colors and textures and replicate less durable materials in appearance. Thanks to its strong nature, quartz can be used in many projects around the home such as kitchens and baths.
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Marble is a metamorphic stone created from heating of multiple types of stones together to create unique marbled patterns. Marble requires some more maintenance than harder materials, but can be used all over the home if properly cared for.
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Granite is a sustainable, abundant, and durable material that comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns. Thanks to its durability, granite can be used anywhere in the home from your fireplace hearth to kitchens and baths.
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Limestone is a soft stone that is often found in soft beige and tan colors. Due to its softness, it requires proper sealing, and is advised to be used in lower traffic areas to prevent damage.
First, let’s look at 4 key elements to consider when choosing the right stone.
Color
In stone, particularly natural stone, you will find the most amazing colors in nature.
Texture
Texture, meaning pattern, can vary from extremely consistent to wildly variant.
Maintenance
While almost all stones are low maintenance, some stone types require a little more TLC.
Application
The nature of your project can help inform the best materials for the job. Keep this in mind when describing your vision.
Granite is the result of millions of years of geological history. It is the most abundant natural resource on earth. It’s also one of the hardest natural materials. It is inert, does not contain or harbor bacteria, and does not support mildew. It is non-toxic and not composed of carcinogenic resins or ground up materials. It takes very little energy to harvest and convert into a product. It’s recyclable into many applications, making it one of the greenest building materials available.
Granite is Beautiful
Granite is available in an amazing array of colors ranging from subtle to dazzling in intensity. With hundreds of colors of granite to choose from there is something to satisfy even the most particular tastes.
Granite is Unique
Each piece of granite is a work of art from nature with its own personality. Up close one sees all the depth and variations in color. Since no two pieces are alike, the opportunity to hand select your stone provides you the ultimate custom experience.
Granite is Worry-Free
Because it is so hard and dense, granite is the most durable surface you can install. Granite is resistant to scratches, stains, and heat. Anywhere From hot pots and pans, to sharp knives, even the toughest kitchen tools would be hard pressed to damage a granite surface. Permanent and Everlasting
Granite is one of the hardest natural materials on earth. Its durability and practicality are unsurpassed in the solid surface industry.
Granite is Maintenance Free
Not all granite require sealers. For those that do, some only require 1 application, others once every year to every 3 years. Regardless, the application of sealer is quick, easy and mess free. Routine maintenance is no different than you already practice. Just warm water and a washcloth. A great secret for any countertop surface is an occasional cleaning with Hydrogen Peroxide.
Granite is Practical
Due to its durability and ease to maintain, granite is ideal for kitchens, baths, food service areas, bars and desks. It adds a touch of sophistication to any area.
Granite is Versatile
Granite can be used throughout the home. Consider the statement it makes on fireplace surrounds or hearths, bathroom vanities, windowsills, floors and tables. The possibilities for the enduring beauty of granite are endless. Exterior applications have been in use for many years. Stone clad buildings and stair cases have stood the test of time and have become the #1 choice for architects and designers around the world.
Marble is Beautiful
Marble is available in an abundant variety of color, movement and intensity. With hundreds of variations of marble to choose from there is something to satisfy every taste.Marble is Unique
Each piece of marble is a work of art from nature with its own personality. There are even some marbles that contain fossils from pre-historic eras. Even From a distance, one sees the flowing patterns in their entirety. Since no two pieces are alike, we are pleased to offer the opportunity of selecting the specific materials that will be used for your project.Marble Requires Some Maintenance
Marbles do require more maintenance than granite. Because they are softer than granites, they are more susceptible to staining and damage from everyday use. Special precautions can minimize the impacts of everyday use. Versatile Marble can be used throughout the home. Fireplace surrounds or hearths, bathroom vanities, tub & shower surrounds windowsills, floors and tables. Marbles have been used for millennia as a building material.Quartz is an extremely versatile material. It has a lot of great properties that lend it to projects where consistency and choice are desired.
Quartz is Consistent
Because Engineered Quartz is a man made material there is great control with color and texture. They can produce the same product over and over. The samples will represent the product very accurately.
Quartz is Versatile
Engineered Quartz excels at mimicking natural stones that are soft and prone to damage with kitchen use, such as Limestone, sandstone and some Marbles. They also can produce unique colors not found in nature like “Fire engine red” and Bright pastels for example.
Quartz is Worry-Free
Because it is made of polymer resins, Engineered Quartz requires few special precautions. Quartz is always non- porous and is virtually stain proof. It is very durable. The only disadvantage would be heat. The same quality that gives Engineered Quartz its stain resistance (resins) makes it susceptible to burning. It is recommended you do not put hot items on its surface.
Quartz is Maintenance Free
By simply using warm water and a soft cloth for clean-up jobs, Engineered quartz retains its look and feel. Because it is non-porous, there is never a need to sealer your Engineered Quartz surfaces.
Quartz is Practical
Even though Engineered Quartz is the new guy on the block, it is an ideal alternative for kitchens, baths, food service areas, and bars. It performs well for many applications.
Sintered Stone is the new kid on the block and we LOVE IT! It is a fabricated product, made out of natural components such as clay, feldspar, and various other natural minerals. It is proving to be an extremely reliable, versatile and unique offering. It allows us to extend applications beyond the typical surfaces, creating virtually limitless possibilities.
Beautiful Options
Because Sintered Stone is a fabricated product, it comes in some amazing textures, colors, thickness and patterns. Simply put, you can do more with it and because the minerals used are virtually limitless, there are so many unique options with this surface type. It is redefining what luxury means.
Durability
To say this product is durable is a bit of an understatement. It is virtually everything resistant! Scratches, Ice, UV Rays, Bending, Water, Temperature, Light, repeated traffic, are all no match for this surface type. In addition to it’s resilience, it’s green due to the 50% + composition made from recycled natural materials.
Maintenance Free
Easy to clean with just about any cleaning agent. This means no special products to purchase to keep it looking clean and beautiful. Sintered Stone is super hygienic because it doesn’t release any harmful substances and is completely suitable for contact with food.
Versatility
With a range of sizes, thicknesses and textures, this has to be one of the most versatile natural stone surfaces. This means we can do larger projects with few pieces and seems. This makes for a beautifully consistent finish that will last for a very long time.
You definitely want to take a long look at this surface as an option for your project.
Mountaintop Stoneworks, Inc., also fabricates Technistone and Caesar Stone Quartz materials. These man-made stone products come in a wide variety of colors and styles. From granite to marble or even limestone look-alikes, the quartz materials are aesthetically pleasing to everyone.
In addition, we have relationships with some of the areas biggest distributors and can acquire many lesser know stone surfaces. Here a just a few examples:
QUARTZITE
Quartzite is often confused with quartz, but it is not the same. Quartzite is a natural stone that originated as sandstone and also includes the mineral quartz, which is what gives it sparkle. In essence, quartzite is a fusion of marble and granite, creating the elegant look of marble, with the durability of granite. Like quartz countertops, quartzite doesn’t etch, but does require sealing to protect its natural beauty.
ONYX
Onyx countertops are a rare option – they are striking and luxurious and often used for vertical surfaces as bold statement walls in high-end residential and commercial designs. As a flat surface in the kitchen, onyx can be a functional piece of art you get to see every day, especially with under-counter lighting, as onyx has a transparent quality like no other. Onyx generally comes in swirling and pastel color patterns, and each piece is as unusual as the last. It is most suited as an accent countertop or bar area that does not see as much traffic, though with proper care, polished and sealed, onyx performs similarly to marble.
LIMESTONE
Limestone is usually found in soft beiges and tans similar to its sister stone, marble, and is a subtle and comforting option that adds warmth and a welcoming nature to a room. It is a stone softer than granite and marble, which means it should be used as countertops in lower traffic areas or in a kitchen where hard objects will not be dropped on it to avoid cracks or chips. In terms of porosity, like granite and marble, with proper sealing, it can be protected from most kitchen culprits.
SOAP STONE
Soap Stone is a classic choice that is coming back into popularity for both indoor and outdoor applications, as well as for kitchen countertops. It is a durable stone that is not very absorbent, so stains do not penetrate easily. It can be sealed or oiled, and owners who enjoy ageing a stone will see it darken with a lovely patina over the years. Soap Stone is also easily refinished and restored, so it can be updated over time if desired.
TRAVERTINE
Travertine, like quartz and granite, is a durable countertop solution, and highly versatile. The creamy neutral beiges and browns of Travertine lends itself to classic Old Word style; transforming kitchens into warm, inviting spaces. It comes in both slabs and coordinating tiles that can be used for flooring and backsplashes to create a muted look.
VENETIAN MARBLE
Venetian Marble countertops are an affordable, sophisticated, and durable alternative to cultured marble, tile, and natural stone. Venetian marble is recycled natural stone that is pressed and heated to create an environmentally friendly countertop option. This engineered marble surface gives you all the benefits of traditional marble slabs but at a fraction of the cost. Its engineered strength also makes it much more resilient than cultured marble. Easy to clean and highly sustainable, Venetian marble countertops are an ideal option for those looking for the elegance of marble and granite stones but desiring lasting durability and longevity.
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LEARN MORE
Check out our Project Page, which will help guide you on how to prepare for your project.
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RESOURCES
We’ve put together a resource page that will provide you with some additional information about your project.
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GET STARTED
When you’re ready, get started by contacting us for a consultation, we can’t wait to work with you.
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OUR OFFICE
Mountaintop Stoneworks, Inc.
400 Harrison St
Dubuque, IA 52003Phone: 563-584-9499
Showroom Hours:
Monday-Friday 9am-5pm
Saturday 9am-1pmNot Ready to Come In? Use the Form to Contact Us