07/02/2023

When Selecting Stone

The Selection Process

House renovations and constructions can be a daunting process and you may not know where to start in selecting materials for your surfaces.

Once you have the plan of your kitchen or bathroom, it is time to start thinking about the material. With so many unique, beautiful, and eye-catching stones and a huge selection of man-made Quartz and Ceramics on offer, the choice is endless. Matching your colours to the material is a far easier option than the other way around and allows you the freedom of choosing the surface you fall in love with.

Chandlers have a vast and varied selection of samples on display, sourced from all over the world. A visit here is recommended so we can help you benefit from the knowledge and experience of our staff who guide you through the selection process advising on suitability, finishes, and textures. Natural stones and man-made surfaces are a complex subject, we have names and classifications of surface types, such as Granites and Quartzites to try and make it easier to understand.

When purchasing your surfaces

Do
Relax. There are many myths created around looking after stone. The single greatest myth is that it should be bulletproof. Nobody ever said this. We do not expect wood to be impervious to everyday wear and tear, all surfaces will wear in different ways. But we will educate you about how the different surfaces will perform and on how best to look after them further in this guide.

Don’t
Buy without viewing a full slab image. Samples are great, however a full slab can really allow you to understand the patterning on a larger scale and don’t go home without a sample for testing with a bit of wine, lemon juice or tea if you are worried about the performance. We can seal samples of Natural stone before you take them and Images of each block are available from our suppliers. Bear in mind that today’s cameras are good, but they can change colourings, and depth that can only be seen by the naked eye, where possible try to visit the suppliers to see the exact slabs when ordering natural stone.

Don’t
Get too caught up on prices until you get the final cost, remember it does not cost a thing to get a couple of quotes of different materials to see what fits your budget. With Quartz options is it likely we can source a similar alternative at a lower price point.

Don’t
Hold back. There is so much choice; it is a shame when people choose the safe option. The natural surfaces available are unique, indulge yourself, and pick something distinctive, so it becomes an unforgettable part of your home.

Properties of Quartz (manmade stone)

Is Quartz UV resistant? – NO

Is Quartz scratch resistant – YES

Is Quartz easy to maintain – YES

Is Quartz stain resistant – YES

Is Quartz heat resistant – NO

Can I cut on Quartz?

Yes, but you will blunt your knife and can transfer metal, which is the metal of the knife or utensil leaving residual metal on the surface.

Will Quartz stain?

No, essentially it is near nonporous, but you may get a film of something that remains on the surface, this will come off in 99% of cases with a good clean. Whites and plainer colours will show more problems. Darker toned can show issues in different lighting situations and honed, or matt finishes can take a little more elbow grease to remove dried residue.

Can I put hot pans on Quartz

No. Due to the resin element in Quartz, it can only withhold temperatures of up to 120 degrees. Manufacturers will not cover heat as part of the warranty, therefore best practice is to always use a trivet or chopping board.

How will Quartz last over time?

Quartz will last in your home for many years, however everyday life in the home will bring to your surfaces different oils and greases that will darken the surface. There are plenty of cleaners on the market that can revitalise the surface. Over a longer period, Engineered Quartz will dull a little due to its manmade nature. UV can effect an Engineered Quartz surface over time because of its resin content, and therefore Quartz is not recommend for outside use as it will lighten and crackle on the surface over time.

Properties of less-porous Granite

UV resistant – YES

scratch resistant – YES

easy to maintain -YES

stain resistant – YES

heat resistant – YES

Will it scratch with general use?

No.

Will it etch with general use?

No.

Can it have pits/little holes?

Possibly, being a natural material, it can have very slight areas where a crystal is so small that it does not stay bound to the rest of the surface. Sometimes areas can be filled with resin. This would be evident on selection of material.

Can I cut on it?

Yes, but you will blunt your knife or may get metal transfer, which is the metal of the knife or utensil leaving residual metal on the surface.

Will it stain?

Not if well sealed, many of the dark harder granites do not need sealing but we always seal them to be sure. You shouldn’t have to worry about sealing this yourself to often.

Properties of Quartzite (Natural Stone)

Is Quartzite UV resistant – YES

Is Quartzite scratch resistant – YES

Is Quartzite easy to maintain – YES

Is Quartzite stain resistant – NO

Is Quartzite heat resistant – NO

Will it scratch with general use?

No.

Will it etch with general use?

No.

Can it have pits/little holes?

Possibly, being a natural material, it can have very slight areas where a crystal is so small that it does not stay bound to the rest of the surface. Sometimes areas can be filled with a resin. We would contact suppliers and gain a full understanding of the slabs before ordering and will advise of any imperfections.

Can I cut on it?

Yes, but you will blunt your knife and can transfer metal, which is the metal of the knife or utensil leaving residual metal on the surface.

Will it stain?

Not if well sealed. There are some materials in this category that, although they are very hard, are porous, so this product will require sealing. At Chandlers, we will ensure this is done before installation and advise customers of how to maintain this going forward. The process is simple and doesn’t take any longer than standard cleaning.

Can I put hot pans on it?

We would recommend using a trivet although we rarely hear of problems, its best to err on the side of caution.

How will it last over time?

Everyday life in the home and outside will bring to your surfaces different oils and greases that will darken the surface a little overtime. There are plenty of cleaners on the market that can revitalise the surface. Some Natural Quartzites will have an element of resin on the surface, this may go lighter or crackle over time if used outside.

How will it last over time?

Everyday life in the home and outside will bring to your surfaces different oils and greases that will darken the surface a little overtime. There are plenty of cleaners on the market that can revitalise the surface. If using outside you may find that the softer materials weather more quickly than a harder one, they may lighten or the surface may crackle.

Can I put hot pans on it?

In most cases it would be fine, and we hear of customers doing this a lot. The Lundhs materials are the only natural stone to be officially tested, so for hard granites which are similar it should be fine. However, to err on the side of caution we would have to advise using a trivet to be safe as thermal shock can possibly occur.

How will it last over time?

Properties of more porous granite (Natural Stone)

Is soft granite UV resistant – YES

Is soft granite scratch resistant – YES

Is soft granite easy to maintain – YES

Is soft granite stain resistant – NO

Is soft granite heat resistant – NO

Will it scratch with general use?

Possibly, if you are not careful. We would advise using a chopping board.

Will it etch with general use?

Yes, if the liquid is left on there for a little time. We would advise all spills to be cleared up immediately.

Can it have pits/little holes?

Possibly, being a natural material, it can have very slight areas where a crystal is so small that it does not stay bound to the rest of the surface. Sometimes areas can be filled with a resin. We would contact suppliers and gain a full understanding of the slabs before ordering and will advise of any imperfections.

Can I cut on it?

We would advise using a chopping board, although in most instances it would be unlikely you could scratch it.

Will it stain?

Not if well sealed. Soft granites are porous, so this product will require sealing. At Chandlers, we will ensure this is done before installation and advise customers of how to maintain this going forward. The process is simple and doesn’t take any longer than standard cleaning.

Can I put hot pans on it?

As the softer granites may contain more resin on their surface, we would advise on using a trivet to be safe.