From Granite to Porcelain

The Choice is Yours

GRANITE 

Natural granite belongs to the family of igneous rocks. It is acid, heat, stain and scratch resistant making it an excellent countertop surface. Granite is dense, heavy and hard, giving it strength and long-lasting qualities. Granite is also heat, stain resistant and comes in a wide variety of colours and patterns.

Granite is ideal for countertops or commercial settings including fireplaces, flooring, outdoor use or cladding.

Read more about granite here.

NATURAL QUARTZITE

Natural quartzite has less patterning and texture than granite and looks more like marble. In terms of durability and practicality however, it equals granite.

Like Granite, Natural Quartzite is ideal for countertops or commercial settings including flooring, fireplaces outdoor use or cladding.

MARBLE (& TRAVERTINE & LIMESTONE)

Marble and travertine are beautiful natural stones characterized by their unique veining. They are both sedimentary rocks. Travertine has holes in the stone which are filled by cementious grout and/or resin, giving the stone a special character. Limestone is characterized by it’s fossils.

These types of stone are sensitive to anything acidic and therefore are not recommended for countertop use. They are suitable for desktops, fireplace facades, flooring and cladding.

Read more about marble here.

SOAPSTONE

Soapstone is a metamorphic rock, composed largely of talc, which gives it the soapy feel. It is very dense and inert to acids and alkalis, making it a good counter surface. Though it scratches easily, it is considered a wearable surface. The scratches become quickly invisible with oiling. It can also be lightly sanded with 80-grade sandpaper. Soapstone is usually grey in colour, with some spots and patterning and occasional light or dark veins. It is recommended for countertops in any area, custom sinks, indoor or outdoor, fireplaces, boxes and facades.

Read more about soapstone here.

ENGINEERED QUARTZ

Engineered Quartz is a man-made solid surface product comprised of over 90% ground natural quartzite mixed in an epoxy resin base and poured into molds to form slabs. There are numerous brand names, all virtually indistinguishable in terms of performance. Each brand has their own colour line. Dauter Stone carries Silestone and many other brands such as Caesarstone, Vicostone, Hanstone, LG, Geos and others can be special ordered.

Engineered quartz is consistent in colouration and textural variations throughout each slab. It is therefore popular for decorating schemes where a plain, untextured surface is desired. It is suitable for indoor use as a countertop in any home area. It is not recommended for the outdoors; due to the UV sensitivity from the resin component.

Read more about engineered stone here.

PORCELAIN SLAB

Porcelain slab is the latest product available in slabs for countertops. It is a man-made but does not contain the resin component that engineered quartzes do. It contains porcelain and glass, fused in a unique process called “sinterizing”. It is heat resistance, UV resistant (less porous) and generally harder then engineered quartz. It can be used for the countertop in any area of the home as well as outdoor applications. Brand names we carry include are Dekton, Laminam, Sapienstone and others.

Read more about Dekton here