Stone is an excellent choice for countertops because it is durable and generally low maintenance. With the proper care and treatments, your countertops will serve you well by staying in good condition.
Whether you choose natural or engineered stone, understanding the basics for care and maintenance is important to keeping your countertops beautiful over time. Here are 6 easy ways you can keep your stone surfaces spectacular:
1. Avoid heat
Most natural stones can weather some heat but not a lot of direct, intense heat. And, while some types of natural stone, such as granite, are impervious to heat, the sealer protecting the stone is not. So, no matter what type of stone countertop you choose, you must remember that you are also caring for the sealer. Heat is one element that can deconstruct your countertop projection faster than anything. So, keep anything very hot such as pots and just-used hair appliances from direct contact with the surface. In the kitchen, use a heat pad or trivet for kitchen counters and allow some space between slow cookers and the stone surface, as this exposes the stone to heat over a prolonged period. In your bathroom, install a handy hook for your heated hair appliances so they can rest and cool safely above the counter rather than directly on it.
2. Use a cutting board
Granite and engineered stone (i.e., Silestone, Caesarstone, or other quartz products) can handle slicing and chopping directly on the surface, but why risk leaving an indentation or scratch when you don’t need to? Take a second to pull out a chopping board and cut away! A chopping board is easier to clean, and it is probably cleaner than your countertop as well.
3. Keep weight off the edge
Setting heavyweight on the edges of the stone counters can lead to cracks where there is no support under the countertop. In natural stone, micro-fissures are common, and even engineered stone may develop them over time. Ultimately, it’s a risk to place something heavy on your countertop overhangs and edges. So, be sure you think before jumping up and sitting on the counter’s edge or setting a heavy obje