4 White Stone Counters to Consider

Homeowners who choose white for their countertops are essentially making a strong statement about the importance of aesthetics in their lives. If you look at homes completed during the American real estate bonanza that ended abruptly in 2008, you will notice a lot of granite slabs were chosen, particularly in earth tones. White countertops are part of a trend that has been developing over the last few years, but this preference dates back to ancient times. Greek architects were obsessed with finding white limestone and marble for their temples. In fact, many of their settlements in modern-day Turkey were established upon finding quarries that could produce the white stones they were after. If you are looking for white natural-stone countertops, here are four recommendations. 1. White Marble Years ago, installing marble in the kitchen would have been considered a risky proposition, particularly if white slabs were chosen. The concern with white marble used to be that imported slabs and tiles were expensive and difficult to maintain. However, this is no longer the case. Thanks to free trade agreements, fine marble from Tuscany or Marmara can be found in the United States at reasonable prices. 2. White Granite Similar to white marble, white granite from Brazilian quarries with high concentrations of quartz is not as expensive as it used to be due to the globalization of trade. Granite countertops are a great alternative to marble because they are far more durable. The only issue with white granite is that it tends to be as porous as marble, thus requiring more frequent cleaning and resealing than dark-colored slabs. Make sure to keep it clean and sealed with a spray-and-wipe granite cleaner and sealer. 3. White Quartzite Interior design magazines from the 1980s used to feature many articles about quartz and Corian countertops, which resulted in confusion about quartzite. For the record: Corian and quartz are engineered products, while quartzite is a natural sandstone with a high content of quartz grains that became recrystallized over millions of years. The color range of quartzite is from light gray to white. As a sandstone, it may be too fragile for food preparation surfaces, but it looks great in the bathroom. 4. White Travertine There are not many quarries in the world where white travertine can be extracted. If you travel to Denizli, a prosperous industrial city in Turkey, you will notice elaborate structures covered with light gray, beige, and white travertine, and this is because of the high number of quarries in the region. Depending on your personal style, you may find white travertine to be more attractive than white marble. This will be mostly determined by the quality of the fabrication, finish, and polish. Whether you choose a white stone counter or another color, it’s important to seal the stone regularly with a high-quality granite sealer such as Granite Gold Sealer®, which is safe to use on granite, marble, travertine, and all other types of natural stone. If you’d like tips on sealing your stone properly, get in touch with Granite Gold® today at 1-800-475-STONE.