Are Natural Stone Countertops or Flooring More Expensive Than Laminate, Tile, or Other Conventional Surfaces?
In all phases of life, different products come and go. Some are good, some are not. The one thing they all have in common is that every product, no matter what it is, has some “misconception” or mistruth told about it. Carrots improve night vision, canned vegetables are not healthy, coffee stunts growth, etc. Stone is no different. There are plenty of misconceptions surrounding natural stone and natural stone projects.
Let’s look at some more common stone misconceptions:
#1 – Natural Stone is High Maintenance: Natural stone does require maintenance, but it is not necessarily “high maintenance.” Cutting boards are recommended on stone, but they are also for other types of countertops. Regular cleaning is recommended, but again, for other types of countertop material, not just stone. The biggest difference is sealing. Most stone does require sealing, but that doesn’t have to be a big deal. Fabricators will seal it before installation. If it ever needs resealing, your stone pro can help with that.
#2 – Natural Stone is Expensive: Granted, some natural stone can be expensive, BUT natural stone comes in a wide variety of price ranges. It is inexpensive enough that homeowners, home builders, and contractors use it for their projects every day. It is also expensive enough to go into high-end projects. The price of stone depends on many different things, but stone can fit almost any budget.
#3 – Natural Stone Cannot be Repaired: Restoration contractors repair stone daily, and fabricators and installers do as well. All sorts of damage to stone can be fixed. Chips, pits, cracks, and stains are among some of the things that the stone professionals at Tru-Clean Surface Care can successfully correct. Stone can be repaired to like new, unlike many other materials.
#4 – Stone is Out of Style: Trends have come and gone. Quartz, laminate, butcher block, porcelain, etc., have all shared the market with natural stone. However, natural stone has been, and still is, a wise choice for projects, inside and out. Natural stone has a lasting style. It has been the center of big and small projects for centuries. The Leaning Tower of Pisa, Mount Rushmore, and Angkor Wat are a few testaments of its lasting durability. The millions of kitchen countertops, fireplace surrounds, and floor and wall projects are a tribute to its beauty and sustainability.
#5 – Natural Stone Stains Quickly and Easily: Yes, natural stone can stain. However, a properly sealed surface can buy you time to deal with a spill before it becomes a stain. Sealers slow down the absorption of the potential stain. You would naturally wipe up any spills on any other material, stone is just the same. On the off chance it does stain, you can consult our stain guide under the resources tab on our website or call us for help.
Natural stone, like everything else out there, has misconceptions and mistruths. When shopping for material for a project, ensure you get the material’s truth and not the “misconceptions” connected to it.
Tru-Clean Surface Care is a Certified Partner with the prestigious Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC, a Certified Stone PRO, and a surpHaces PRO Partner. We are A+ Rated by the Better Business Bureau and an eight-year-in-a-row winner of the coveted Angie’s List Super Service Award.
We are experts in natural stone cleaning, restoration, sealing, and service all of Lee, Collier, and Charlotte County, Florida.
For all of your travertine, granite, marble, and limestone cleaning, repair, or sealing projects, give Tru-Clean Surface Care a call any time at 239-541-4888 – Cape Coral and Lee County, 239-206-1935 – Bonita Springs, Naples, and Marco Island, or 941-621-2198 – Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte, Florida.
For more information about Tru-Clean Surface Care, please visit us online at www.TruCleanSurfaceCare.com or visit us on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TruCleanSurfaceCareFL/