Love Carrara Marble? Hate The Price?

The Real Thing

  

   Then let us introduce you to a couple Carrara imposters! But these countertop surfaces don't need to go around pretending to be the popular marble, they can stand on their own merits. Besides being pretty pricey, marble is not the easiest countertop surface to care for. Though no doubt stunning, Carrara marble chips and scars and stains like crazy. These look-alikes we're about to recommend are more hearty and easier to care for. But just a warning, NOTHING is going to look EXACTLY like marble. (There's a reason Michelangelo chose it to create David)

  

•     Cambria:  Torquay^™ Waterstone Collection™

 A posh, continental feel, much like this English Riviera town itself. Understated cream complemented by swirls of gray and tan lends a chic air to any setting. Cambria is pure natural quartz. Variation in the natural stone (quartz) color, pattern, size, shape and shade are inherent and unique characteristics to be expected with this product. This does not affect the product performance in any manner. Cambria is durable and more resistant to surface damage than other stone. However, all stone can be damaged by force and no stone is chip-proof. Objects hitting edges particularly at sinks or dishwashers may cause chips. Though a minor knife slip will dull the knife and not harm Cambria, no stone surface is scratch-proof. Surface markings are more visible on monotone designs than multi-colored surfaces. Cambria is not a seamless product, seams are visible. Where there are seams the product pattern and shade can change.

•  Caesarstone: Misty Carrera

Caesarstone quartz surfaces are the ultimate combination of nature and technology. Non-porous, scratch resistant and highly resistant to stains, Caesarstone retains its beauty without sealants or waxes and is almost maintenance-free. Ideal for any interior space, Caesarstone stone surfaces have four times the flexural strength and double the impact resistance of granite while impressively outperforming marble.

•  Granite: Bianco Montanha / River White

Bianco Montanha is quarried from a bedrock quarry in Brazil. It is one of the most widely-used and popular granite colors for the local Brazilian market. With its soft veining on a white background, it is similar in appearance to a marble. Some blocks will have more veining and movement, while others will have less and provide a cleaner look. During the polishing process, an epoxy resin is applied to the surface of the stone to fill in any natural pits, cracks or fissures that may exist. This does not affect the durability, maintenance or beauty of the stone. It is possible for some of the more minute pits that are too small to effectively hold the resin, to reopen during other finishing stages. However, this will not detract from the overall quality or appearance of the stone. Due to the qualities of the stone, the slabs are book-matched; meaning slab one and slab two will be cut and polished to create a mirror image of each other. These are then kept in sequence, which allows for a consistent flow in pattern. As a natural stone product, it is recommended that this be sealed to extend its longevity.  (arizonatile.com)