Stone for worktop/Counter top

| Feature | I-Quartz | Granite | Marble | Solid Surface  |
| Non-porous | ✔ |   |
| Heat and burn resistant | ✔ |  ✔ | 
| Scratch resistant | ✔ |  ✔ | 
| Stain resistant | ✔ |   |
| Bacterial resistant | ✔ |  | 
| High resistant to Acid | ✔ |  | 
| Chip and crack resistant | ✔ |   |
| Maintenance | Warm water or mild soap | Require sealers, cleaners and wax |

IMPORTANT NOTE for I-quartz: STRONG CHEMICAL, SOLVENTS AND DYES MAY CAUSE PERMANENT DISCOLORATION. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT HOT PADS AND CUTTING BOARDS HE USED.

**Laminates** are the toughest and cheapest and can look quite good but don’t really compare to the tactile feel of other materials and they too will eventually deteriorate once water has got in along the edges.

**Granite** has lovely reflective properties, a cool touch and each piece is unique but they need sealing otherwise they are susceptible to staining. They also don’t like excessive heat. If you do go for granite, please show some taste and avoid the black.

A **composite solid surface** is a blend of resins and has great properties for a kitchen surface but the surface isn’t as reflective as granite or quartz and doesn’t feel cool to the touch.

**Corian** is simply too **plastic** looking for me, and expensive. 

**Stainless steel** marks and scratches easily.

**Cimstone**

**Technistone** is an engineered stone that consists of 93% Quartz, Granite, Quartz Silica and 7% resin, binders and colours. 

**Limestone**


Natural stones

    Granite
    Limestone
    Marble
    Soapstone
    Gabbro
    Slate
    
Silicate mineral

    Travertine
    Quartz
    
Manufactured materials

    Concrete
        Cast-in-place
        Precast
        Processed slabs
    Compressed paper or fiber
    Cultured marble
    High pressure laminates
        Post-formed high-pressure decorative laminates
        Self-edged high-pressure decorative laminates
    Quartz surfacing or engineered stone is 99.9% solid @ 93% aggregate / 7% polyester resin (by weight), colors and binders
    Recycled Glass surface either with concrete or polyester resin binders
    Solid-surface acrylic plastic materials
    Solid-surface polyester acrylic
    Terrazzo
    Tile
    Cast-in-place materials
        Natural stone suspended in a resin
        Post-consumer glass suspended in a resin
    Epoxy
    Phenolic resin