4 Myths About Natural Stone You Shouldn’t Believe

Despite a popularity that has lasted thousands of years, many people still believe common misconceptions about natural stone. This durable and beautiful natural material can be used in countless ways, including countertops, backsplashes, showers, and floors with unparalleled durability. If you are planning to remodel your home, make sure you separate fact from fiction when it comes to natural stone. Here are a few myths about natural stone debunked.

1. Natural Stone Is Too Expensive

While natural stone is considered a high-end finish, it doesn't have to be cost-prohibitive. The cost of high-quality natural stone like granite and marble has dropped significantly over the last decade. Most homeowners can find many beautiful slabs of natural stone within their budget. You may find the cost of many natural stone selections is similar to the cost of engineered stone.

2. Natural Stone Is Delicate and Requires a Lot of Care

Many homeowners shy away from natural stone materials due to the myth that stone is difficult to care for. However, this couldn't be further from the truth. Natural stone floors, countertops, and patios can last a century or longer with minimal care (though they still need to be cared for properly). Many types of natural stone are incredibly durable and resist heat, stains, cracks, chips, and other types of damage.

As with any type of surface, it's important to clean granite and other types of natural stone regularly. The most important caveat with natural stone is you should use a stone-safe granite cleaner with no ammonia, vinegar, or acid, such as Granite Gold Daily Cleaner®. Natural stone should also be sealed regularly to reduce the risk of stains and damage.

3. Natural Stone Will Stain Easily

It's true that some materials are more stain resistant than natural stone, such as ceramic tile, but none offer the overall beauty, durability, and strength of stone. There are also many types of natural stone, each with varying colors and degrees of permeability. Some types of stone are very difficult to stain, such as slate or soapstone. Luckily, there are many ways to mitigate the risk of stains. Choosing a denser or darker stone like granite is a good choice for a kitchen, where spills will be common. Marble, on the other hand, is best suited for bathrooms where there is a low risk of stains. Sealing stone regularly offers the best protection against stains. If your stone counters or floors do develop stains, the good news is most stains can be lifted with simple tricks that won't damage the stone itself.

4. Natural Stone Isn't a Good Investment

Installing natural stone counters, flooring, or a shower offers an excellent return on investment because most homebuyers appreciate natural, high-end, and low maintenance finishes. Natural stone never goes out of style and remains the top choice for countertops. Unlike other materials that may only last a decade or two before they need to be replaced, natural stone can last a lifetime if cared for properly, which means you never need to pay to replace your granite counter, slate floor, or marble shower unless you want to. If you're concerned about your return on investment, choose popular varieties of natural stone such as Uba Tuba, Black Pearl, or Santa Cecilia granite or Carrara or Calacatta marble. These varieties go well with most styles of décor and offer the broadest appeal.

If you have granite, marble, slate, or another type of natural stone in your home, make sure to use stone-safe cleaning, sealing, and polishing products. Granite Gold® offers products that are safe to use on all types of natural stone. To learn more, call 1-800-475-STONE today.