BENCHTOPS MATERIALS: NATURAL STONE VS MAN-MADE STONE

We’ve recently noticed man-made stones are becoming more and more popular. Many of our clients often ask what exactly are the differences between natural stones and engineered stones and which one is better to choose as a material.

Our answer is simple: both are great and offer an array of benefits worth considering. Of course aesthetic is an important factor, along with price, durability and maintenance. To help you determine which kind of stone will best satisfy your functional and aesthetic needs take a look bellow at the qualities of these two, that are worth considering.

Cost

Your budget and the look you are trying to achieve are the most important factors to consider when selecting your benchtop materials. Benchtops range dramatically in price depending on the material you choose.
Natural stones increase the value of your property, but are on the more expensive side, especially if you choose a more exotic looking slab. Man-made stones are often more affordable.

Maintenance

Both natural stones, and engineered stones are beautiful and extremely durable. With natural stones, there’s no size fits all. Each type of stone (marble, granite, travertine, onyx) has its own unique characteristics and durability. However, if you are going to work with temperatures, natural stones are more heat resistant than man-made products.

Durability

Man-made products are resilient but natural stones definitely last longer.

The veining or grains on man-made stones are embedded into the surface so if there’s any damage to the stone, there’s a possibility the base color will show. Man-made slabs are impossible to restore, if a refurbishment is required, the stone must be replaced.

Edges

We know details matter to our clients. When working with natural stones any style you can think of can be produced resulting in uniform surfaces and edges. When adjusting man-made stones, you can still have whatever edge you desire, but usually, only the color and pattern will be seen on the surface, not on the edge of the stone.

Colors

There are hundreds of different natural stones and each one of them offers its own variations in color and pattern. No slab will ever look the same, which in our opinion, makes them pretty special. Since man-made stones are produced you can literally choose any color or pattern you wish to implement in your space.

If you are looking for inspiration, take a look at our Instagram profile.