Natural stone
Marble
The classic luxury stone, with soft, flowing veins. Best for bathrooms, tables, walls and feature pieces.
About MarbleNatural stone
Granite
Hard, heat tolerant natural stone that household acids don't mark. The all-rounder for kitchens, braais and busy counters.
What granite is
Granite is an igneous rock, formed from cooled magma deep underground. It's made mostly of quartz, feldspar and mica, which is what gives it the crystals and speckles you see in the surface.
Those minerals are what make granite so practical. It's very hard, it handles heat well, and acids like lemon juice, vinegar and wine don't etch it the way they etch marble. Every slab is different, from even speckles to bold, flowing patterns.
Good at
- Very hard and scratch resistant
- Handles heat well
- Household acids don't etch it
- Fine outdoors, and it doesn't fade in the sun
- Every slab is unique
Watch out for
- Needs sealing to protect against stains, and resealing over time
- Pattern and colour vary from slab to slab, so see the slab before it's cut
- Very busy, speckled patterns are less in fashion than calmer slabs
Best for
- Kitchen countertops and islands
- Braai areas and outdoor kitchens
- Bar tops and busy commercial counters
- Stairs, sills and thresholds
Looking after it
- Wipe daily with warm water and a mild, pH-neutral soap
- Wipe up oil, wine and coffee quickly so they don't soak in
- Reseal when water stops beading on the surface
- Avoid harsh cleaners and abrasive scourers that dull the polish
Questions
Granite questions
Does granite need sealing?
Yes, most granite should be sealed to slow down staining, and resealed from time to time. A quick test: drip a little water on the surface. If it darkens the stone instead of beading, it's time to reseal.
Can I put a hot pot on granite?
Granite handles heat well. Even so, very sudden heat can stress any stone, especially near edges and joins, so a trivet is a good habit.
Other stones
Compare all three
Quartz surface
Caesarstone
A quartz surface with even colour and pattern. Non-porous, so it doesn't need sealing. For indoor use.
About CaesarstoneTell us what you want made.
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