Natural products – granite and marble – for benchtops and walls
Granite and marble are both natural stone products – with the technical difference being that granite is an igneous rock – it was once molten and formed as it cooled – and the minerals contained in granite usually appear as small flecks throughout the stone; and marble was originally limestone that changed due to intense heat and pressure, and with the introduction of other minerals resulted in its characteristic veining.
Granite is slightly harder than marble, but both offer reasonably good durability. Spills on your stone kitchen benchtop should be cleaned up as soon as possible and there is some maintenance required to keep the surfaces in good condition. Talk to us about whether marble or granite would suit your home or business.
Brands and galleries of product examples
Granite
Characteristics – All granite slabs have the same general characteristics, despite being mined in different countries. However, slabs of the same colour vary to a greater degree than man-made engineered stones. We recommend you inspect your slab’s colour and pattern prior to it being cut.
Country – Worldwide. We stock granite from Africa, India, Italy, and more.
To see a full list of the possible stone colours see our stockists – Universal Granite
Resistance & Durability – For normal kitchen use, it is scratch resistant. However it’s always a good idea to put down a mat or tea towel when laying down hard objects like pots, pans, and cutlery. Use a trivet or chopping board when placing down a hot pot or pan. As a natural stone, granite is porous – but it won’t stain if you are mindful, and clean up spillages as they occur. Avoid using harsh cleaning chemicals.
Care – Regularly clean using hot soapy water and a microfibre cloth. Dry the surface afterwards with a tea towel or soft cloth. We also stock a product called Lithofin Easy Clean which helps maintain the quality of your top.
Size – All slabs are available in 30mm thickness, and some colours in 20mm. It can be mitred to form thicker profiles, although this may not be possible in some colours.
Granite gallery
Marble
Characteristics – All marble slabs have the same general characteristics, despite being mined in different countries. However, slabs of the same colour vary to a greater degree than man-made engineered stones. We recommend you inspect your slab’s colour and pattern prior to it being cut.
Country – Worldwide.
To see a full list of the possible stone colours see our stockists – Universal Granite
Resistance & Durability – For normal kitchen use, it is scratch resistant. However it’s always a good idea to put down a mat or tea towel when laying down hard objects like pots, pans, and cutlery. For hot pots or pans use a trivet or board. As a natural stone, marble is porous – but it won’t stain if you are careful, and clean up spillages as soon as they happen. Avoid using harsh cleaning chemicals.
Care – Clean with hot soapy water, and a microfibre cloth. Dry the surface afterwards with a tea towel or soft cloth. We also stock a product called Lithofin Easy Clean which helps maintain the quality of your top.
Size – Slabs are available in 30mm thickness, and some colours are also available in 20mm. It can be mitred to form thicker profiles, although this may not be possible in some colours.