UNDERSTANDING YOUR SURFACE MATERIALS
Solid surfaces have been popular for decades due to their beauty and inherent luxury. With so many different types of surfaces available, it can be hard choosing the right one. At IVO, we want to help you make the right choice: with our guide to understanding surfaces, learn which material is right for you! From naturally occurring to manufactured surfaces, we offer them all!
NATURAL SURFACES
GRANITE
Known as the grandfather of stone, Granite is naturally occurring & can withstand the tests of time. With limitless different patterns and incredible colors, granite has always been a favorite for kitchens and baths. This stone disperses heat incredibly well because of how naturally porous it is which makes it the perfect stone for a kitchen and is also really easy to clean as long as the stone is sealed, which makes it perfect for any room!
-
NATURAL
-
DURABLE
-
HEAT RESISTANT
-
REQUIRES SEALER
MARBLE
Adorn your home with the timeless elegance of marble stone. With it’s distinct veining and color, marble is still today a highly sought-after stone. Despite its’ beauty, marble is a very soft stone and scratches very easily, even with sealants. It also is prone to staining because of how porous and light the stone typically is. It disperses heat incredibly well and as long as you care for your stone you will have a beautiful, lasting countertop.
-
NATURAL
-
SOFT & POROUS
-
HEAT RESISTANT
-
REQUIRES SEALER
QUARTZITE
Originating as sandstone, quartzite is an immensely strong and durable natural stone. Its strength and long-lasting nature make it ideal for kitchen countertop surfaces. The myriad of colors, appealing patterns and hardness of this stone make quartzite a considerable choice for any application. Quartzite is a metamorphic stone, meaning that it’s formed when rocks and sandstone undergo extreme pressure and heat to meld into a new material. It’s resistant to scratching, etching, and acids which makes it perfect for a kitchen setting. It will often resemble marble due to its unique veining of blues, greens, and reds that are naturally occurring.
-
NATURAL
-
STAIN RESISTANT
-
HEAT RESISTANT
-
REQUIRES SEALER
SOAPSTONE
Soapstone is another naturally occurring stone but with a very dark color and light veins throughout. Soapstone is a non-porous stone which means that it will not stain, which is hard to say for granite and marble, but it still retains the heat dispersion that marble and granite possess. One thing soapstone has in common with Marble is how soft it is; very easy to carve into. Unlike other natural stones, there are ways to alter the tone of this stone using mineral oil, which makes it extremely unique!
-
NATURAL
-
STAIN RESISTANT
-
HEAT RESISTANT
-
SEALER REQUIRED
MANUFACTURED SURFACES
QUARTZ
Quartz is made up of crushed granite mixed with a resin base to create an extremely tough, and very durable, stone. Quartz comes in a variety of different colors, patterns, and styles and is easy to pair with any cabinet color or flooring. Because of the resin base quartz is extremely easy to clean and care for but beware of hot pots, pans, or baking sheets. The stone doesn’t disperse heat nearly as well as its natural counterparts and the heat can burn the stone, turning it yellow, so potholders and towels are recommended. Durable, low-maintenance, and stain- and germ-resistant, it perfect for kitchen settings.
-
MANUFACTURED
-
STAIN RESISTANT
-
TAKES HEAT DAMAGE
-
NO SEALER REQUIRED
DEKTON
Dekton is a sophisticated blend of the raw materials used to produce the very latest in glass and porcelain as well as the highest quartz work surfaces. Dekton employs exclusive Sinterized Particle Technology, a high tech process which represents an accelerated version of the metamorphic change that natural stone undergoes when subjected to high temperatures and pressure over thousands of years. Ultra-compaction is responsible for the material’s mechanical properties. This level of compaction contributes significantly to the material’s low porosity, making it a low-maintenance, long-life product. Everything to do with Dekton is extraordinary.
-
MANUFACTURED
-
STAIN RESISTANT
-
HEAT RESISTANT
-
NO SEALER REQUIRED
PORCELAIN
Porcelain countertops offer both durability & beauty, making them a great focal point in your home for years to come. They can endure graffiti & scratches – even the strongest of stains can be lifted. They are low maintenance, so you don’t have to worry about which cleaners to use. Whether you use abrasive or non-abrasive cleaners, your product will look as new as the day it was installed.
Porcelain kitchen countertops are made from a clay called China clay. This clay is formed from a combination of the minerals kaolinite, silica, feldspar and other oxides that reinforce its overall strength and structure. This material is then kiln-fired at extremely high temperatures. During the manufacturing process, pigmented glazes are added to create different colors and patterns on the surface of the porcelain slab countertop.
-
MANUFACTURED
-
STAIN RESISTANT
-
HEAT RESISTANT
-
NO SEALER REQUIRED
