If you’re looking for a countertop material for your kitchen, then there are a lot of options to choose from like granite, marble, limestone, sandstone, and quartz kitchen countertops. Here is everything you need to know about sandstone countertops and whether they are good for your kitchen or not.
Sealing Is Necessary
If you have any knowledge about natural stones, then you would know that sandstone is an extremely porous material. It can drink up water like a sponge and it’s necessary to seal them if you’re going to be choosing this material for your kitchen.
Sealing will cover all of the exposed pores on the surface of the countertop and water and other liquids will simply bead on top of the counter and you can clean up the mess right away, with a wet washcloth.
What Cleaners To Use?
Acid is a very harmful thing to use, especially on sandstone countertops, because it can damage the material to no extent. When cleaning something very delicate and porous like sandstone countertops, you want to choose a cleaner, which is neutral and doesn’t contain any acid or harsh chemicals, which could damage the countertop. You can opt for cleaners with low pH or if you don’t want to spend a lot of money, then you can go for a simple solution of lukewarm water and soap or liquid detergent.
Mix both of these together until you get a foamy mixture and you can either use a spray bottle to spray the liquid on top of the sandstone countertops or you can use a wet washcloth and use it for cleaning.
After it has been wiped down, you can use a dry dish towel and wipe the countertops, so that they’re not wet to the touch. This cleaning method is very easy and affordable because buying special countertop cleaners can add up over time. Why would you want to use these chemical-based cleaners, when you have options in your own house?
It Is Reasonably Durable
Sandstone is not the most durable material in the world, but that’s not to say that it can’t withstand any impact or forces at all. Even though its durability might not be up there with granite or quartz, sandstone is still quite a good material, which will last you a long time and you can use it in your kitchen for years to come.
If you take care of the material properly and maintain it from time to time, then sandstone countertops will last for a lot of years and you won’t have to replace or repair them too often.
It Is Heat Resistant
One of the biggest qualities of sandstone is that it is heat resistant. Even though it is a lighter material, you might think that heat stains will show a lot on its surface, but that’s not the case. It is very resistant to heat and you don’t need to protect it from hot pots and pans.
If you still want to be cautious, however, then you can certainly use trivets and cutting boards on the surface of sandstone, just for that extra bit of protection against heat. This is only going to make your countertops last longer.
Chipping Can Be A Problem
As previously mentioned, sandstone is not the strongest material, so there can be a couple of problems that might occur from time to time and one of them is chipping or the formation of small cracks on the surface.
Chipping is basically the eating away of the material and it’s going to lead to bigger cracks if you don’t take care of these small ones right away. As soon as you see a small crack, you might want to call someone in who can fix the damaged countertop.
Alternatively, you can also fix the chip in the countertop by yourself by filling it up with an adhesive. It’s pretty easy to do and it doesn’t take much time at all.
Sandstone Stains Easily
Another reason why sandstone needs to be sealed is because of its tendency to stain. Food stains are very common to appear on the surface of the countertops and because sandstone is extremely light in color, like marble, the stains can look even more prominent. So, the best way to protect your countertops from getting stained is to get them sealed.
Once stained, these countertops can be a nightmare to clean, and the stains can’t be removed as easily either.
The Appearance Is Out Of This World
A very notable quality of sandstone is the appearance of it when it gets installed. It is one of the most beautiful materials to ever exist and it has similar characteristics as marble. The light colors, the warm undertones, and the ripples of veining which are visible from the surface are really appealing to look at. Sandstone is one of those few materials which is popular among people because of its appearance, like granite and marble.
A lot of people gravitate towards this material and it really looks good in kitchens as countertops or even kitchen islands. However, many people prefer granite countertops Potomac because they popular and add the most to value their homes.
Professional Installation Is Required
Sandstone will look the best if it’s installed professionally. There are a lot of things that go into the installation of sandstone countertops and you need to hire someone professional, otherwise they won’t look the same.
Sandstone needs to be sealed and it also needs to be sanded down, during installation, to ensure that everything looks perfect and that the countertop is protected. Sealing is normally done during the installation because it’s easier and there isn’t any damage imparted to the slab. So, to ensure that the sealing job is done right, then you might want to leave the countertop installation to the professionals.
Regular Maintenance Of Sandstone
Sandstone is a very easy material to maintain and clean on a regular basis. You don’t need to maintain it a lot, especially if the countertops are already sealed and polished. You just need to freshen up the sealant once or twice a year, depending on how much damage is there.
But if you take care of the countertops properly and make sure that you’re not scratching the surface or leaving it damp all the time, then the maintenance is going to be even less and your countertops will look just as beautiful.
Color Availability
Last but not least, you want to know about the colors sandstone has, so you can choose something which goes with your kitchen. Usually, sandstone is available in an array of warm and neutral colors. The colors are extremely muted and they look great if you’re trying to go for a minimal look in the kitchen.
There are a lot of variations of light yellow, beige, off-white, and taupe, in sandstone. The veining on top of the stone is usually a lighter or darker color, and sometimes it can be a mixture of both, and that looks very beautiful.
Conclusion
Sandstone is a very beautiful material and it gives a lustrous and shiny appearance, but there are also some things that can be troublesome for a lot of people. If you want the best natural stone, go for granite and consult granite countertop installers Rockville.
