Natural Stone Benchtops

At Made in Stone, we do not offer a warranty for our natural stone benchtops, such as granite and marble. This is because natural stones are a product of nature and variations in color, pattern, and texture are to be expected.

However, we understand that our customers want to ensure that their benchtops last as long as possible. To help with this, we recommend taking proper care of your benchtops by avoiding harsh chemicals, regularly sealing the surface, and using cutting boards to prevent scratches. With proper care, your natural stone benchtops can last for many years to come.

If you have any questions or concerns about your natural stone benchtops, please don’t hesitate to contact us or visit us at our showroom.

Yes. All natural stones can be used for kitchen benchtop applications, although some natural stones perform better than others. Granite and marble (in that order) are the most popular and durable natural stones used in kitchen benchtop applications.

Natural stones are good choices for kitchen benchtops because, when properly sealed, they are non-porous, hard-wearing, easy-to-clean, and enormously wear-resistant to scratches, chemicals, and acid. Although if not correctly sealed, liquids can penetrate the surface, resulting in damages, stains, and material weakening.

Therefore, natural stone kitchen benchtops must be regularly sealed at least once a year to maintain their best appearance, prevent permanent discolouration and allow for easy cleaning without damaging the surface. It’s crucial to realise that natural stones may last a lifetime with proper care, sealing and maintenance. While natural stones develop an organic discolouration over time, this adds to their beauty and distinct nature, giving your kitchen benchtop character.

Uniquely, natural stone kitchen benchtops are one of the most heat-resistant surfaces available, so when exposed to heat, the surface will not melt or blister. Hot trays and pans may be placed directly on natural stone kitchen benchtops without causing damage to the surface. Having said that, homeowners should still be cautious about placing hot objects; in general, when preparing meals use a trivet for hot things.

While every natural stone can be used in the kitchen, the use your kitchen benchtop gets will determine the type of natural stone you should choose.

For example, marble is considered a soft stone compared to other natural stone surfaces, so sharp knives can scratch the surface easily; even heavy pots or mugs may chip the marble. Although choosing a kitchen benchtop is a personal decision based on individual preferences. As, on the other hand, marble stone is a popular choice for households who do a lot of baking, as marble has a perfectly smooth and cool surface ideal as a pastry slab for rolling out dough and pie crusts.

Yes. Natural stones work great in bathrooms, just as they do in kitchens when adequately sealed, making natural stones non-porous, hard-wearing, easy-to-clean, and enormously wear-resistant to scratches, chemicals, and acid.

Even after being wet, natural stone benchtops will resist water damage if the vanity top is regularly sealed and waterproofed. Although if not correctly sealed, liquids can penetrate the surface, resulting in damages, stains, and material weakening.

In addition, there are many ways to ensure your natural stone vanity top is long-lasting. For example, wipe up spills as soon as they happen, as liquids will soak into the material slower. By sticking to these basic maintenance principles, you’ll be able to enjoy a luxurious natural stone vanity in your bathroom.

Engineered stones are man-made stones comprised of 90-95% quartz. In contrast, natural stones like granite and marble are 100% natural and quarried from the earth.

Natural stones have various faults and inconsistencies by nature, which adds to their unique characteristics, as each slab is made organically. Natural stone benchtops are ideal if you want a distinctive and one-of-a-kind feature for your home that you can guarantee no one else has, while manufactured stone benchtops are best if you want consistency.

Generally, engineered stones are more dense, resilient, and durable. Having said that, natural stones perform very well when cared for properly. In contrast, uniquely natural stone can also be used outdoors… engineered stones cannot.

Since natural stone is organically porous, it may discolour and get stains, but there are many ways to protect your countertops from liquid damages and stains. On the other hand, engineered stone is non-porous, so whether it’s stains, spills, or acids, it doesn’t react to anything and is almost completely stain resistant.

You may also want to consider the environmental impact of the two materials, as natural stones do not require much energy to manufacture for the end result. In contrast, engineered stones require a much larger use of resources during manufacturing. As a result, natural stones are much more environmentally friendly and sustainable than engineered stones.

Yes! Natural stones, in general, are the best materials to use for outdoor kitchen benchtops, BBQs, alfrescos and all other outdoor settings. In contrast to engineered stones which is not suitable for outdoor use.

As natural stone benchtops are constructed by nature, they are highly resilient and durable under general outdoor use, and therefore can often last decades outside with little maintenance.

Holding excellent ultraviolet (UV) resistance which minimises the risk of natural stone benchtops breaking down over time due to prolonged exposure to Australia’s sun. The ability of natural stone benchtops to be installed outdoors allows you to achieve a consistent aesthetic in all areas of your home, allowing for a seamlessly flow between indoor and outdoor living spaces.

However, depending on the amount of direct sunlight, natural stone benchtops may “weather” due to intense sunshine exposure and other external factors. Even with this expected level of wear and tear, a natural stone benchtop will hold up excellent against the challenging Australian elements for many decades to come.

Marble stone is a natural mix of mainly calcite, limestone, serpentine, and dolomite. Marble benchtops are prized for their timeless style, texture, and high-gloss polish, along with a rich palette of beautiful colours. Marble has a place anywhere in the home and is often seen as a symbol of luxury.

While the most popular shade of marble is white, there are many other gorgeous colour varieties available. For example, dark marble stone is an excellent way to warm up the appeal of a room.

Marble natural stone exceeds various engineered benchtops with a large variety of colours, patterns, and styles. From solid colours or dramatic veined varieties, marble stone is one of the most versatile stones available, so you’re likely to find a marble benchtop that matches your décor flawlessly.

Due to its unique qualities, there are no two slabs of marble cut alike, so marble stone is ideal for a rare centrepiece in your home, sure to make big impressions on your guests!

Marble stone is now a popular option for kitchen benchtops as the surface is effortless to clean and has the natural ability to retain coldness, making the surface perfect for people who do a lot of baking. Plus, its completely heat-resistant ability eliminates the worry of damaging the stone with hot pans.

Granite is a natural igneous rock that is quarried from the earth, and its composition comprises mainly of quartz, mica, and feldspar. Granite benchtops are available in a variety of colours, textures, and finishes, ranging from mild colours like cream and white to dark and dramatic hues.

Therefore, selecting a granite benchtop that blends in with the rest of your kitchen is easy. Or, if you want your granite benchtop to stand out as a feature piece, there is sure to be a uniquely cut granite slab for your liking. Granite has a beauty that engineered stone does not, with no two slabs cut alike.

Even though granite is a durable material, all natural stones are porous, so granite must be correctly sealed and waterproofed to ensure a more durable benchtop. Since the sealer can wear off over time, granite benchtops should be sealed every three to five years.

When exposed to heat, granite countertops will not melt or blister. They’re one of the most heat-resistant surfaces available. Hot pans from the oven can be put straight on the countertop surface without causing damage.

Uniquely, granite has incredible resistance to salt, as well as tremendous strength and density, making it a perfect choice for your outdoor kitchen benchtops.

• Wipe down with soft cleaning material

When you go to clean your marble kitchen benchtop, you may immediately think about what kind of chemical sprays are needed for such situations. Forget about the endless supply of cleaning sprays and wipes. All you need is a warm, soapy cloth to wipe down the entire surface of your benchtop. However, if available, a specific cleaning solution that is designed for cleaning stones such as marble is also desirable.

• Clean any spills immediately

Sometimes it is inevitable for a mess or spill to happen. Here at Made In Stone, we recommend wiping up any spills straight away. Liquids such as wine or coffee left on the stone’s surface can result in etching and unsightly stains. The natural stone material is very porous and penetrable so cleaning any spills immediately is directly beneficial to avoid long-term damage.

For any deeper and stronger stains, use a poultice. A poultice is a white paste cleaner that can be applied to remove any stubborn stains.

• Use the correct cleaning solutions

When cleaning your marble kitchen benchtop, ensure you are very cautious with the type of cleaning soaps and detergents you use. At Made In Stone, we generally recommend using a natural stone cleaning solution with a mild PH level. 

Stone benchtops need to be managed exceptionally, so try to avoid any acidic cleaners, alkali detergents or bleach. Such cleaners can cause extensive damage to your benchtops. Research and read the product information of cleaning materials so that you can make an educated decision on what works best with your marble stone benchtop.

Some examples of natural stone benchtops Sydney that Made in Stone sells include a variety of:

• Dolomite

Dolomite is a sedimentary stone that forms white and grey colourisation when limestone and lime mud merge with magnesium-rich groundwater. Due to its thick mineral composition, dolomite stone is more durable than that marble stone and can handle liquids and acids better over time due to its higher non-porosity.

• Travertine

Travertine is formed at the bottom of water beds such as from rivers, oceans and lakes that are made up of a compressed assortment of mineral deposits. As a very affordable stone, travertine can also withstand being scratched, stained and chipped when sealed and maintained correctly.

• Granite

Granite is a very common natural stone known for its strength, colour variation and affordability. Available in a range of shades and colours, granite stone is the perfect addition to any home. Granite is definitely worth the money due to its impeccable durability and resistance to wear and tear.

• Marble

Marble stone is a natural mix of mainly calcite, limestone, serpentine, and dolomite. Marble benchtops are prized for their timeless style, texture, and high-gloss polish, along with a rich palette of beautiful colours. Marble has a place anywhere in the home and is often seen as a symbol of luxury.

• Limestone

Much like travertine stone, limestone is also found in marine waters. Although, what is different with limestone is that they are formed through a process involving pressure and heat. Limestone is among the cheaper options of natural stones and, with regular maintenance and resealing, can prove to be a very long-lasting stone.

• Onyx

Onyx is a genre of marble that has very similar characteristics to the commonly used marble stone. Onyx marble has natural transparency, unlike opaque marble. The randomness of colours and transparent nature brings about the rareness of the marble, making it a very exclusive marble type.

No matter what natural stone benchtop you end up selecting for your space, it is recommended to seal the stone regularly in order to protect its surface. Natural stone tends to be very porous, meaning it can absorb chemicals, liquids, food colours, acid and bacteria. Although a sealant may not make your benchtop completely stain-proof, it can protect the surface to be more resistant to stains.