What is the best stone for my kitchen countertops? – Granite or Marble?
Granite is the ideal stone for kitchen countertops. Because of the way granite is formed in the earth it is extremely hard. You can actually chop vegetables right on the countertop without damaging the surface, however you may damage you knives as the stone is harder than the knife blades and can dull them. Also, the hard, non-porous surface of granite is resistant to acid staining from common foods such as lemon juice, tomato sauce, red wine and vinegar. Marble however, is not as hard as granite. Over time, the polished surface will dull in areas where pans get pushed around or vegetables get chopped, or just from water standing on the countertop. Also, because of the calcium carbonate make up of marble, it is very susceptible to acid staining and etching. The exception would be green marble. Green marbles like Hualien Jade from Taiwan, Verde San Remo from Italy, Verde Antique from Vermont are all excellent marble choices for the kitchen. These stones are not actually marble but a dif
