Modern Quartz Offers a Sophisticated Limestone Look Without the Worry

When undergoing a home renovation, you want to get the best bang for your buck. One of the best places to reduce some of your expenses is your countertops — but it’s important that cutting costs doesn’t impact the quality of your countertop material or you might be in for more than a few headaches. Whether you’re looking at modern quartz or limestone, there are a lot of factors that need to be considered before making your final selection.

Don’t compromise quality for the cost (or you might pay for it in the long run!). Keep reading to better understand which premium surfaces are the ideal choice for your home improvement project.

Is Limestone a Good Countertop Choice?

At first glance, you might think limestone is the perfect cost-efficient solution you’ve been looking for because of its budget-friendly price point. But being one of the least expensive options on the market doesn’t come without a few disadvantages that are important to consider. Let’s take a look at both the pros and cons and limestone countertops.

Advantages of Limestone

• Affordability – When comparing natural stone options such as limestone vs. quartz vs. granite, limestone is the clear winner. You’ll be able to install limestone in a larger area of your home at a fraction of the cost of its natural stone counterparts.
• Appearance – Even with a cheaper price tag, limestone looks beautiful in nearly any room — from kitchens to bathrooms to outdoor living spaces.
• Versatility – Limestone can match any design aesthetic because the slabs are available in a variety of textures and colors. Whether you’re looking for an earthy beige or warm gray, there’s something that everyone will love.

Disadvantages of Limestone

• Durability – Your countertops need to be able to hold up to everyday wear and tear, especially in high traffic areas like a kitchen. Because limestone is softer than quartz, marble, and granite, it’s more susceptible to damage like chipping, scratching, and cracking. While it might be cheaper upfront, paying for repairs can add up over time!
• Maintenance – No matter what type of countertops you install, there will always be a bit of maintenance involved to keep them looking beautiful. Limestone requests proper sealing and regular maintenance to maintain their light and bright charm.
• Reactive Surface – You need to be extremely careful with the at-home maintenance of your limestone countertops. Because the stone is reactive, using cleaners with acids such as lemon and vinegar can cause permanent damage to its appearance.
• Staining – The limestone material is also extremely absorbent, which means that if the counter gets wet and isn’t dried thoroughly, you might find yourself dealing with constant water stains.

Why Modern Quartz Is the Superior Countertop Material

While limestone is relatively durable, it often causes more of a headache than it’s worth. Because of this, most homeowners opt for a more durable option like quartz countertops. Don’t take our word for it? Here are the top reasons why quartz is becoming one of the most popular countertop options on the market.

Photo Credit: Houzz

The Benefits of Quartz Countertops

• Durability – When choosing your countertops, whether for a kitchen or bathroom, you want a surface that is going to stand the test of time. From cooking family meals to hosting dinner parties with friends, you need a reliable countertop that will enable you to prep meals with peace of mind. With quartz countertops, you can rest easy knowing you have a reliable surface that is resistant to dents, chips, scratches, cracks, and stains — making it a far superior option than limestone!
• Appearance – In your newly renovated space, you have complete control over every design aspect of the room. Whether you’re creating a traditional kitchen or looking for a more modern vibe, quartz can be completely customized because they are manmade. MSI Surfaces can help you choose from creamy ivory, warm beiges, subtle grays, sleek whites, and every color in between, seamlessly blending your chosen surface to tie together your new kitchen aesthetic. If you aren’t sure what quartz countertop colors and hues would look best in your space, you can use our countertop visualizer to help narrow down your options.

Learn more about MSI Surfaces’ quartz color options:

• Maintenance – While all surfaces are going to require some maintenance, most homeowners don’t want an option like limestone that requires regular touch-ups. Quartz countertops are essentially maintenance-free and need little more than a quick wipe down with a damp cloth and soap. This simple maintenance routine will keep your quartz counters shining like the day they were first installed — and win you back quality time to spend with your family instead of cleaning!
• Home Value – With any home renovation, you’re looking for a return on your investment. Because of quartz’s durability and sleek finish, it’s sure to improve the value of your space. It’s the only man-made countertop option on the market that is proven to provide a 3-7% increase in value — making it well worth the upfront investment.
• Stain Resistance – As we mentioned above, limestone is a reactive surface that is prone to staining from acidic cleaners, water, and other elements it comes into contact with. There are few things more frustrating than staining your beautiful crafted countertops! Luckily with quartz countertops, you don’t have anything to worry about your surface becoming stained because of its non-porous characteristics. This means that water and residue are unable to penetrate the surface of the quartz, ensuring that any liquids that could stain the material will be repelled from the surface instead of being absorbed into it.
• Carbon Footprint – Unlike other forms of surfaces that are created from natural stone slabs, quartz counters are made up of 90% stone-like material (often the leftovers from other quartz productions). This means that fewer resources are needed during the production phase, making them an environmentally “green” countertop option.

For more information on our quartz countertop offerings, contact MSI Surfaces. Our team can help you find the ideal surface for your space.