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It’s never too soon to start preparing for the summer of your dreams—and for many, the perfect summer consists of nights in the backyard spent with family and friends. What can turn a good backyard great is the perfect outdoor lounge space, and no lounge space is complete without the perfect outdoor countertop.
Your outdoor countertop material should be something that can withstand the effects of weather—because if it can, it won’t just heighten your backyard experience. It will also increase the resale value of your home as a whole.
At Marble Unlimited, countertops are what we do best. We know what works best inside and what works best outside—and we want to share our knowledge with you.
To learn more about the best four options for outdoor countertops, keep reading.
Granite is a top choice for both indoor and outdoor countertops. It’s the most popular natural stone for a reason. It comes in a variety of different colors, patterns, and styles, which makes it incredibly versatile. It can be incorporated into almost any style of outdoor area. It’s also extremely durable—it will stand the test of time and look great while doing it.
As long as granite is stained correctly, it will be resistant to heat, staining, and liquid damage. This makes it perfect for an granite outdoor countertop, along with the fact that it isn’t susceptible to chips, mold, or mildew. The reason for this is that it doesn’t capture moisture—and moisture allows bacteria to thrive. No one wants to serve food on a countertop running rampant with germs.
You also won’t have to worry about the sun fading the color or quality of your granite slab, nor does it run the risk of being damaged by rain or snow.
Quartzite is one of the toughest, if not the toughest, natural stone out there. It’s resistant to heat damage and liquid damage, and as long as you make sure to keep up with sealing this material, there’s not much that can damage it.
Quartzite is a very low-maintenance material, which is why so many people love this stone. You don’t need any fancy chemicals to make sure it stays clean—all you need is soap and water. Those two basic tools will ensure that your countertop stays looking brand new for years.
But while quartzite outdoor countertops is known for its durability, you should still exercise some care and caution if you want it to last. We recommend using potholders for pots and pans and cutting boards instead of cutting directly on the countertop. Doing this can help your countertop look its best for a much longer period of time.
Unlike granite, quartzite, and marble, quartz is inherently nonporous. This is because it’s an engineered stone—a man-made product that’s composed of 95 percent natural quartz and 5 percent polymers and resins. This means that it doesn’t call for resealing in the way that natural stones do. So if you’re looking for something durable with even less maintenance involved, quartz might be perfect for you.
Quartz can withstand the elements; it won’t sustain damage from heat, stains, scratches, or liquid. People also love quartz’s many variations and its streamlined, seamless patterns, rather than the unpredictability of natural stone.
Marble has a reputation of being somewhat of a fussy stone, and many people think that it’s impossible to install marble outside. That’s just not true. While marble outdoor countertops may be a bit more delicate than the three other stones we’ve discussed, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have its own strengths.
As long as you know how to make it work, marble is a great choice for an outdoor lounge area. If you choose the right finish (honed rather than polished), it will toughen up the stone a bit. Polished marble tends to be more vulnerable than honed, so this is a useful way to protect your marble from the elements.
And if you’re someone who loves the authentic look of natural stone, marble might be right up your alley. Some people choose to let marble’s personality come out when rain washes out stains and blends in etch marks, which ages the stone naturally and gives it a unique look.
The outside of your home is just as important as the inside, and a unique outdoor countertops is just what you need to tie your outdoor lounge space together. At Marble Unlimited, we can bring your backyard vision to life with our countertop materials. If you have any questions or would like to schedule a consultation, give us a call at (919) 596-2325.
