Discover The Uniqueness Of Kitchen Slate Countertops

Slate is dense stone formed from silts and sediments transformed by many years of heat and pressure. Although there are different degrees of porosity and density in slates, the ones best for countertops are the really hard ones. Thus, it is non-porous, resistant to heat, stain and spills and does not need any sealing save for the occasional oiling to give it a clean look. That makes it the perfect countertop material – it does not absorb spills, not food particles that can be breeding grounds for bacteria, it can hold up to a very hot pot or pan and it does not get damaged by constant contact with water or soap. Moreover, slate can be easily cleaned by washing it with soapy water and rinsing it after, or wiping it with a damp cloth and occasionally oiling it.

Although most stones used for kitchen countertops are imported, in the US you can have slate that is locally quarried in the Vermont Slate Belt. Slate can come in various colors such as deep red, deep purple, turquoise, gray or black. And it can come with various patterns depending on the variety of the slate and the grain type. Some have highly textured surface, some have little visible graining, some have mottled pattern and some have localized grain patterns that acts as design. As slate looks good in itself, most people using it as countertops needs nothing more than just the polished ends of the slate slabs for edging. They can of course be made to your specifications, depending on which edging you prefer: pencil round, bevel, bull nose quarter or half, DuPont or OG. You can coordinate your kitchen countertop with many other fixtures in your kitchen by buying slate tiles that you can install in other surfaces in your kitchen (such as kitchen cabinet/buffet tops, rolling service tray etc). With its natural beauty, slate countertops and slate tiles can give your kitchen a natural charm that is both subtle and elegant and without needing much maintenance.