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Limestone Countertops
Limestone countertops have become the latest
darling of kitchen designers everywhere.
The soft texture and pleasing beige colors
of this most natural looking stone fit today’s
more casual and comfortable lifestyle. Limestone
is a sedimentary rock formed as organic matter
sinks to the bottom of lakes and oceans.
As more layers build up over thousands of
years, the increasing weight adds more and
more pressure, resulting in heat that causes
a chemical reaction that hardens the sediment
into solid stone. Since limestone can be
found in many parts of the world, there is
a wide variety of color shades and texture
to choose from.
Consider the following when buying
limestone
for countertops:
- Since no two pieces of limestone are identical,
adjoining pieces should come from the same
source.
- Although some limestone is almost as hard
and dense as granite, most
of it is relatively
soft. Since it is susceptible
to scratching,
it should be protected by using
cutting boards
when preparing food. Hard objects
with rough
bottoms, such as some ceramics,
should have
trivets or placemats put under
them.
- Limestone is quite porous and so is easily
stained. A penetrating sealer needs to be
applied before it is installed and at regular
intervals when it is in use. Because limestone
is calcium based, it is particularly sensitive
to any acidic liquids or foods such as citrus
or tomatoes. These will cause the limestone
to etch, meaning that the surface will dull
and change texture, resulting in a visible
spot. This will be less noticeable if the
limestone has been honed rather than polished.
For this reason, matte finishes are becoming
increasingly more fashionable than highly
polished ones.
- Limestone is not particularly heat resistant,
so hot pots should not be set
directly on
the countertop.
- Limestone slabs are heavy. Make sure the
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cabinets you are installing
can hold their
weight. The slabs are usually
installed by
gluing them to the tops of
the cabinets with
silicone or epoxy or by securing
them to
a plywood substrate.
Remember that limestone is also available
as more affordable tiles. |
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