300 N Archuleta Rd, Las Cruces, NM 88005       Phone: 575-526-0833

Stone Colors & Material Glossary

  • Home
  • /
  • Stone Colors & Material Glossary

Natural granite stone adds warmth and dimension to any style of kitchen or bath. It is the most durable material you can use for countertops and it adds value and beauty to any home.

We have the largest selection of natural stone slabs to choose from. Below is a sample of natural stone available in our stone yard. Every bundle of stone from the quarry is unique, so we invite you to tour our stone yard with one of our team members to help you pick the perfect stone countertop.

Pricing is based on the rarity of the stone and the square footage of the stone used for your project. Let us help you make a work of nature into a work of art inside your home!

Granite is an igneous rock born of heat and pressure of magma below Earth’s surface. Granite is composed mainly of quartz and feldspar with minor amounts of mica, iron oxide and other minerals. This mineral composition usually gives granite a red, pink, gray, or brown color with dark mineral grains visible throughout the rock.

Granite is used to make countertops, floor tiles, paving stone, curbing, stair treads, building veneer, and cemetery monuments. Granite is a hard material that withstands heat and is not easily scratched.

Because granite is a natural material with variations in vein and color, it is known to have small pits and fissures on the surface which are sometimes filled with resin at the quarry where it is mined.

How to care for Granite:

Granite is moisture resistant, however, it’s also porous and needs to be sealed to resist dirt and liquid from seeping the stone.

Your stone fabricator will seal your granite before it’s installed. If you clean your natural stone countertop with a mild kitchen cleaner or a product formulated for natural stone, you will not have to seal your granite for a couple of years.

Sealers are readily available at home improvement stores or kitchen and bath centers. It is a myth that sealing stone is a difficult process. Test on your surface by spilling a small amount of water on the surface; if the water beads on the surface your stone is sufficiently sealed, if the water seeps into the stone and creates a dark spot, it is time to seal your stone.

Choose a quality product that impregnates the pores of the stone. Clean your countertops, allow them to dry and use a lint-free dry cloth to apply the sealer. Follow directions on the product to allows the sealer to work and remove excess sealer. You’re ready to use your stone countertops again – it’s that easy!

Don’t use vinegar, bleach, ammonia or general purpose cleaners, bathroom cleaners or tub and tile cleaners on your granite. These products will shorten the life of your sealer. Clean surfaces regularly with a Stone and Tile cleaner or mild dish detergent.

Marble is a metamorphic rock that forms when limestone is subjected to the heat and pressure in the earth’s surface. Before metamorphism, calcite in the limestone is often in the form of fossil material and other minerals such as clay minerals, micas, quartz, pyrite, iron oxides, and graphite that form veins in the stone.

Marble has been used for centuries as kitchen and bath countertops, floor tiles, curbing, stair treads, building veneer, cemetery monuments, and large monuments all over the world. Because of its natural beauty and distinct veining, the use of marble in kitchen and bath design in the US has increased in recent years.

Marble is a soft natural stone that will etch with acidic liquids (lemon, lime, tomato), and it is soft enough to scratch. Etching on marble creates dull spots on a high-polished finish regardless of how well it is sealed.

The use of cutting boards is recommended when preparing food on a marble countertop. Not only will some foods etch the marble and knives can scratch the surface, but Marble is also more apt to stain and develop a natural “patina” over the years.

If one is faint of heart and wants their marble countertops to look exactly as they did when they were installed after high-use, marble is not a good choice for countertops. If one isn’t bothered by seeing the “history” of kitchen events, it’s a perfect choice for a classic or modern kitchen or bath design.

How to care for Marble:

Don’t use vinegar, Windex or bleach on marble. A single use of these acidic substances will eat into a marble countertop’s surface (etching) and dull the stone. Clean your marble surface with mild soap and water.

You can give your marble a more protection from stains by using spray sealant at least once a month – sealing marble surfaces more often than granite is recommended. Remember that sealant will not prevent etching from acidic liquids from happening.

Remember to use cutting boards when using knives or preparing food, use beverage coasters, and avoid dragging sharp or hard objects across the surface of your marble countertops.

Quartz is an engineered material created through a manufacturing process that mixes approximately 95% ground natural quartz stone with 5% polymer resins.

Because quartz is a manufactured “stone” it is hard to duplicate veining and the patterns you get from natural stone, however, the industry is getting better and better at mimicking genuine marble, granite, and other natural stones. Quartz is approximately 20% to 40% more expensive than granite.

Quartz countertops are highly stain resistant, have a low absorption rate, and do not require sealing. However, sodium hydroxide in household cleaners, colored sodas, and permanent markers can permanently stain a quartz countertop.

Quartz is less resistant to high heat than natural stone, and though it is a hard surface it is not hard enough to withstand heat over 300 degrees. Sharp objects can scratch the surface of quartz countertops. Use cutting boards, trivets, and hot pads on your quartz surfaces.

We carry 5 lines of Quartz to choose from with varying price points and colors. Quartz slabs are special order and are manufactured specific dimensions. Quartz countertops are fabricated and installed the same way granite is and can be finished with most edge options.

*Quartz is not the right choice for an outdoor kitchen. Direct sunlight will fade colors and lead to warping or splitting. Your best bet for outdoor use is a tightly grained granite or soapstone.

How to care for Quartz countertops:

When it comes to care and maintenance of quartz countertops, wipe clean with a damp cloth and soapy water. Never use abrasive cleansers or alkaline cleaners, and avoid scouring pads which can dull the surface.

Quartz will tolerate casual exposure to milder alkaline solutions, such as diluted bleach for deep cleaning and to remove surface stains. High-pH substances, such as oven cleaners and concentrated bleach, will damage the surface by disintegrating the bonds between the quartz rock and resin. If any of the substances mentioned above come into contact with your quartz countertop, rinse the exposed surface immediately and thoroughly with water.

Quartz combines authenticity and ingenuity and is a beautiful choice for both the bathroom and kitchen. Be kind to your quartz countertops, and they will give you a lifetime of enjoyment!