Granite and granite alternatives are highly popular materials for use around the home. Whether it’s in the bathroom, kitchen or fireplace, granite can be used to great effect in many applications. 

While its hardiness and durability as a natural stone are important advantages when considering what material to use in your countertop, granite also offers a unique crystalline aesthetic. 

However, natural stone is not by any means the cheapest material on the market. While you certainly get your money’s worth in its long term return on investment, there are cheaper substitutes that offer some, if not all, of the benefits of granite. 

To help you, we’ll break down the various granite look alike materials and cheap granite alternatives to help you find the very best material for your particular project. 

1. Solid Surface

Solid surface is a man-made construction material that is often used for kitchen or bathroom countertop installations. Made from a combination of a number of resins and pigments, such as alumni trihydrate, acrylic, epoxy and polyester, it comes in a variety of colours, designs and aesthetics. If you’re looking for a granite substitute but still want to achieve a unique visual depth, suitable solid surface options can be found. 

Apart from being a cheap granite alternative on the aesthetic front, solid surface is also commonly chosen because it allows for a seamless-looking countertop. If you’re a fan of the single-slab design of using natural stone, such as granite, solid surface can help you achieve a similar effect.

2. Stainless Steel

While once this material was relegated to the confines of industrial kitchens, the use of stainless steel countertops in particular is becoming a more common, popular and chic option in the home as well. 

Stainless steel is very practical as it is hygienic and easy to clean. Not to mention that its non-porous nature means it’s useful for areas such as the kitchen’s benchtop or splashback.

While it is a practical granite alternative, stainless steel certainly looks quite different and will add a distinct feel to your kitchen compared to granite stone itself.

3. Concrete

Concrete floors and benchtops are also becoming more and more popular. In many ways this granite substitute is more similar than it is different. Afterall, concrete is a durable and long-lasting material provided it gets simple ongoing maintenance and resealing as needed. Plus, there’s a surprisingly wide range of styles available when it comes to concrete, so it’s easier to find an option that’s closest to a granite look alike. 

Concrete is also a relatively cheap alternative to granite, so if you’re operating under a tight budget it’s definitely worth considering.

4. Laminate

Laminate is another man-made synthetic product that can be used as a granite substitute. Composed of various materials including resin, laminate comes in as wide a range of styles, colours and aesthetics as you can imagine. Often used for flooring, the benefit of laminate is that it can really emulate the visual quality of granite. 

Good quality laminate can be strong and durable, while still being a far cheaper option for many applications. If you’re after the aesthetics of granite without the expense, laminate is certainly a good option for you.

5. Wood

Classic, versatile and affordable, wood is a good granite alternative whether in your home kitchen or bathroom. While you’re certainly going to find it harder to match any type of wood or timber to granite visually, there are many benefits to this construction material.

Comparatively cheap, wood is also one of the more simple granite substitutes to repair if it gets damaged, scratched or stained. This allows you to enjoy a long lasting and still relatively inexpensive choice of material. 

6. Other Natural Stones

If you love the thought of natural stone there are other popular and practical options to granite.

Marble, for example, can be used throughout the home and across a wide variety of applications. Gorgeous in aesthetic, this classic stone oozes sophistication without compromising durability or practicality. With simple maintenance and professional sealing, marble countertops, flooring, staircases or bathroom vanities will add a stunning quality to just about any home. 

7. Quartzite

Quartzite is one of the newer innovations of stone in the home environment. Nonetheless, this increasingly popular material is durable, high quality and available in a very wide range of colours. 

Unlike natural stone, you don’t need to seal and reseal quartzite. It remains abrasion resistance, chemical resistant and fire resistant from the day it’s installed until long into the future. 

8. Engineered Stone

Engineered stone, often referred to as quartz, is an artificially made material that emulates many of the aesthetic and practical properties of natural stone. Made of resin and quartz, among other things, this granite alternative can be produced in a wide variety of styles so you can find one that looks similar to your choice of granite.

While still a relatively pricier option compared to laminate or even wood, engineered stone is certainly a cheaper alternative to granite and other natural stones. 

Let’s Find the Right Granite Alternative For You

If you need some assistance finding the right granite substitute and are unsure exactly which option is right for your application, contact our friendly team here at Euro Marble on (02) 8585 2999.

We may be specialists in all things natural stone, but we’re more than happy to help you find the perfect solution for your new kitchen countertop, bathroom vanity, fireplace, or flooring no matter what material you’re looking for!

Marble is a magnificent natural stone for use in and around your home. Whether it’s in the form of a kitchen benchtop or a bathroom vanity, the luxurious look and practical durability of marble is what truly makes it a winning option.

However, as far as construction materials and even natural stone go, marble is among the more porous of options. This means that it can be more susceptible to staining, especially if you’re using it as a countertop where it’s likely to be exposed to food, liquid and a significant amount of activity.

An important component to knowing how to remove stains from marble is understanding how to prevent damage in the first place. After all, preventing stains is the ideal solution. 

Preventing Water Stains, Oil Stains and More on Marble

Sealing

Professional sealing, and subsequent resealing every 3 to 5 years, is a very effective way to keep your marble looking and functioning as good as new for long into the future. Not only do sealants make this porous stone more resistant to staining, whether it’s oil, water or wine, but it also helps improve its resistance to scratches and abrasion. 

While there is going to be a cost in having your marble benchtop sealed and resealed, it’s well worth the investment considering how long lasting and durable marble can be.

Maintenance

Simple and quick daily cleaning habits can help maintain your marble stone and prevent stains from occurring. Avoid hard chemicals and abrasive sponges when you’re wiping down any marble. Use warm, soft and safe-for-stone soap only with a microfibre or similarly soft material cloth. 

A simple wipe down at the end of the day will go a long way to ensuring your marble remains sparkling and unblemished.

Clean up spills

It can be difficult to know how to get stains out of marble, especially stains that have set in and dried. That’s why it is always recommended that when an accident happens–and let’s face it, they do happen–you mop up the spill as soon as possible.

Remember to blot a spill first to soak up as much liquid as possible. If you try to wipe it off strai​​ght away, you’ll likely just spread the spill more and increase the chances of staining. 

Protective accessories

If you have a marble table or countertop, make sure you have coasters, heat pads and other helpful kitchen accessories. By placing mugs of coffee, tea cups and hot pans, trays and dishes onto these protective items you’ll prevent heat stains and other potential damage from being caused to the precious marble underneath. 

How to Remove Stains From Marble

If you miss a spill or don’t manage to clean it up quick enough, you might find your marble has suffered a bit of a stain. There are different ways to remove stains from marble depending on the type of stain.

If you’re in doubt, it’s always best to be safe rather than sorry. Make sure to contact the team here at Euro Marble for advice or bring in a professional to get rid of the stain for you. 

If you do want to tackle the stain removal yourself, here’s a guide on what to do.

How to Remove Organic Food Stains From Marble

For most organic food stains, you should use a solution that contains 12% hydrogen peroxide and just a couple of drops of ammonia. Use warm water and a clean, soft cloth and gently apply the solution to the stain. Make sure the marble is completely dry after you wipe the solution away.

How to Remove Oil Stains on Marble

For oil stains, or anything stained from liquid with an oil base, use a special stone liquid cleanser. Be careful not to use any detergent that contains harmful chemicals or has high levels of acidity. 

How to Remove Water Stains From Marble

Water stains are generally removed using white vinegar (at least when it comes to household cleaning solutions) but it’s best to avoid any acidic substances when working with marble. That’s why we recommend baking soda. The key to knowing how to remove stains from marble with baking soda is to remember to expose your stone to the substance for short periods of time only. 

When you do try to get rid of the water stain, rub the baking soda into the stain thoroughly. Rinse it off straight away without leaving it to sit and cause further damage using warm water and a soft, clean cloth. Then make sure you dry the stone completely, but do not press too hard or rub too vigorously as this can also cause further damage. 

Using Poultice

Many marble stains can also be removed quite effectively using a simple homemade solution called a poultice. In essence, a poultice is just a thick paste that can be applied to the stained marble and that then draws out the stain when removed. 

The basic method of creating a poultice is to combine a marble-safe solvent with water or baking soda. Depending on the type of stain you are treating (see above) you might want to add in some hydrogen peroxide or the like. Once the ingredients are mixed together, keep mixing it until it turns into a thickened paste.

The poultice can then be applied to the stained area. Make sure it is cleaned beforehand but that the marble is slightly damp. Once applied, seal it with some plastic wrap and leave it for between 24 and 48 hours. Then remove the poultice carefully using a plastic or wooden spoon so that you don’t scratch the stone, and wipe down the surface with a soft, damp cloth. Lastly, make sure that the marble is completely dry.

Euro Marble – your one point of call for all things marble

If you’re still unsure how to remove stains from your marble countertop or you would like professional assistance, make sure to contact our team today. We’re always here to help you out and take great pride in ensuring our customers love every square centimetre of their marble, stains and all! 

Why You Should Consider a Stone Feature Wall

A feature wall is a particular wall designed in terms of texture and colour to add aesthetically to a room or space. Feature walls can be used to great effect internally or externally, and are often designed to contrast against the other walls and/or design choices to add a sense of energy, depth and interest to an area. 

The potential for your feature wall really depends on your creativity and preference (and budget). A feature wall can be created through a simple coat of paint or by a completely reconstructed wall. 

A classic and enduringly popular option, however, is a stone feature wall.

Stone Feature Walls

Natural stone feature walls offer plenty of benefits.

Aesthetic

If you love the look of a stone wall but are not ready or able to incorporate stone throughout your home, containing it to a feature wall is a great solution. Few things look as fantastic as a stone feature wall.

Durability

Stone is a very durable and hardy material to use throughout the home. Even though you might just be adding stone to a single wall, your feature wall will last for long into the future. It’s easy to keep clean and maintain as well.

Affordability

Stone, especially natural stone quarried directly from the ground, is not the cheapest of construction materials. However, with a stone feature wall you can still benefit from the luxury and opulent aesthetic without having to invest in floor-to-ceiling stone walls.

Flexibility

Even within the realm of indoor stone feature walls, there is still plenty of scope to customise your feature wall. Of course the type of stone that you use will greatly impact its overall look, but so will the style and type of wall itself. 

Stacked Stone Feature Walls

The term ‘stacked stone’ normally refers to the arrangement of various sized stones to create a wall. While often the stones and slabs used in the feature wall can vary quite significantly in terms of size, this doesn’t necessarily have to be the case. You could opt for more consistent and standardised styling.

Nonetheless, a stacked stone feature wall allows you to customise your wall in many ways. For one, you can choose either one particular type of stone–including colour, shade, and pattern–or include different types of stones as well. Either option is guaranteed to result in a beautiful and eye-catching wall.

Moreover, a popular feature wall option is to include roughly hewn stones so that the wall itself has a jagged surface. Apart from an enhanced visual depth, this sort of stone feature wall is particularly suited to external walls or feature walls around a fireplace. 

Don’t worry, though, if you’d prefer a smoother look. One of the many benefits of a stacked stone wall is that the overall aesthetic of many stones allows for a perfect balance of simplicity and depth even if you opt for a single colour or shade. 

Stone Cladding Feature Walls

Stone cladding, sometimes referred to as veneer stones or veneer stone cladding, consists of layering an outer layer of stone over a pre-existing wall. Feature stone cladding offers a number of benefits to take into account.

With cladding you get to enjoy many of the benefits of a stone feature wall but at a cheaper price point. Due to the fact that you are not building the wall structurally from stone, you need less actual material. This makes a cladding feature wall a lot more affordable. 

However, you still get to enjoy the aesthetic beauty of the stone itself. Not to mention that even stone cladding can add substantial value to your home. 

Designing Your Stone Feature Wall

If you’re ready to start putting together some ideas for your natural stone feature wall, you may need some assistance in narrowing down the many choices you have to make.

Purpose

Start with the purpose of your feature wall. This can be as simple as wanting to infuse some colour/light into the room or it might be to create a truly eye-popping feature that will grab visitors’ attention. Knowing what you want to achieve will help you make the rest of the decisions more easily.

Placement

Where is your feature wall going to go? Are you incorporating it inside or outside? Do you want a stone feature wall in your living room or surrounding a fireplace? These decisions can be either very simple or more difficult, depending on your home’s design. Whether you opt for the stone cladding or stacked stone feature wall will make a difference as well.

Budget

Consider your budget for the stone feature wall. If you’re operating on a tight budget, you may need to consider stone cladding and choose one of the cheaper natural stones. There are even DIY guides out there for applying stone veneers to a wall yourself, but we would caution doing it independently unless you feel confident and experienced with your building skills.

Style

Consider not just the style of the feature wall that you want but also the style of the rest of your home. While a feature wall is designed to contrast and stand out against the rest of the room, it shouldn’t look out of place. If your home is rustic, you can consider roughly hewn stone and incorporate a variety of colours and types. If your home is more modern or Scandinavian, you’ll need to pick a suitably minimalist design.

Material

From the stunning opulence of marble to the gorgeous and intricately textured granite, there are many different types of natural stone available to choose from. While all stones are quite hardy and durable, you may want to consider the different levels of porousness, fire resistance or abrasion resistance in the different stones based on your particular application. 

Colour

Natural stone actually comes in a wide variety of colours and shades. While it can be overwhelming to choose from the many options, it’s nice to have the flexibility and range of choices to find the one that suits you, your home and your preferences the best. 

Find Out More About Stone Feature Walls Today

Whether you know exactly what you want for your feature wall or you need some professional assistance and expert advice, the Euro Marble team is here for you.

Give us a call or come into our showroom and we’ll gladly talk/walk you through the many options available. That way you’ll be confident and excited no matter what sort of natural stone feature wall you choose.