Getting Set In Stone

Wandering through the phalanx of stone slabs, searching for the perfect kitchen countertop is an awe-striking journey.

Rows of rectangular, abstract canvases, polished to a mirrored gloss, skimmed to a satiny hone or hammered to a perforated leather, stand in soldier courses before you. One’s imagination cannot conjure up such exuberance of color and pattern in any substance cut out of the dull earth, much less rock.

But rock it is: marble, granite, onyx, limestone and quartzite—all marvelous examples of Mother Nature’s marvelous talent. And as soon as one is seduced by the swirling jetties of pattern on one slab, another slab of feathery peacock-like designs catches one’s fickle eye. Soon you are swallowed up in the seemingly infinite world of stone. The differentiation by attributes and qualities is essential to determine your final selection before you swoon and jump in bed with the most beautiful slab you see.“Quartzite has become the elixir of the moment,” says Eliot Mazzocca, owner of Lido Stone in Calverton. “Quartzite, in the geological timeline, is the oldest stone quarried, oft-times measured by its age, one, two or three billion years old. And due to the millennia it has been under pressurized compaction, quartzite is the hardest of the countertop materials, often compared with the diamond for its hardness.”

Quartzite has also become extraordinarily popular for its translucency and its depth. When it is polished to a gloss finish, you can almost look into its crystalline structure. “The patterns,” according to Mr. Mazzocca, “can often mimic marble in its fluid, soft patterns. And, of course, since it is harder than granite, resistant to scratching and staining, quartzite’s ergonomics register quite high and everyone wants to use it!”

So, why doesn’t everyone want to use quartzite? “The expense,” responds Mr. Mazzocca. Quartzite is found in the geologically older mountains, not the craggy new mountains in Italy—that’s where the softer marbles are found. The quartzite slabs are mined in the older mountains that resemble soft hills, often forested—the geologically worn-down mountains.

But what truly makes quartzite so challenging, apart from locating it, is its hardness and density. “Cutting blocks out of mountains with tough diamond saws requires three times the duration of cutting. And then the individual slabs also require a lengthy slicing time,” reports Mr. Mazzocca. The fabrication of the slab afterward will demand challenging precision cutting when fitting in rounded sinks, plumbing holes, etc., and it tends to not miter well as it can shatter. With the current trend for simple square-edge details, quartzite is suitable. However, a decade ago, when kitchen and bath counters sported all manner of ogee swerves, cove cuts and reeded edges, quartzite was simply not an option.

When asked about the popularity of granite, Mr. Mazzacco shook his head, “Granite’s popularity has sunk so low that my granite suppliers are slashing prices to fire sale level. No one asks for granite anymore.” Though Black Absolute granite (a very stable stone) is still requested, it is usually honed to resemble a harder version of slate for fireplace hearths. Because it is now so cheap, yet still unpopular, fabricators are devising textural techniques to make granite more appealing. Acid-washing granite, which etches the softer veining, lends a leathery texture to the granite. Bush-hammering granite, or pouncing it with thousands of tiny divots, transforms granite into an ancient-looking stone, as if dragged out of a Tibetan monastery.

Granite is still an excellent, sturdy, countertop material as far as wear, cutting upon it and its general resistance to staining. However, some granites will stain, and their polished finish, like marble, can be etched or dulled with nail polish remover, lemon juice or other acidic substances.

White marble remains an East End favorite despite its often fragile wearability. Statuary marble and all of the Calacattas fly out of Mr. Mazzacco’s warehouse. “They have become so costly that the domestic white marbles have soared in favor. Colorado’s Yule White (which the Lincoln Memorial is built out of) and Vermont Imperial Danby are tougher and denser,” explained Mr. Mazzacco. “In fact, all of the Vermont Danby, which varies from whites and striations of green to whites and veils of beige, have overtaken the market, because they are local and don’t require the outrageous expense of overseas shipping.

Though conventional wisdom would assume that man-made stone (resin mixed with crushed quartz), such as Silas Stone and Caesar Stone, would be cheaper than Mother Earth’s quarried stone, it is not! Sometimes at 10- to 15-percent higher cost than granite, engineered stone has several advantages. It is easier for the fabricator to cut, due to its consistent density, it is consistent in color and finish, and it has a clean, plain, industrial appearance. Because it has no natural flaws, and its structural properties are consistent, there is little risk of it breaking. It is immune to acids, citrus and red wine stains. And how my Stanford Design professor, Matt Kahn, used to refer to antique copies, and stone and wood copies: “Engineered stone is everything but the essence of real stone.”

Perhaps the largest fireworks in every stone yard occurs the moment the designer or architect stumbles upon the section containing the onyx slabs. Onyx is a semiprecious stone created from solidified or petrified pools of gases or sulfuric acid. Onyx is a crowd thriller, with vibrant colors swirling dramatically throughout the translucent slab. With the advent of LED lighting, where thin light strips can easily be slipped below these gorgeous thin-cut slabs without fear of damaging heat—under-lit onyx has become the most popular installation.

When asked about trends in stone flooring, Mr. Mazzacco immediately responded, “Large-scale tiles.” He enthused that “Limestone, travertines and marble are now being seen in 2-foot-by-4-foot tiles, 3-foot-by-3-foot tiles, and even 4-foot-by-4-foot sizes. Gone are the days of the 12-inch-by-12-inch!”

But these larger sizes are requiring hefty shipping charges because of their weight and crate sizes—“and the larger-scale formats are requiring sealers, which, by the way, are far better than they used to be.” When asked about reputable sealers, Mr. Mazzacco recommends Dry Treat and Pro Soco. He insists that, before application, the client read the directions thoroughly and guarantee that the stone surface is very clean and completely dry. In fact, Mr. Mazzacco really recommends that a professional execute the sealing, as a successful result does require experience and finesse.

The world of stone has expanded incrementally with imports from every corner of the globe, as well as marble mines opening up throughout the United States. Much is to be discovered, within a stone’s throw!

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