Most homeowners choose marble or granite countertops for their luxurious look. But they also can improve the way you use your kitchen.

In addition to adding style, sophistication, and elegance to your kitchen, your marble or granite countertops offer a durable cutting surface that doesn’t require an additional cutting board. Plus, they can stand up to extreme hot and cold temperatures better than traditional countertop surfaces like wood, vinyl, or laminates.

Harder than Steel

It’s difficult, if not practically impossible, to cut a marble or granite countertop with a knife. In fact, it’s more likely that you will dull your knives before ever making as much as the tiniest scratch on your luxurious kitchen countertop.

Marble and granite are rock, after all. And natural rock that is mined from the earth is harder than steel that is forged by hand. Even the sharpest knives from Europe or Japan are no match for the hardness and toughness of your marble or granite countertop.

Temperature Resistant

Marble and steel countertops also absorb heat more efficiently than wood, plastic, or Formica countertops. Place a hot pan on a traditional countertop and it likely will leave a permanent mark. But your marble will accept the hot pan and look exactly the same regardless of how long you let it rest there.

And while marble or granite will crack or chip if you hit them with something very hard with a lot of force, they are still stronger and more durable than plastic, wood, or other traditional countertop materials. So you don’t have to be as careful and gentle when cooking around marble and granite because they are tough enough to take whatever you are dishing out.

Best of all, marble and granite countertops can last a lifetime … and beyond. With minimal care and maintenance, your investment in marble or granite countertops can pay off for generations to come.