LIMESTONE
Limestone is prized for its neutral creamy and soft earth tone colors which allow it to mix well with other stones and finishes. It’s a classic architectural material and is suitable for a variety of applications from floors to walls to facades.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT LIMESTONE
One of the advantages of limestone is that it has a classic, timeless appearance with many neutral, natural colors allowing it to fit in with different types of decor and keep from looking dated.
When most people think of a natural stone that has a classic look, they think of marble. Marble never goes out of style and can fit in a 100 year old home or a brand new house. The same is true with limestone. If you want a stone surface that will never go out of style and will fit in now and 50 years down the road, limestone may be a good option. Limestone, like marble, is of a calcium carbonate base, and as such, is vulnerable to alteration by exposure to mild acids. A wide variety of stones are included in this group, and absorption varies from slight (<1%) to high (>10%). The combination of acid sensitivity and absorption limit the number of varieties that are suitable for countertop applications, and the user of limestone countertops should be well educated in its properties to accurately anticipate its behavior in service.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
MATERIAL CONSIDERATIONS
ABRASION RESISTANCE
Low
Limestone is a calcareous sedimentary stone that has a low abrasion resistance rating so it is likely to scratch. Because limestone is made up of calcium carbonate it scores a 3-4 on Moh’s Scale of Relative Hardness. Avoid scratches by using cutting boards and placing dishes and utensils that could potentially scratch the countertops on trivets or place-mats.
ABSORPTION/STAINING
High
Limestone absorbs liquids and easily stains, especially when acidic foods, come into contact with the stone. With limestone countertops, all spills must be wiped up immediately to prevent staining. When you install your limestone countertops, they should be professionally sealed. After that, limestone countertops should be sealed at least once a year to prevent staining.
ACID SENSITIVITY
High
Limestone is an acid sensitive stone. Because of its calcium carbonate makeup, acid reacts with Limestone and literally eats away the surface, creating dull spots known as etches. Thus, if you leave an acidic liquid (think fruit juice) on the countertop, it is quite possible that it will etch. This etching is not just a surface discoloration; it penetrates relatively deeply into the stone.
HEAT RESISTANCE
Moderate
While limestone is heat resistant it is not a good choice for setting hot pans on, mainly because it can be easily scratched by pans and stained by liquids that may drip from your pans. Limestone may expand as an oven heats up or when a hot dish is placed on it. As the stone cools, it naturally contracts. This expansion and contraction can cause some stones to crack or chip.
What Our Customers Say
Delta Granite and Marble is absolutely excellent. We recently had an issue with our contractor, but they were able to pick up the job right where they left off. The guys who did the installation were very nice, friendly, and professional. They were also great with communication. Any time we called they got back to us immediately. I’d highly recommend them!
The countertops look fantastic!! I want to thank Kendra and David for making this process so smooth for us. From start to finish the Delta Granite team was on the ball and went above and beyond to answer all of our questions and concerns. We will definitely be spreading the word in Boerne about our experience with Delta Granite.
Right from the first interaction, the workers from Delta Granite and Marble, Inc were very easy to connect with. The sales individual we worked with was very helpful, and crystal clear about the expectations and what would be needed from us. The workers from Delta Granite and Marble always were right on time on the dates we agreed upon, and the jobs went down without any problems. I would gladly use their services again and highly recommend them to others.