How to choose the right stone
When it comes to selecting elegant, enduring natural stone for your home, you have options including granite, quartzite, marble, travertine, limestone, soapstone and slate. And like selecting the home itself, it’s a personal selection—which variety talks to you? However, it’s not just about what looks good. Some varieties of stone are better suited than others to particular uses. Our massive 12,000 square foot showroom and our team of expert design consultants are here to help you explore your options and provide guidance to the right choice for any project in and around your home.
Color
Natural stones are available in a beautiful spectrum of colors. Colors in granite and marble, for example, can range from soft beiges and pinks and classic black-and-whites to rich corals, greens, and multi-colors. Marble traditionally features swirls and “veins” of colors, while granite has a flecked or pebbled appearance. Unlike the repetitive uniformity of materials produced by machine or assembly line, natural stone’s varied appearance has wonderful character and creates a one-of-a-kind effect everywhere it is used.
Just a tiny example of the astonishing range of colors and patterns on full display in
Jubilee Company’s indoor slab yard.
Fabricator-Direct Advantage
In 2014, Richardson was named one of America’s best cities to live in thanks to low crime, strong economy, quality education, good housing, clean environment and sound infrastructure. In a small way, Jubilee continues to contribute to this standard of living by installing countertops that bring a timeless connection to the earth right into the heart of Richardson homes: with a beautiful granite or other natural stone countertop.
In addition to kitchen countertops, Jubilee also provides bathroom vanities, stone walls and fireplace surrounds, outdoor kitchen countertops and custom furniture tops. Our expert artisans bring old-world attention-to-detail to provide you with the best quality and service in the industry. That is Jubilee’s mission and that is also why we have become a turn-key provider covering all aspects of the granite and marble business, including the ability to sell, fabricate and install countertops at competitive Fabricator-Direct pricing.
Finish
Natural stone can be polished, brushed, honed, or flamed for a distinctive appearance:
- A polished finish has a glossy surface that reflects light and emphasizes the color and marking of the stone. This finish is typically used on walls, furniture tops and floor tiles.
- A brushed, textured or leathered finish provides a beautifully textured matte finish that looks “water-worn” or “river-washed.”
- A honed finish is a satin-smooth surface with relatively little light reflection. It is generally preferred for floors, stair treads, thresholds, and other areas where heavy traffic will wear off a polished finish.
- A flamed finish is a rough-textured surface used frequently on granite floor tiles.
Learn more about stone finishes available at Jubilee Company.
Hardness
The harder the stone, the more it resists abrasion. One measure of natural stone’s strength is the Measurement of Hardness (MOH) rating: 1 the softest and 10 the hardest. On the MOH scale, most marbles rate a 3 and quartz-based granites are a 7. Using a softer stone simply requires the homeowner to use gentler cleansers and more frequent dusting to prevent scratching.
Granite
An excellent choice for kitchen countertops, floors, and other heavily used surfaces
Granite, quarried from the mountains of the US, Brazil, Canada and dozens of other nations, is one of the most popular natural stones on the market. Jubilee Granite Countertops has one of the largest selections of granite slabs in Dallas.
Available in a stirring range of colors, granite’s durability and longevity make it ideal for kitchen countertops and other heavily used surfaces including table tops and floors.
While some synthetic surfaces scratch easily and melt under hot cookware, granite resists heat. Granite is also one of the most bacteria-resistant kitchen surfaces, and it is not affected by citric acid, coffee, tea, alcohol, or wine. It is also nearly impossible to scratch. And with proper cleaning, will not stain under normal use. Ask us about sealants available to further improve resistance to staining.
A leading consumer magazine recently compared granite with engineered stone, ceramic tile, laminate, butcher block, and other manufactured surfaces. Granite received the highest overall performance rating as a kitchen countertop material.
Because if its exceptional strength, granite is well suited for exterior applications such as outdoor kitchens. Learn more about granite here.
Quartzite
Stone Superhero: Harder, stronger, more impervious
Stone Age craftsmen knew a thing or two about stone. And quartzite was one of their top choices for many uses. With a Mohs mineral hardness of 7 (diamond is a 10), quartzite is harder, tougher and superior to many other kinds of stone. That also makes it more resistant to abrasion and chemicals. Finally, as you might have guessed, it’s available in a crazy range of colors.
What makes it so ultra hard is its structure of interlocking crystals. In fact, it is so tough and durable that when broken (which takes considerable effort) the split literally shatters the grains of quartz rather than separating along their natural crystalline boundaries. Learn more about quartzite here.
Marble
Ideal for foyers, bathrooms, floors and hearths
Marble is found in the mountainous regions of Canada, Italy, Germany, Spain, the US, and other countries. Because of it’s beauty and elegance, marble is a popular choice for countertops, floors, foyers, fireplace facings and hearths, walls, and windowsills.
Marble adds a sophisticated element to your home and its wonderful appearance, superior engineering characteristics, and ease of maintenance make it a natural choice for floors, wall coverings, table tops and bathroom walls, floors, vanity tops, tub decks and showers.
Marble should be cared for as you would a fine wood finish. Using coasters on table tops and cleaning up spills immediately will preserve marble’s natural beauty.
Another option for marble-loving homeowners is using serpentine for kitchen counters. Sometimes called the “green” marble, serpentine is not a true marble but offers a marble-like look. And because it is magnesium-silicate based, it is not sensitive to citric acid and other kitchen spills. Learn more about marble here.
Travertine
Preferred building material of the ancient Romans (for good reason)
Travertine is a type of limestone and other of the most popular natural stones for interior and exterior wall cladding, interior and exterior paving, statuary, and curbing. Learn more about travertine here.
Limestone
Beautiful enhancements for your home, inside and out
Limestone is widely used as a building stone because it is readily available and easy to handle. Poplar applications include countertops, flooring, interior and exterior wall cladding, and exterior paving. Learn more about the pros and cons of Limestone.
Soapstone
Beautiful enhancements for your home, inside and out
Jubilee Company’s Rainforest Brown slab is a good example of the diversity of marble.
Soapstone is growing in popularity due its durability, hygienic properties and unique silky feel. Uses include kitchen countertops, bathroom vanities, fireplace surrounds, stoves, and stair treads. Care and maintenance is easy, but different than other types of stone. Soapstone is very dense and impervious to detergents, water, red wine, stains, oils, acids, chemicals, germs and bacteria! For this reason, soapstone is the traditional countertop material favored in chemistry labs.
Many types of soapstone are quite soft, these (greenish) varieties slowly wear down producing a slightly worn or distressed look that just adds to its unique and wonderful character. In the far northerneastern states such as Vermont, countless soapstone stoves and sinks manufactured in the 1800s are still in use today. Homeowners are proud of the natural patina that is a soapstone trademark.
Soapstone ranges in color from pale green to charcoal gray and is sometimes streaked with veins of lighter gray.
In addition to being impervious to microbes, liquids and chemicals, soapstone is unaffected by heat. You can remove a hot pan from the stove and set it directly on a soapstone counter without any damage whatsoever — a big benefit where kitchen functionality is desired. The only comparable countertop material in terms of functionality is stainless steel.
Soapstone slabs are quarried and custom cut to fit your kitchen. This all-natural stone is as eco-friendly and green as it comes. No sealers or toxic chemicals are used to process soapstone and nothing needs to be done since it is naturally sealed against stains and liquids, etc. All you have to do is wipe it down to keep it clean. Learn more about soapstone countertops.
Sandstone
Beautiful enhancements for your home, inside and out
Sandstone is frequently used for fireplace facings, chimneys, garden walls, patio benches, and at poolside.
Slate
Beautiful enhancements for your home, inside and out
Slate is a popular flooring material and sandstone and slate are often used for exterior paving or pavers. Other slate applications include kitchen countertops, fireplace facings, table tops and roofing.
Showroom
12,000 sq ft showroom (MAP) a design laboratory where you can cement your architectural ideas
Testimonials
Hear from our clients on how we helped bring their vision to life.
For a Free Estimate
Jubilee Company fabricates and installs beautiful quartzite countertops in DFW. We stock, mill, and install custom all varieties of natural stone kitchen countertops. If you’re remodeling, renovating, or building a custom home we offer one of the largest selections of on-site slab inventories for DFW residents with hundreds of slabs in more than 70 varieties of natural and engineered stone to choose from. Our fabricator-direct advantage includes installation by highly-skilled professionals.