From cooking a nutritious dinner to chatting over morning coffee, you spend more time in your kitchen than you might think. Even a simple kitchen renovation can transform the look and feel of your home.
A natural stone backsplash is often a big investment. Knowing the pros and cons of a natural stone backsplash is key to making the most informed decision for your kitchen.
What Are the Benefits of a Stone Backsplash?
While you can use many different materials for your backsplash, natural stone offers several benefits.
1. Long-Lasting Luster
Natural stones, such as granite, marble or quartzite, are some of the most durable materials for a countertop or backsplash. Stone kitchen backsplashes can last a lifetime with basic care and maintenance.
2. Aesthetics and Variety
Natural stone gives your home a luxurious, sophisticated look, making it a perfect material for countertops, backsplashes and floors.
Your color and pattern selection is virtually unlimited when you choose natural stone. Each variety of stone features different types of markings, and each slab has a unique pattern. You can be sure you’ll find a slab that matches your aesthetic.
3. Heat Resistance
Natural stone is highly resistant to heat, making it the perfect material for kitchen counters and backsplashes. With the right care, you can keep your stone in excellent condition for many years.
4. Increased Home Value
A stone countertop and backsplash are excellent investments if you want to increase your home’s value through renovations. These enhancements make your home more aesthetically appealing and can raise the price buyers will pay. Your potential returns will vary depending on your specific design and material choices.
5. Low Maintenance Requirements
Generally, natural stone is easy to clean and maintain. As long as you clean up spills quickly, you can prevent stains from ever happening in the first place.
Granite, quartzite and soapstone require little maintenance besides an annual sealer application. Marble, however, needs some additional care to prevent scratches and stains.
What Are the Drawbacks of a Stone Backsplash?
As with any investment, natural stone backsplashes have some shortcomings. Some of those disadvantages include:
1. Porosity and Staining
Some granites and marbles are porous, which means their surfaces have tiny holes that can absorb stain-causing chemicals. As long as you apply a quality sealer and clean spills quickly, you should be able to prevent significant stains from developing.
Soapstone and quartzite are nonporous, making them more resistant to stains than their porous counterparts.
2. Maintenance Requirements
While natural stone is generally low maintenance, you must perform some maintenance steps to keep it in its best condition. You only need two stone backsplash maintenance tips to help you understand what to expect. First, immediately clean up spills with a natural stone cleaner and absorbent cloth. Second, apply a sealer once after installation and every subsequent year to prevent stains.
3. Installation Complexity
Because a slab of natural stone is large, heavy and hard to handle, you’ll likely require a professional contractor to help you cut and install your new backsplash. This service will add to your initial investment, though quality installation can help you prevent future repair costs.
4. Irregularities and Variations
Each slab of stone is unique due to its natural formation. While these organic variations will make a beautiful backsplash, it can be difficult to ensure a seamless transition if the slab is too small. Make sure to discuss your kitchen measurements with your sales consultant so they can help you find a slab that meets your needs.
Types of Stone for Kitchen Backsplashes
While it is sometimes possible to find other materials, these are the four most common types of stone used for kitchen renovations:
1. Marble
Various civilizations throughout history used this luxurious stone for sculpture and decoration. While white and black are the most popular options, you can also find marble in colors like green, pink and brown.
We recommend researching how to prevent stains on natural stone backsplashes before investing in a marble slab, so you know how to keep it looking pristine beyond the initial installation.
2. Granite
As one of the world’s hardest substances, granite makes an excellent choice for a kitchen. It’s highly heat- and scratch-resistant, and only requires an annual sealing to maintain its luster.
You can find granite in many different colors due to small variations in each slab’s composition. While gray, white and pink are most common, vibrant colors like red, blue and yellow are also possible.
3. Soapstone
Soapstone is a dense, nonporous stone that requires minimal maintenance aside from regular application of mineral oil. This treatment helps enhance its beauty and allows it to age gracefully, often by developing a patina. It’s highly resistant to heat and chemicals, and its softness makes it easy to cut for seamless joints.
Unlike other stones, soapstone is chemically inert and will not react with acidic substances. This property makes it a safe option for creative cooks and families with small children who might accidentally spill something on it.
4. Quartzite
Of these four types of stone, quartzite is the hardest on the Mohs hardness scale — it’s even harder and more scratch-resistant than granite, making it highly durable with proper care and cleaning. It offers a permanent, substantial and premium feel without requiring the same maintenance as marble.
It’s important to understand the differences between quartzite and quartz before you choose either material. While quartz slabs contain synthetic materials, quartzite is 100% natural stone.
Although quartzite usually comes in white and gray, you can sometimes find slabs with red or pink markings due to iron oxide deposits in the stone.
Stone Backsplash Kitchen Design Ideas
Every home is different, so it makes sense to take an individual approach to backsplash design. Here are some ways you can install a stone backsplash in your kitchen.
Full Natural Stone Backsplash
A stone backsplash that extends the entire way up the wall creates a stunning backdrop against your cabinets and countertops, especially if you choose a slab with vibrant colors like Michelangelo quartzite. If you prefer a more muted look, a white marble slab provides a clean, neutral backdrop for your cookware and kitchen accessories.
Partial Backsplash
While backsplashes are a great way to protect kitchen drywall, some people feel that covering the entire wall with stone is too much for their tastes. A partial backsplash, which extends about 4 to 6 inches above the countertop, can subtly shield drywall while blending in with the rest of your kitchen.
We recommend getting your partial backsplash made from your countertop material. This combination gives a seamless appearance and brings the kitchen together.
Transform Your Kitchen With a Natural Stone Backsplash From Modul Marble
If you’re looking for a reliable stone provider for your kitchen backsplash, the team at Modul Marble is here for you.
Since our founding in 1989, we’ve dedicated ourselves to sourcing and curating the highest-quality collection of natural stone slabs from select locations worldwide. We provide our Westside customers with expert recommendations, friendly customer service and premium stone products for kitchens, bathrooms and beyond.
Start your search for the perfect stone slab today. View our live inventory and contact us online to inquire about any of our products.