Selecting the Right Stone for You

The wrong stone in the wrong room means constant etching, stains, and calls to a restoration company you wish you'd met before it went in. Colour is only part of the choice. Hardness, how the stone reacts to acid, how much it absorbs, and how much upkeep you'll really do matter as much.

Our pages on marble, granite, terrazzo, limestone, travertine, and quartz go deeper.

Two families of natural stone

Calcite stones (softer, sensitive to acid)

These include marble, limestone, and travertine.

• React to acid: wine, citrus, vinegar, some soaps
• Absorb more, so they need regular sealing
• Scratch and wear faster in busy areas
• Restore well with honing

Best in: Bathrooms, feature walls, quiet floors, and homes that will accept some marks for the look.

Quartz-rich stones (harder, more forgiving)

These include most granite, quartzite, and many commercial floor stones.

• Resist wear better
• Usually less sensitive to acid, but test anyway, because some slabs sold as granite aren't
• Still need sealing and a neutral cleaner
• Chips cost more to blend in, because the stone is so dense

Best in: Kitchens, entries, busy family areas, and outdoor kitchens with the right slab and sealer.

Engineered quartz is a resin-based slab with its own repair rules.

Terrazzo

Terrazzo is marble or glass chips set in cement or epoxy. Many older GTA lobbies and mid-century homes have it, sometimes hidden under carpet, and restoring it makes more sense than ripping it out.

The Mohs scale in practice

In 1812 Friedrich Mohs ranked minerals by how easily they scratch.

Mohs range	Examples	Scratch risk	Typical use
3–4	Marble, limestone, dolomite	High (grit scratches)	Baths, walls, light-use floors
6–7+	Granite, quartzite	Lower	Kitchens, busy floors

Harder stones suit busier rooms. Softer stones need mats, sealer, and neutral cleaners, or you accept that they'll mark. Hardness doesn't stop stains, though. A hard granite still soaks up oil once its sealer wears off.

Room-by-room guide

Space	First choice	Good alternative	Avoid unless you'll keep up the care
Main kitchen counters	Dense granite, quartz	Quartzite (tested)	White marble, travertine
Kitchen backsplash	Porcelain, glass, sealed granite	Honed marble away from splashes	Polished marble behind a gas range
Powder room vanity	Marble, limestone	Honed travertine	None
Main shower walls	Granite, porcelain-look quartzite	Sealed marble, squeegeed daily	Honed marble floors without maintenance
Main shower floor	Honed granite, porcelain tile	Travertine, professionally sealed	Polished marble
Foyer floor	Granite, porcelain	Honed limestone with mats	Polished marble at a snowy entrance
Living and dining floor	Granite, terrazzo	Honed limestone	Soft marble where chairs drag
Fireplace surround	Marble, limestone	Slate, granite	None
Outdoor BBQ	Dense granite, professionally sealed	Porcelain cladding	Soft limestone where it freezes
Condo lobby	Terrazzo, granite	Marble with regular maintenance	Unsealed travertine near salted entrances

The finish matters too. See polished or honed for how to choose.

Tests to run before you buy

• Lemon juice and oil test on granite candidates (full instructions)
• Water-bead test once the stone is sealed, to confirm the sealer went on
• Scratch test: drag a coin gently along a corner of each sample and compare

A slab sold as "Super White granite" sometimes behaves like marble, so ask for the geological name.

Be honest about upkeep

• Will you blot red wine tonight, or tomorrow morning?
• Will everyone in the house use coasters, guests at midnight included?
• Will you reseal when water stops beading?

If the answer is no, choose a harder stone, or put the marble somewhere life is gentler. Soft stone in a busy room suits owners who enjoy the upkeep or like a worn look. Anyone expecting granite durability from a Carrara slab will be disappointed.

Once you've chosen

• Professional sealing at install
• A pH-neutral cleaner in the house before move-in day
• The stain vs. etch guide on the fridge, seriously
• Regular maintenance for commercial or rental properties

If something goes wrong later, start at stone problems rather than an internet poultice recipe.

The real cost of stone

Softer stone in a busy room costs more to look after over the years.

Stone choice	Upfront	Ongoing care	Restoration later
Marble kitchen island	Bought for the look	Coasters, sealer, quick spill cleanup	Etch removal as needed
Dense granite kitchen	Moderate	Seal every 1–2 years	Polishing decades in
Engineered quartz	Moderate	Little sealing	Chip repair; limited refinishing
Existing terrazzo foyer	Restore or replace	Maintenance plan	Far better value than tearing it out

Red flags at the stone yard

Walk away, or test harder, when:

• The fabricator won't give you the geological name or absorption test results
• The sample looks nothing like the full slab in daylight
• You're told absorbent natural stone needs no sealer
• Honed marble for a snowy entrance, with no mats planned
• Existing terrazzo is marked for removal before anyone has quoted restoring it

Need a second opinion?

We restore stone rather than sell it, so we'll tell you if a slab won't suit the way you live. Send photos of your samples or shortlist for a free second opinion.

Related reading:

• Marble vs. granite (includes quartz and porcelain)
• Polished or honed?
• Stone-care glossary
• Engineered quartz