O le a le ma'a sili ona lelei mo le faleta'ele?

If you’re considering natural stone for your bathroom countertops, or a vanity top, you have several great options. There are a few things to consider before selecting which stone is best for you project:

• Budget – Ioe tau, ae faʻapea foʻi le umi o le oloa, ma le umi o le tau o lau filifiliga o le a faʻaopopo i lou fale.
• Traffic – O le a le tele o le fa'aoga ma/po'o le fa'aleagaina o le fata e maua?
• Design Style – E fa'afefea ona a'afia e le ma'a lau mamanu ma lau teuga i le taimi nei ma le lumana'i.

 
A typical bathroom doesn’t get the same type of abuse that a kitchen does. There are fewer heavy objects that could impact the countertop, there aren’t extremely hot pots and pans moving around, and the bathroom isn’t a gathering point the way a kitchen is. This means it’s safer to use softer and less heat resistant stones. However, bathrooms often have chemicals like hairspray, nail polish remover, and shower cleaners that can cause damage to some stones.  Here are some stone countertops to consider for your bathroom project, and the pros and cons for each. 

FA'ATELE MAPULE TA'EOLE

O se maʻa mataʻina e masani ona faʻaaogaina i fale maualuluga, o le maamora e lauiloa mo lona foliga mama ma le matagofie. E masani lava o se paolo paʻepaʻe, o le maʻa e masani ona i ai le lanu efuefu, uliuli, lanumoana lanumoana, piniki, mumu, lanu poʻo lanu meamata veining e faʻafetai i le tele o sitaili mamanu. E mafai ona fa'aiila le ma'a, mo se fa'ai'uga fa'ai'ila pupula, po'o le fa'amama mo se foliga sili atu matte. 

Many home builders and designers avoid using marble in kitchens because it not as strong as granite or quartz, and it is more prone to damage from chemicals. This however, is not the case for bathrooms. Compared to most non-stone countertops, marble is incredibly durable and stain resistant. Only a few natural stones could be considered “better”, and marble would be much more durable than many other non-stone surfaces. For bathrooms, marble is a leading choice.

Most people choose marble for it’s aesthetics. The stone has been used for centuries in building, homes, and art. There is an instant feeling of class and elegance when you see it. It has a subtle, but powerful look that can really enhance the beauty of a bathroom. Many people also like marble because it is somewhat rare. It’s not used nearly as often as granite and other surfaces, so it can make your home feel unique and more luxurious. 

Marble is one of the more porous stone countertop materials, so it does require sealing every year or so. When properly sealed and polished there is little risk of damage. It is important to clean marble regularly and immediately deal with any spills however, especially if the spill is any substance that’s acidic. Acids and harsh chemicals can cause etching and stains.

On the high-end, marble can be very expensive, but standard marble slabs are often only slightly more expensive than granite or quartz. If you love the look of marble, there’s often no substitute.

Marble is also a material that can add value to a home. Because it’s a durable and long-lasting stone, it is desirable to many homeowners. It’s a luxurious material that offers a timeless style, so its presence can be attractive to real estate agencies and home buyers. 

FA'ATELE FA'ATAELE

Granite is perhaps the strongest, most durable stone countertop on the market. It’s available in many colors and patterns, and it is a very popular choice for bathroom countertops and vanities. The stone is virtually impossible to scratch, and the heat tolerance is very good, perfect for a busy bathroom. 

Granite has a natural earthy appearance, and you’ll find a style that will match almost any decor. This stone has been a popular choice for many years, and it tends to add value to homes when compared to non-stone countertops. A granite vanity or bathroom countertop can last a lifetime. And its timeless look and design versatility means homeowners and home buyers alike, will enjoy this surface for many years to come.

O le Granite o se maa e matua maualalo le tausiga. E tatau ona fa'amama i taimi uma, ma e tatau ona e aloese mai le tu'uina atu o mea fa'amama mama, vaila'au ma vaila'au fa'asao i luga o le fogaeleele. Ae masani lava, na o le soloina o le fata i lalo i lea taimi ma lea taimi ma le faamamaina o mea leaga na o le pau lea o le mea e manaʻomia. E masani ona faʻamaufaʻailogaina le Granite i le fale gaosimea poʻo le taimi o le faʻapipiʻiina e puipuia ai mai vailaʻau ma isi mea leaga. E itiiti lava se faʻafitauli i totonu o le faletaele nai lo le umukuka, ae atonu e manaʻomia e le maʻa le toe faʻamauina i tausaga taʻitasi.

KUARTZ TOE TA'E'E LOTO

Quartz is a natural stone that is engineered using ground up stone material and resin. So while it is mostly natural, the slabs aren’t cut directly from the earth the way marble and granite are. Often quartz is indistinguishable from a traditional natural stone.

Quartz o se filifiliga sili ona lelei mo se faletaele ona o lona umi (e tutusa ma le maamora) ma e matua maualalo le tausiga. O le isi faʻamanuiaga o le afai o loʻo e faʻaaogaina le tele o paʻu, o le quartz o le a sili atu ona foliga tutusa aʻo faʻapipiʻiina le paʻu, e leai se manaʻoga e taumafai e faʻafetaui mamanu ma veining mai le slab i le slab. Mo se faletaele tele atonu e taua. 

This stone is more modern looking than granite and marble. The patterns in the stone are not as organic, and overall there’s a more subtle, minimalist feel. Because it is engineered, there are a wide range of color options that you won’t find with other materials. It is safe to say that quartz can match just about any bathroom design style, and decor.

E le pei o le maamora ma le maamora, o le quartz e le porous, o lea e sili ona faigofie i pisia. E fa'afaigofie ai fo'i ona fa'amama ma tausia, aua e le mana'omia ni fa'amaufa'ailoga. O se tasi lea o mafuaʻaga autu e filifili ai le tele o fale mo Quartz i umukuka ma faletaele.

The only real downside to quartz is the heat resistance. While it is good, it’s not as good as granite or marble. In a bathroom, you’ll have to be careful not to leave a hot iron, or other extremely hot tool on the countertop for vanity surface for a long period of time. 

O fata faletaele Quartz o le a taugofie nai lo le tele o maamora, ma e masani lava e tutusa le tau ma le maamora. E pei o isi ma'a fa'anatura, o luga ole faletaele quartz e mana'omia tele ma e mafai ona fa'aleleia le tau o lou fale.    
lalo mea e fetaui lelei mo lou tulaga.

While these are our top choices for bathroom countertops and vanities, we also carry some other options that may be more suitable for your design aesthetic or budget. These include onyx, soapstone, limestone and slate. If you have any questions about our natural stones, or would like to ask specific questions about your project, contact us any time.