Your kitchen and bathroom are two of the most-used rooms in your home. You fix meals for your family in your kitchen and it is where friends gather during celebrations. Your bathroom is a place to relax, unwind and rejuvenate.

Unfortunately, when we consider a home remodeling project, these are often the last two rooms we consider. The fact is, a kitchen or bath remodel can bring you a return on your investment of 100 percent when it is time to sell your home.

If you are considering a remodel of your kitchen or bath, you want to consider natural stone which can increase the value of your home even further.

Granite is one of the most popular options in natural stone. Granite countertops are durable and beautiful, resistant to stains and cracks.

Granite can be cleaned with mild soap and warm water as abrasive cleaners can damage the surface. Although granite counters must be sealed periodically, it is a simple process that most homeowners can do on their own. No two slabs of granite are the same, so if you have a large counter area, the counters may look different depending on where you stand in the room.

Although granite is heat resistant, it is important to use hot pads and trivets under pans taken from the stove to avoid scratches caused by grit on the bottom of the pan. It is also recommended you use cutting boards, not necessarily to protect the counters, but to avoid damaging your knives.

Engineered stone countertops are created when crushed quartz is mixed with coloring and binding agents to create an extremely hard surface. Because the counters are manufactured, you have more color choices than with other types of natural stone. The countertops have more than 90 percent granite, so they are still considered natural stone.

In addition, all slabs are the same, so if you have a large counter area, your room looks more uniform than with granite or marble. Engineered stone countertops are less heat resistant, so it is important to never place a hot pan on the surface.

Marble has a timeless beauty that withstands the test of time. Although it is a softer stone than quartz or granite, it has been used in buildings for centuries. Marble is the perfect choice if you have a baker in your home as the coolness of the stone is perfect for working with dough and pastry.

Acidic materials like tomato-based sauces, citrus and coffee may stain the counters, so be sure to wipe spills up quickly. Oils can also stain marble countertops so never store decorative bottles of oil on the counters to avoid discoloration.

Marble Concepts was started by John DiDonato who already had 20 years of experience in the natural stone business. The company opened in 1991 and has been dedicated to customer satisfaction ever since. The staff is as dedicated to craftsmanship and there is nothing they can’t create out of natural stone. The stones used by Marble Concepts are from some of the best stone-producing areas of the world.

If you are considering a kitchen or bath remodel or want to add natural stone to other areas of your home, contact Marble Concepts today. You can reach them by calling 215-396-7393 or fill out the simple form online.