A New Way to Enjoy the Look of Natural Stone Without the Upkeep

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Natural stone has been revered for its array of mesmerizing colors and patterns since ancient times, but today’s homeowners often want a more practical option. “People don’t want to be running around, following their friends with coasters at parties — it kills all the fun,” says Daniel Germani, a Phoenix-based designer and architect. “People want spaces that are usable.” Read on to see how stone-inspired ultracompact surfaces rise to the occasion.

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What Are Ultracompact Surfaces?

Ultracompact surfaces are composed of a blend of inorganic raw materials. “There are different recipes depending on the color; you could have feldspar, quartz, clays [or] micas,” says Valentín Tijeras García, vice president of global product and research and development at surfaces company Cosentino.

The production process includes sintering, a high-speed version of the metamorphic changes natural stone undergoes over millennia, as well as ultracompaction. A force of thousands of tons is applied to each slab. To achieve the patterns prized in natural stone, the designs are printed directly onto the slab prior to sintering. The result is an extremely durable, nonporous slab with a design throughout its entire surface.

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Practical Benefits: Wine, Heat and Knives, Meet Your Match

Stain and chemical resistance. Life can be messy, whether you’re making spaghetti marinara or mixing sangria. Designed with this in mind, ultracompact surfaces are inherently resistant to staining and chemical etching, due to their zero porosity. “You can throw anything at them and they will be impervious to damage,” Germani says. Liquids such as lemon juice, vinegar and your favorite cabernet can be wiped off with soap and water without marring the surface; even nail polish peels off.

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Thermal shock resistance. You don’t need to worry about heat, either. “Heat can mark or crack surfaces, depending on the material, time in contact and temperature,” García says. This doesn’t happen with ultracompact surfaces. Temperature changes won’t cause them to expand or contract, which leads to cracking, García says.

Durability. Ideally, slicing and dicing happen on a cutting board, but sometimes the knife misses the mark and hits the counter instead. Ultracompact surfaces are scratch- and abrasion-resistant, no matter how enthusiastic your chopping gets. They’re also UV-resistant, meaning they won’t yellow or fade over time, even in direct sunlight, García says. And there’s no need to polish or seal them.

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Aesthetic Attributes: Veining, Color and Sheen

Ultracompact surfaces initially came only in solid colors, but a clear desire for a natural appearance inspired new designs. “People are looking for realistic patterns in engineered stone,” Germani says. They also favor striking veining that punctuates the surface. “People are going bold, whether in design or color,” he says.

Technology has allowed for new leaps forward in depth, gloss and accuracy of design, García says. Ultracompact surfaces can look like Carrara marble, Taj Mahal quartzite or Calacatta marble. “If I didn’t tell you it wasn’t a real slab of marble, you wouldn’t know,” Germani says of some of the surfaces. The ones in this kitchen, for example, mirror polished Gris Pulpis marble. “Glossy surfaces give you a very luxe, high-end feel,” Germani says. “It’s a beautiful finish.”

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Versatility: Kitchens, Bathrooms and the Unexpected

Ultracompact surfaces are used primarily as kitchen and bathroom countertops, but the possibilities go far beyond that thanks to multiple thickness options. Use them as flooring, cabinet and drawer fronts, backsplashes, shower tile, bathtub cladding and accent walls. “You can put them around fireplaces and on staircases,” García says. “Almost anything can be clad.” This includes furniture, such as dining tables, bedside tables, armoires and consoles.

“They can flow continuously from inside to outside,” Germani says. Use ultracompact surfaces in outdoor kitchen and dining areas; they stand up to wear and tear as well as the elements. With added slip resistance, they also work for pool decks and patios.

“Function is as important as design,” Germani says. “People are so busy that the last thing you want to worry about is a friend putting wine down on your countertop. You should be enjoying life and what you have in your house.”

Tell us: What do you look for in a countertop? Tell us in the Comments.

This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content Team.