Article by Erin Renwick. Images courtesy of Beyond Surfaces.
When it comes to renovating a kitchen, choosing a countertop can be a difficult decision. The countertop is often the largest surface area in the kitchen, and has a major impact on the look and feel of the room.
Homeowners can choose from a myriad of options including marble, granite, quartz, concrete, butcher block, laminate, tile, soapstone, stainless steel, paper composite, and recycled glass.
Now there is another surface to choose from: sintered porcelain slabs known as Neolith. Giovanni LaFauci of Beyond Surfaces explains that “Neolith is the next generation of countertops,” with many colour options to choose from, and a large slab size which can be cut to fit into any kitchen. Giovanni says that Neolith “appeals to a wide spectrum of the population: homeowners to general contractors, to designers, to architects.”
Here are five reasons you‘ll want to consider using Neolith for you next kitchen renovation.
1 – Neolith is eco-friendly. Neolith is made up of all natural products including clays, feldspar, silica and mineral oxides, and its colours are made up of natural pigments. Neolith comes with an expected lifetime of durability, and a 15-year warrantee for peace of mind, making it a sustainable, buy it once choice.
2 – Neolith does not stain. Unlike marble, concrete, butcher block, laminate, and granite, Neolith isn’t porous, so it won’t stain and doesn’t need to be sealed. Even the white coloured neolith will wipe clean without staining. This saves time, headaches, and money—not to mention the worry over coffee and red wine stains on our beautiful new countertop!
3 – Neolith is versatile. Not only can Neolith be used for countertops (12mm thick), it is also available in a thinner format (5mm) to be used as cladding for walls, cupboards and floors. It is available in up to 35 different colours, in both the 12mm and 5mm thickness, which allows for perfect cohesion–especially appealing for a minimalist or contemporary look.
4 – Neolith is durable. Because the surface is so hard, it is very heat resistant and will not warp, buckle or stain from heat. The hard surface is also very resistant to scratches and abrasion. Watch this video to learn more about just how “tough” this surface really is. (Foodies will especially appreciate this 4 minute distraction).
5 – Neolith is competitively priced. Granite and marble countertops are beautiful, but their cost can be prohibitive. With Neolith, you can have the look of stone for a comparable price.
If you are considering a kitchen renovation, Neolith may very well be the surface for you. As Giovanni says, you can “treat it like quartz which does not stain, and it’s as strong as granite – you get almost three things at once: the marble look, the strength of the granite, and the simplicity of the quartz.“
These days, when it comes to our home, we have an obsession with change. “Fifty years ago, you bought a house, paid the mortgage off, and that was that. It isn’t so anymore,” quips Giovanni. “People have had marble, granite, and quartz in different homes they have owned or renovated. There is an excitement in discovering new materials, especially to be one of the first to build with them.” Lucky for those of us seeking out the latest in home design trends, Giovanni was savvy enough to bring this product from Europe (which they have been using for years with huge popularity) to British Columbia. It is a beautiful, innovative product and one you can expect to see more of in new builds and renovations here in Victoria – maybe even yours. To find out more about how Neolith might be a good fit for your next project, contact Giovanni at Beyond Surfaces.
