Onyx Countertops Review and Information

For homeowners who do not want to settle for the ordinary run of the mill granite, marble or engineered stone countertops there are onyx countertops. Onyx countertops as the name applies are made of onyx which is actually a semi-precious stone. Onyx is formed from limestone deposits that are re calcified under intense pressure to form onyx. Onyx is a beautiful stone with intense areas of veining that provides a unique originality not evident in any other type of man made or natural stone.

Onyx is a calcite stone that behaves much the same as limestone and marble. The difference with onyx is that it is much softer than marble and limestone so it is much more prone to scratching than most other natural stone surfaces. Additionally onyx is extremely sensitive to all types of acidic cleaners and food products so it can easily be etched and lose its natural polish and sheen. Onyx's natural beauty make it an ideal stone to manufacture jewelry from. The difference with manufacturing jewelry and making a countertop is jewelry makers can pick and choose what portion of the onyx they will use to make a particular piece of jewelry from. When creating a countertopp from onyx you are required to accept the whole slab of onyx with its many veins as well as inconsistencies of the stone slab. Onyx slabs will typically have soft spots and small indentations and voids that can wear down and cause fissures in the onyx at a later time. When seeking a durable and highly functional countertop material onyx does not make the ultimate choice.

While onyx countertops may be lacking in functionality they excel in looks and originality for a countertop material. Many people will choose to have onyx countertops in areas of light use where the countertop is used more as a visual object than an actual functioning countertop. Many discerning homeowners may just not mind that their onyx countertop will wear down over time and just choose to have them regularly polished and restored to bring them back to their original appearance.  Whatever the reason there is no denying the wow factor that visitors to your home will experience when they see how beautiful your onyx countertops really are.

Many people wonder what sets onyx countertops apart from all other types of countertops. Onyx is the only natural stone countertop material that is translucent in nature. When light is absorbed by the onyx stone it will glow and shine in appearance like no other countertop material in the world. This opaque nature of onyx countertops makes them appear to glow when in a sunny room and totally lighten up your kitchen. When looking at samples of onyx you truly have to look at them in daylight in your kitchen space to appreciate the true brilliance that onyx countertops can bring to your kitchen. While onyx is primarily made for kitchen countertop surfaces many people will also choose to have onyx in their kitchen in other horizontal or vertical areas to lighten up their kitchen. Often a bar area can be a perfect place to have an onyx countertop installed to lighten the area up and bring a much brighter environment to an otherwise drab setting. When choosing an onyx countertop you may choose to have onyx installed in other areas of your home. Where you choose to have an onyx surface installed is totally up to the homeowner and the sky is the limit when choosing to have onyx installed in your home.

Being opaque makes onyx the perfect countertop material to have back lighted to truly make your onyx glow day or night. While most "practical" homeowners may scoff at the idea of a lighted countertop many discerning homeowners can not resist the temptation to have a lighted countertop. Lighted onyx countertops are also very popular in bar areas where a dimly lit bar can totally be brought to light with a back lit onyx countertop. Usually specially made LED lights are made in custom arrays specifically for back lighting onyx countertops. There are also many different LED colors and arrays to choose from for back lighting your onyx countertop. You should always choose LED colors and a type of onyx that looks good in your particular setting.

You do not have to just use onyx for countertops especially when considering back lighting your onyx. Bar backsplashes, fireplace surrounds, patio enclosures and anywhere else you might think of make terrific areas to have a backlit onyx stone installed.

There are many different types of onyx on the market today. Being a semi-precious stone you may be required to custom order your onyx countertop since many stone dealers will not stock all types of onyx. One of the most popular types of onyx is simply white onyx. It is one of the more simpler onyx stones and also one of the most translucent onyx stones to choose from. White onyx is also popular for back lighting due to its extreme veining. When back lighting white onyx the light will seem to shine out through the white onyx veins creating a stunning appearance.

Green onyx is somewhat like white onyx only the green onyx has areas of slight green tints. While green onyx is not green the areas of green in green onyx provide a countertop that will be much more visually stunning than normal white onyx. The green onyx comes at a premium price so be prepared to pay more for green onyx than normal white onyx countertops. The green areas of green onyx will also create a stunning green tinted visual experience when back lighted.

Many people choose honey onyx for their countertops due to the decreased veining and more consistent appearance of honey onyx. Honey onyx will also not have as many "soft" areas as the other types of onyx countertops and is a much more practical onyx countertop material than white or green onyx for a countertop.

For people that want a much more exciting type of onyx that truly dazzles the eyes and sets your countertop apart from all others there are other exciting onyx countertop stone options. Semeraldo is one of the onyx countertop choices that will add a stunning and unique beauty to your kitchen that can not be compared with any other type of countertop material. While complex onyx countertop designs may not be as translucent as other types of onyx countertop stones they will still glow in daylight and provide a stunning brilliance to your kitchen or any other area of your home.

Onyx countertops are extremely soft stone countertops and can easily be scratched and etched. You should never cut directly on an onyx countertop and you should always use cutting boards when processing any type of food materials. Also with any soft stone you should always be careful not to drag any plates, pots or pans across the onyx surface to prevent the soft stone from scratching. Onyx is extremely sensitive to acid etching from normal acidic food products and you should only use a pH neutral cleaning product specifically designed for stone cleaning for cleaning and maintaining your onyx countertop. Regularly cleaning an onyx countertop is essential to prevent your onyx countertop from etching or staining. You should always wipe down any food and beverages with the pH neutral cleaner to prevent these products from etching or staining your onyx countertop. Never leave any food or beverages dry on your onyx countertops and it is important to properly seal your onyx countertops to protect them from stains and etching.

Sealing onyx countertops is mandatory due to onyx's soft porous nature and to protect them from being etched from acidic products. You should only use a top of the line water based sealer with the latest microbond technology to seal your onyx countertops. Never use any cheap home improvement store type of sealer to protect your valuable onyx countertops. One of the best sealers on the market today is Aquamix's Sealers Choice Gold. Do not settle for Aquamix's normal consumer level stone sealer and always go for the premium Aquamix Sealers Choice Gold.  This is the best stone sealer on the market today and a one quart container is more then enough sealer for most onyx countertops.