What is Onyx?
Onyx comes in breathtakingly beautiful swirling patterns that rival the beauty of any other natural stone. Because it is somewhat translucent, it appears delicate, and backlighting can show off its striking colors and patterns.
What are the Pros of Onyx?
- Onyx is rare, so it brings a unique touch to your home and simultaneously increases its value.
- Onyx is non-porous.
- Due to the translucence of Onyx, it can make a breath-taking statement when backlit.
What are the Cons of Onyx?
- Because it is so rare, onyx costs more than most natural stones. To still have the beauty of onyx with less of the cost you could use it as an accent.
- Onyx is a fragile stone. It can become scratched or etched. Onyx countertops are best suited to areas that don’t see much heavy use. It works best in a bathroom, where spills are less frequent.
- It is vulnerable to acids and bases, which will react with the minerals in onyx to create a chemical reaction- basically eating away at the countertop.
- Onyx is also quite brittle and will chip and crack easily.
How to Care and Maintain Onyx
- Be diligent in blotting up any spills.
- Use a cleaner labeled as safe for natural stone. Avoid homemade cleaners, ordinary kitchen cleaners, and window cleaners as they generally cause more harm than good.
- Do not pour or spray cleaner directly onto onyx. Being porous in nature, it may absorb some of this liquid which can in turn affect its appearance.
- Using cutting boards and coasters will help minimize the opportunity for scratches to occur.
The Best Uses of Onyx
Onyx is not a good option for most countertops, but it does make for a beautiful backsplash. Its beauty and translucence make it appealing, but still not practical. Onyx can bring beauty to your kitchen and bathroom. However, the bathroom is safer because there are fewer opportunities for scratches or stains.
