When it comes to appliances, we hope you concur that Guy Gunter is hands-down the best in the purveyor in the marketplace. After all, we introduced some of the kitchen’s most prominent products to the Southeastern marketplace, including Sub-Zer0, Thermador and Chambers.

But today, for those of you who are contemplating redesigning or building a new kitchen in your home, we’d like to offer you a little primer on natural stone surfaces, courtesy of the Marble Institute of America (MIA).

Many consumers have certain expectations when it comes to stone applications in the kitchen, according to the MIA. Some, for instance, appreciate the patina of age that comes with wear and tear, while others prefer their selected stone to look as pristine as the day it was first installed.

So what’s a better fit for your project–granite, sandstone, marble or limestone? There’s a great in-depth guide for your research here. And here’s a fun fact: Did you know that travertine is actually a type of limestone, even though it is commonly referred to as “travertine marble”?

The institute also provides some great preliminary research to perform when putting out feelers for potential natural stone contractors. Questions to ask include: Will an estimate be free? What’s a realistic time frame for the job? Will their be periodic inspections?