Choose the limestone look before choosing the material route
For a warm limestone direction, start with Lime Stone Beige in matte. For a cooler direction, compare New Lime in soft gloss. Both are manufactured sintered-stone slabs, not natural limestone. Choose quarried limestone when authentic geology and developing patina are part of the brief—and only after the exact stone's acid sensitivity, absorption, finish and maintenance expectations are accepted.
This guide takes you from that first shortlist to sample approval, fabrication inputs and a quote-ready countertop brief.
Compare two limestone-look countertop directions
The current Funtek range has two clear limestone-look candidates. Review undertone and finish first; then confirm the selected size, thickness, faces, quantity and batch before quotation.
Warm · matte · countertop-listed
Lime Stone Beige Sintered Stone
Warm sandy beige with gentle, irregular limestone movement. The matte finish keeps reflections low and works with oak, cream, bronze and other warm-neutral materials.
Current listed formats: 1600 × 3200, 1200 × 2800, 1200 × 2700, 1200 × 2400 and 900 × 2700 mm.
Thickness options: 6, 9, 12 and 15 mm.
Face direction: Random Match.
Cool · soft gloss · four faces
New Lime Sintered Stone Slab
Light to silver grey with a softer limestone texture and controlled surface movement. Its soft-gloss finish suits cool woods, greige cabinetry, brushed metal and restrained commercial interiors.
Current listed formats: 1600 × 3200, 1200 × 2800, 1200 × 2700, 1200 × 2400 and 900 × 2700 mm.
Thickness options: 6, 9, 12 and 15 mm.
Face direction: Four faces, Random Match.
Decide whether natural limestone fits the kitchen
Natural limestone can make a valid countertop, but “limestone” is not a single performance grade. The Natural Stone Institute's limestone guidance identifies two buyer checks that matter immediately: calcium-carbonate stone is vulnerable to acid, and absorption can vary from slight to high between stones. Those two properties can limit which varieties are suitable for a countertop.
In daily use, an acid mark and a stain are different problems. Lemon, vinegar and acidic cleaners can react with the stone surface and create a dull etched area. Oils and coloured liquids can penetrate and stain. A sealer may improve stain resistance, but it does not remove acid sensitivity and does not make the stone stain-proof. The Institute's stone care guidance recommends neutral cleaners and supplier-specific sealing advice.
- Ask for the exact limestone name, source, finish and current technical data—not a colour name alone.
- Test the finished sample with water, oil and representative acidic foods before approval.
- Decide whether etching and patina are acceptable appearance changes for the client.
- Record the approved cleaner, sealer if required, and maintenance responsibility in the handover package.
Natural limestone and limestone-look sintered stone solve different briefs
Choose natural limestone when
Authentic geological variation, the feel of quarried stone and a surface that may develop patina are central to the design. Approval should be tied to the exact stone, finish, slab or range, maintenance plan and fabricator.
Choose the sintered route when
The brief prioritizes a controlled warm or cool direction, known slab formats and repeatable manufactured faces. The finished countertop still needs appropriate thickness, support, cutout, edge and fabrication decisions.
Do not treat “limestone look” as a technical specification. A design name establishes visual intent; the selected product record, sample, faces and project detail establish what will actually be supplied. For a broader comparison of quarried materials and indicative cost factors, use the natural stone countertops guide. For sintered-stone support and edge planning, continue to the sintered stone countertops specification page.
Approve colour, finish, faces and edge detail at full scale
A small sample can confirm the basic colour family and touch, but it cannot approve a complete countertop layout. Warm beige may shift pink, yellow or grey beside cabinetry; light grey may read blue or green under the same lighting. Matte and soft-gloss surfaces also change how side light, fingerprints and pattern depth are perceived.
- Undertone: compare the sample with cabinet, floor, wall and metal finishes under project lighting.
- Surface: inspect matte or soft gloss straight on and under low side light.
- Faces: confirm how many distinct faces are supplied and assign them to islands, runs and upstands.
- Cutting layout: mark sink, hob, seams, exposed edges and feature areas on the selected face.
- Finished detail: approve edge build-up, corner radii, support, overhangs and any waterfall or mitred return with the fabricator.
Prepare a quote-ready limestone countertop brief
A useful request identifies the material route first. If natural limestone remains under consideration, include the exact stone and finish. If the sintered route is selected, name Lime Stone Beige or New Lime and attach the preferred face direction.
- Countertop plan, dimensions and measured surface area.
- Sink and hob models, cutout drawings and drainage grooves if required.
- Finished edge profile, build-up, splashback/upstand and waterfall returns.
- Cabinet/support condition, overhangs, seams and access constraints.
- Selected colour, finish, thickness, faces, quantity and sample status.
- Delivery city/country, packing requirements and required date.
Use the sintered stone area calculator for early surface planning, then send the drawings so slab yield, face allocation, fabrication scope and current availability can be reviewed together.
Send the shortlist and countertop drawings for sample review
Tell us whether the project needs warm matte Lime Stone Beige, cool soft-gloss New Lime, or a comparison of both. Include dimensions, cutouts, thickness, quantity and destination so the next response can address samples, slab allocation and quotation inputs.