Granite Countertops: A Good Choice For Your Home?
Whether you’re building a new home or just remodeling your kitchen, granite countertops can be a great enhancement to the beauty of your project. But how well do they hold up to the abuse of hot pots and pans? Will they scratch easily when someone decides to cut bread directly on their surface? If someone spills sauce or a colorful drink, will it leave a stain? When choosing a new countertop,
You should consider not only its appearance, but also its durability and ease of maintenance.
Granite countertops are available in a plethora of colors and textures. The appearance depends on the exact mix of minerals in this natural stone. Colors range from almost white or ivory to almost pure black. And between the extremes, you’ll find a rainbow of colors to choose from. Granite colors can be blue, red, burgundy. brown, gray, beige, yellow, gold, green, etc. Sometimes you will find several different colors in the same piece of stone.
The texture can range from a relatively uniform salt and pepper look to a turbulent swirl of different colored minerals. Some have a vein of a particular mineral running through the stone. Some people find this to be an attractive rustic look, while others see it as a flaw. You can choose what you want.
Granite is one of the hardest natural stones. The only thing harder would be the diamonds. In fact, a diamond saw is required to cut granite countertops to fit your kitchen and to cut the hole to install the sink. This hardness makes granite very scratch resistant, more so than any other type of countertop material. Granite is also very unlikely to be damaged by hot pans or burns.
Some other benefits of granite countertops are that they resist stains and bacteria buildup. However, granite can stain, so it is common practice to seal the surface to prevent this. The result is that granite will resist stains as well as or better than any other stone countertop material. However, keep in mind that smudge-resistant is not the same as smudge-proof. Spills should be wiped up quickly from any counter surface.
It has several types of material to choose from. It would be worth visiting a local supplier who specializes in granite countertops. They should be able to discuss how granite compares to various other products available and likely to have such as: ceramic, soapstone, marble, etc. You will probably find that granite will be your first choice. While you’re there, you’ll have the opportunity to see a wide variety of granite colors and textures. An advantage of using a local supplier is that you will be able to choose the actual piece that will be cut to make your own countertop.
The wide range of colors, textures, and durability make granite countertops a great choice for any home. When installed and maintained correctly, they will probably outlast the house itself. Careful selection and proper installation of granite countertops add elegance and value to your home. You will get many years of pleasure from your choice.