If you have been thinking about putting granite countertops into your home, you might think that you have nothing else to decide. After all, you have probably looked at different materials, weighed the pros and cons, and feel like all you have to do now is pick a color and decide on an installation date. However, that’s not totally true. There are other decisions to be made, including the following:
The Color of Your Granite
Do you know how many granite colors are out there? There is actually an infinite number because every slab of granite is different. Yes, there are color categories, like Blue Pearl or India Rose, but if you have two slabs of Blue Pearl you should be able to see a number of differences between them. So, as you think about your color options, it’s important to keep that fact in mind. Also, make sure that you see the exact slab that is going to get installed in your kitchen. The slab you fall in love with in the showroom might not be the slab that is ultimately installed, so make sure to ask.
The Finish of Your Granite
With color out of the way, the next decision you have to make is what finish you want for your granite. Some people think that granite is always highly polished and shiny, but that’s certainly not the case. You basically have three different choices: polished, honed, and flamed finishes.
Polished is what you think of in most cases when you think of granite. It is shiny, glossy, and extremely smooth to the touch. Polished granite reflects light, too. Honed granite, on the other hand, is almost the exact opposite of polished granite. In this case, the granite looks matte to eye, there is no reflection, and obtains a muted appearance. Honed granite is perfectly at home as a countertop material, but is also commonly found in granite floor tiles and in backsplashes.
The third type of finish you might see is a flamed finish. This is less common than polished or honed granite, but still just as beautiful. To Create the look of a flamed finish, the granite is heated to a very high temperature. This causes the color of the granite to change. It also gives the granite a rough appearance. People choose flamed finish for areas that are prone to getting wet, such as in outdoor kitchens, on patios, or even as a shower floor. However, this rustic looking granite can also fit in well in the kitchen.
The Edge of Your Granite
Finally, you have to think of the edging of your granite. Again, there are several different options that you can choose from. Straight edge granite slabs don’t have any type of fancy edging. It’s simply square like any other countertop material. Bullnose edging is granite that is rounded on the surface, but flat on the bottom. You can also get a full bullnose edge, which is rounded on both the top and the bottom of the slab. Bevel edges are also common. These have a bevel in the top, and there are different bevel angles to choose from. If you want to get even fancier than that, you also might want to consider an ogee edge, a knife edge, or some type of combination edge. The best thing to do is to ask your granite supplier which options are available, and then ask to see examples of them. This way, you know exactly what type of edge you prefer.
As you can see, making the decision to install granite into your home is only one of several decisions that must be made during the granite buying process. The good thing is, however, is that you will never make a bad decision when choosing granite for your home.