Your kitchen countertop is your primary work surface in the busiest room of your home. Thus, it’s very important that it can stand up to everything from meal preparation to helping with homework. On top of this, you want to make sure that your countertop is not only tough and tumble, but also that it looks beautiful. There aren’t very many countertop materials that have both beauty and brawn, but one stands out: granite.
In a kitchen, granite is both beautiful and practical. It is also luxurious and affordable. If you are thinking about installing granite countertops, here are three things that you should know:
1 – Granite is Durable
One of the things that you should know about granite is that it is durable. In fact, it’s likely one of the most durable materials on the market. It is second only to pure diamonds in terms of hardness, and you can expect a granite countertop to last for decades. Granite is also resistant to heat, and you can place a hot pot directly onto the surface. You also don’t have to worry about impact, unless, of course, you take a sledgehammer to it. Typical kitchen drops, such as a heavy pot or pan, onto the surface does not harm granite at all.
2 – Granite Comes in Any Color and Design Imaginable
You also should know that granite is available in a huge range of colors and designs. In fact, since granite is created by Mother Nature, no two slabs of granite look exactly alike. So, the granite that you install into your home is the only piece that looks exactly like that in the world. Though you and your neighbor might both choose Venetian Gold granite, for example, the countertops do not look the same.
Even if a granite slab looks similar to another, you can further make it look unique by choosing a different finish or edging. This really makes the choice you have for granite in the kitchen literally endless. However, if you want to choose a fully solid color, or you are looking for something uniform in color or design, consider an engineered quartz countertop. These are similar in durability and price to granite, but since they are man-made, it’s all the same.
3 – Granite Isn’t as Expensive as You Think
It doesn’t matter what type of countertop material you are considering, it will be 10% – 15% of the total kitchen remodeling project budget. So, whether you choose laminate, for instance, or granite, the countertop is a big chunk of your costs. That doesn’t mean, however, that all granite is going to break the bank. Sure, some granite is expensive, but the expensive granite is typically a rare color or unique design. So, yes, you can spend a lot of money on granite, but you can also make sure that it’s very affordable. This is the same with any countertop material, too.
If you are still not sure about the cost of granite, there are other options, too. For instance, you can often find that companies sell overstock granite pieces. These might be pieces that were used for other countertops, but they aren’t large enough for a full countertop. Or, you might want to consider granite tiles. These are small squares of granite that are placed like tile on a countertop. Generally, this is cheaper than a slab, yet brings all of the benefits of granite.
Now that you know these benefits of choosing granite, what are you waiting for? Contact us to learn more about this gorgeous kitchen countertop material.