The Homeowner’s Guide To Granite Countertops
There are few types of countertop stone as popular as granite. If you’re thinking of adding this time-tested stone to your home, get to know a little bit more about its characteristics, care requirements, and cost points.
What to Know Before You Choose Granite
Granite-lovers have lots of details they get to enjoy about their favorite countertop slab. The hard, cool stone we call granite comes from molten lava that has crystallized into mostly hard feldspar and quartz.
Granite is a popular natural stone for home countertops, and with good reason. This stone comes in tons of attractive colors and patterns. It’s easy to find a slab of granite to match any kitchen design because of its shades of black, white, green, coral, and beige.
Granite's unique origins and composition carry some cost and care points to consider:
High durability means granite is ideal for kitchens that see a lot of activity. Granite’s durability allows it to stand up to scratches, scrapes, and high heat, which makes it easy to care for.
Maintenance for granite countertops is only necessary once (twice, at most) per year. The molten-hot magma that creates granite makes it less porous than other natural stones, so homeowners typically only need to reseal their surface once each year.
Cost is always at the front of homebuyers’ minds before they decide on a countertop slab they love. Granite can carry a higher price point than those of other slabs but has the reputation for quality to back it up.
Granite Isn’t Just for the Kitchen
Granite’s luxurious appearance and durable composition provide multiple exciting design options that can extend beyond just your kitchen.
There are some great (and not so great) areas in your home for granite counters that you should consider before you choose your new countertop surface.
Where Granite Countertops Work Best
It’s no secret that granite works best in rooms such as your kitchen and bathroom. Not all kitchens, bathrooms, and living areas are alike, though, and some of them can benefit more than others from granite countertops.
Granite shines its brightest in places such as:
Kitchens that need an added sense of depth to their surroundings. Kitchens with bland or bare white walls benefit greatly from rich, patterned slabs of eye-catching granite countertops.
Living areas that need to complement dark colors with lighter shades of granite stone. Granite can include intricate and dazzling patterns of natural veins that play well off darker-colored living areas.
Rooms in your home that need to contrast wooden floors and counters. Granite can have polished finishes that naturally contrast with wooden countertops and floors.
Bathrooms with tiled floors and stone countertops benefit immensely from the added color, texture, and presence that can come with a new granite countertop.
Homeowners who are interested in installing a new countertop quickly discover that granite offers a diverse range of home design options, especially when compared to other popular options for countertop materials. That’s why Alpha Surfaces makes it easy for homeowners to find attractive designs for granite countertops that complement multiple rooms in their home.
Where You Shouldn’t Install Granite Countertops
Granite's variety of patterns and darker colors can mesh well with areas that need a greater sense of depth. Since granite immediately pulls the eye toward its appearance, it can divert attention away from other aspects you want to highlight in your kitchen, bathroom, or living space.
Rooms in your home that may not be right for granite include:
Living areas that use a lot of bright colors on walls, ceilings, and existing countertop designs. The darker shades of granite may clash with bright, patterned rooms.
Kitchens that rarely see much activity. Granite is an investment, so it deserves a place in kitchens with lots of cooking activity.
Bathrooms that have lots of regularly used sinks. Granite countertops are porous and can absorb water that seeps into their edges from bathroom sinks. They can be high maintenance to care for in high-use bathrooms.
Granite countertops are highly durable and resistant to physical wear and tear and high temperatures. Since granite is porous, though, it’s important to consider its yearly requirements for resealing before you install it in certain bathrooms or areas of your kitchen. Additionally, remember that granite is a natural stone with a naturally darker range of colors, so brighter rooms in your home may not be the best places to install granite countertops.
Adding Lifetime Value to Your Granite Countertop
Thinking of what comes next now that you’ve installed a beautiful new granite countertop in your home? There are plenty of finishing touches you can consider to make the most out of your granite countertop’s design and provide it with lasting value.
Backsplashes
Granite is a breathtaking variety of stone, so why not use more of it for your countertop’s backsplash? Using granite for the countertop and backsplash creates a pleasing, symmetrical appearance. Backsplashes such as these are easy to apply and don’t require extra effort to maintain.
Consider a specific part of your granite slab to highlight with a backsplash as you develop your design idea, and use your backsplash to increase your room’s visual appeal.
Finishes
Countertop finishes can create an added level of symmetry between your new countertop and the other parts of your room. Styles such as polished finishes add a lustrous and reflective effect to granite countertops that pairs perfectly with their natural appearance.
Other options like honed finishes instill a non-reflective glow in your granite slab and allow it to soak up natural light and warmth in your room. Simply put, a new countertop project needs the perfect finish to properly round it out.
Granite Countertops - What’s Your Decision?
Homeowners need to choose a countertop slab that's visually appealing, affordable, and perfect for adding lasting value to your home. Granite countertops can transform the most important rooms in your home into elegant spaces with a chic appeal that's timeless and beloved. Although granite can be pricier than quartz or porcelain, its reputation as one of the most popular materials for home countertops precedes its price tag.
Interested in learning more about everything that goes into designing and installing a new granite countertop in your home? We break down the entire process in our comprehensive, free Ultimate Buyer’s Guide. Get the industry expertise you need to meet your project’s specifications, no matter how big or small it is.