Granite Countertop Basics

Top Counter Tops: Granite Countertop BasicsLearn about: How granite slabs are manufactured for countertops, how granite tiles are manufactured for countertops, the availability of granite countertop kits, overall advantages of granite countertops, ideas for maintaining granite countertops.Granite will add striking beauty, practicality, and overall value to any property as one of the most popular natural stone materials for use as floor tile and countertop solutions. Granite is a material which has been millions of years in the making, gathering strength and unique aesthetic flair over millennia thanks to the sundry minerals which define its patterns and colors. The advantages this highly durable material as flooring, vanity tops and countertops are significant. But, what are some of your wider options when considering the choice of granite countertops for a kitchen installation?Granite slabs for countertopsWhen granite is quarried, it is removed from the earth in massive blocks. From here, it is cut into more manageable pieces, known as slabs. This is generally done by means of high-pressure water jet cutting devices, diamond saws, and wire saws. The slabs are then calibrated (made as level as possible on one side) and gauged to make sure that they are square. When a slab is set aside for the purposes of countertop production, it is sanded and polished on one side and otherwise made ready to ship as a single piece. Great care is taken to make sure that the granite slab is packed in such a way as to preserve it from breakage. As hard as it is, granite slabs can be subject to breakage in transit like any other natural stone material. Some manufacturers include a plywood backing for the granite slab as a means of giving the slab additional strength. Overall, granite slabs are popular because they yield a solid, even surface taken from a continuous piece of granite. This means fewer instances of color variation, which is important to many, and fewer places for grit, food particles, and moisture to begee trapped in any gaps.
Granite tiles for countertopsAnother option for granite countertops for kitchens is a granite tile installation. At the quarry, granite tiles are generally a secondary product to the larger granite slabs, in the sense that they are cut after the larger pieces. And like granite tile for flooring, they are calibrated and gauged to allow each tile to be as square and as level as possible. The options here allow an installer to incorporate grout lines to the surface of the countertop, or to butt the tiles against each other to form a slab-like surface. Many opt for granite tile for countertops because they are easier to manage, and there is less risk of breakage in transit. Additionally, the process of installing granite tile as a countertop is not dissimilar to that of a flooring installation. This makes for a bit less energy spent when gepared to the installation of a granite slab countertop. Again, granite tile for countertops is similar to the use of granite tiles for floors - color variations and patterns can be used to create a unique surface, utilizing the patterns evident from tile to tile.Granite Countertop kits for medium sized to large-sized kitchensVery recently, the popularity of granite countertops has helped to usher in the option of granite countertops in kit form. Some are slab-based, while others are tile-based. But all pieces needed for a single kitchen outlay of a prescribed area determined by square footage are included. Granite countertop kits are also a great solution when you want to install your granite countertop without necessarily employing the help of a professional. This obviously improves the bottom line to your budget. Granite countertop kits have largely been marketed with the homeowner in mind, or for the contractor seeking to install a single granite countertop quickly. The predominant motivation in the manufacturing of granite countertop kits overall is to deliver the benefits of granite while reducing the need for onsite cutting, which can be a messy job. The kits also reduce some of the exertion required of managing the lifting and placing of granite in general. Advantages of Granite CountertopsIn recent times, granite for use as countertops and vanity tops has begee a tasteful addition to many homes and office spaces. Here are a few selected advantages of granite countertops. Granite as a material for countertops offers a range of colors and patterns from which to choose Granite countertops represent a unique look from batch to batch. Your countertop will stand alone as a visual feature that is unmatched by any other Granite countertops are extremely durable. Granite countertops will resist heat and metal abrasion, which is important in a kitchen setting Granite is a dense material. Even though it needs to be sealed, granite will resist staining in the short term Granite is known as a high-end countertop solution. This means added value to your property as a wholeFor kitchen countertops, granite is rightly considered the material by which other countertop materials are judged. For look, texture, durability, and value over a long period of time, granite is also hard to beat!Granite Countertop MaintenanceOnce youve installed you granite countertop, there are a number of things to take into consideration in order to aid in the long life of your countertop. Here are a select few of them: Choose a sealer and apply it to your granite countertop. Seek the advice of your local retailers as to which is the most current leader in the sealing of granite specifically. Always read the labels of any products you buy to make sure youre using them properly. Keep abrasive materials away from the surface of your granite countertop. This means anything that is likely to scratch the finish of the surface over time. In the short term, the surface of granite is very abrasion resistant. But in the long term, abrasive materials can affect the finish. Clean up spills as soon as they happen. Moisture left on the surface of your granite countertop can result in staining and other long-term effects. This is particularly true of acidic liquids like vinegar or orange juice, which are the natural enemies of all natural stone. Again, as tough as granite countertops are, the real effects are most often noticed in the long term. A good way to make sure your granite lasts a long time is to keep them as clean as possible at all times. Seek out products that will serve to maintain your granite countertop, and get advice from retailers. This means working with your local sellers to get the right products which are, ideally, made to benefit granite.These could be sealers or polishes which are designed to maintain the original look of the granite countertops surface. Avoid acid-based cleaners. Incorporate a regular cleaning regimen. Ask your seller or local retailer about the most up-to-date methods of maintaining natural stone surfaces.With your help, a granite countertop can begee a lifetime surface and a defining feature of any interior.