Granite countertops are one of the most popular countertop options in the market. Whether you are looking to replace them or install new ones in your home, there are plenty of things you should know about them. Some of these things include:
They are affordable
While the pieces give your kitchen a high end look, they are usually affordable. When you are buying them, you will find that the prices vary depending on the source, the quality of the stone, and the seller. Granite professionals report that the average prices of the pieces are $75 per square foot.
When you are buying the units you should take your time to research and find the reputable sellers in your area. Avoid buying from the big box stores as they not only have limited varieties, they also contract out the work for cheap. This means that you end up not getting the services that you deserve.
For ideal services, you should buy from a retailer who sells, fabricates, and installs the countertops. In addition to the sellers providing you with high-quality pieces that will look good for long, it also will be easy for you to deal with any problems when they come up.
For example, when you identify an installation flaw, you can easily get hold of the company and complain about it and have the issue fixed within the shortest time possible. This isn’t the case when you are dealing with a big box store.
They come in a variety of colors
One of the reasons why people buy granite countertop is because it provides variety. Many people that have installed the pieces, report that they have never seen pieces similar to the ones that they have. This means that when you install yours, they will be unique which gives you a sense of pride as you know that there aren’t others in the market that are similar to yours.
The countertops come in many colors such as Madura gold, Verde jade, tiger skin gold, silk blue, tan brown, and many others. It’s up to you to choose the one that is ideal for you.
When you are making the purchase, always ask to see the actual slab. Don’t settle on the sample or photo. The granite colors and patterns vary greatly from slab to slab and you don’t want a piece that won’t give your kitchen the look that you want.
When choosing the slab, be on the lookout for any signs of damage or weakness such as cracks, chips, and fractures. You should note that not all flaws you notice on the countertops mean trouble, but there are some that might make the slabs structurally weak.
If you aren’t sure whether some of the features are good or bad, ask a professional to help you out when making your selection.
You need to maintain the countertops
Buying the right pieces isn’t enough—you need to maintain the granite pieces for them to look great and also last for a long time. One of the things you need to do is to clean the pieces regularly.
The cool thing is that you don’t need a fancy cleaner to clean the pieces. Simple warm soapy water will give your countertops a clean look that will be pleasing to look at. You should note that it’s always wise to have the countertops sealed. This is to prevent moisture from seeping through the porous stones, leaving permanent stains.
While the countertops are tough, they are breakable. This calls for you to be cautious when handling them. As rule of thumb avoid dropping pans on them or sitting on them as you will damage them.
If there are large chips and cracks on the units, you should repair them as soon as possible. The repair you need to do includes using some sort of a gel to fill the small holes and smoothening the surface with a sandpaper once you have set the gel.
You should apply light curing acrylic gels, smoothen them then cure them with a special light. If there are cracks, you should hire granite contractors Durham to fix them using an epoxy resin that will hold the two pieces together.
