Granite is the second hardest stone when compared to diamond and this means it can make one of the toughest and a long-lasting countertop. Granite is also very unique because it's highly unlikely that you will find two similar granite slabs depending on the quarry and the minerals components. Another reason that makes granite ideal for making countertop is it’s easier to maintain. Granite is stain, heat and scratch resistance which means you can place a hot pan and not worry about dulling it. You can use it as a cutting board for vegetables and the only thing you have to worry about is dulling your knives.
Granite countertops surfaces can be finished in using different techniques, you can have it honed, polished, flamed or brushed surfaces and each technique is meant to give the granite slab a unique look and feel. The most common finish is the polished finish because it's easy to maintain and it gives the granite a sparkling and a mirror-like an appearance that makes your kitchen radiate and more elegant. The Honed finishes are gaining popularity because it's less shiny giving your home a casual feel while still maintaining originality and elegance. You can also go for flamed finishes whereby granite is exposed to extreme heat that it melts and crystallize making it rough, textured and slip resistant.
Granite is very easy to maintain for it only need to be sealed once a year, the installer will seal for you during installation which is one of the most important steps. Sealing is important because granite is porous and without the sealing agent it has a small possibility of staining and absorbs water easily. Other maintenance practices are the daily wiping with a soft cloth and a neutral cleaner to remove dust or any spillage. Ask your supplier or installer to recommend the best cleaner ideal for granite and will not remove the sealer.
Granite slabs vary in thickness but the most popular thickness is the 3 cm also known as 1 ¼ thickness, you can also get the 2 cm also known as ¾ thickness. The weight of the granite slab will also vary with the width but the general weight is 12-13 lbs per square feet to 18-19 lbs for the 2 cm and 3 cm respectively. The advantage of going with a 3 cm granite slab is you will not need to reinforce it with plywood, unlike the 2cm that must be reinforced to support the granite itself. It's hard to avoid seams on granite especially if you have to join two granite slabs but there are ways to make them less visible. One of the ways is having them hidden away from view; sometimes, if possible, you can have the seam run on a diagonal sometimes making the seam harder to see.
Granite countertops surfaces can be finished in using different techniques, you can have it honed, polished, flamed or brushed surfaces and each technique is meant to give the granite slab a unique look and feel. The most common finish is the polished finish because it's easy to maintain and it gives the granite a sparkling and a mirror-like an appearance that makes your kitchen radiate and more elegant. The Honed finishes are gaining popularity because it's less shiny giving your home a casual feel while still maintaining originality and elegance. You can also go for flamed finishes whereby granite is exposed to extreme heat that it melts and crystallize making it rough, textured and slip resistant.
Granite is very easy to maintain for it only need to be sealed once a year, the installer will seal for you during installation which is one of the most important steps. Sealing is important because granite is porous and without the sealing agent it has a small possibility of staining and absorbs water easily. Other maintenance practices are the daily wiping with a soft cloth and a neutral cleaner to remove dust or any spillage. Ask your supplier or installer to recommend the best cleaner ideal for granite and will not remove the sealer.
Granite slabs vary in thickness but the most popular thickness is the 3 cm also known as 1 ¼ thickness, you can also get the 2 cm also known as ¾ thickness. The weight of the granite slab will also vary with the width but the general weight is 12-13 lbs per square feet to 18-19 lbs for the 2 cm and 3 cm respectively. The advantage of going with a 3 cm granite slab is you will not need to reinforce it with plywood, unlike the 2cm that must be reinforced to support the granite itself. It's hard to avoid seams on granite especially if you have to join two granite slabs but there are ways to make them less visible. One of the ways is having them hidden away from view; sometimes, if possible, you can have the seam run on a diagonal sometimes making the seam harder to see.
