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Granite countertops combine timeless beauty with long-lasting durability. Visit Keystone to learn about the benefits of granite countertops.
Granite countertops are an amazing option for home improvement projects due to their amazing qualities such as versatility, beauty, and durability. They bring a unique blend of visual allure and practicality to any space they are installed.
Keep reading to find out all about granite countertops and how they will elevate your space both in style and functionality.
What is Granite?
Before entering into the world of granite countertops and their amazing benefits, let’s learn a little bit about granite. Granite is a type of igneous stone that is formed through the cooling and solidification process of molten magma. This process takes thousands of years and the result is the crystallization of its contents.
The creation process of granite is an incredibly slow one. The magma that is generated in the mantle of the earth, rises towards the surface but gets trapped while it is still underneath the crust.
As magma begins to cool, it starts to form crystals. As the minerals cool and crystalize over time, they grow larger and larger, creating the distinctive coarse and granular texture of granite. Once the magma is fully cooled, granite is formed.
Granite is mainly composed of three main minerals. These are quartz, feldspar and mica. Quartz is the primary mineral that can be found in granite. It provides hardness to the stone, helping create a highly resistant material against abrasions and pressure.
Feldspar is responsible for the overall composition of the stone. It gives granite its signature hues of creams and beiges, adding to its beauty and versatility. Mica is the main reason for the characteristic reflective quality of granite slabs.
The existence of mica in the composition adds to the allure of granite and can often be found in small flakes within the rock. Now that we’ve defined granite, let’s explore its numerous advantages.
1- Long-Lasting Durability of Granite Countertops
Granite is known for its exceptional durability and longevity. These amazing qualities make it one of the most popular materials.
Granite has a 6 out of 10 in the Mohs Scale of hardness. Due to its hardness, it can withstand abrasions and can resist scratches. This ensures that it won’t be easily harmed during daily wear and tear.
Moreover, granite is resistant to chemicals and ingredients that certain other materials are vulnerable to. For example, you shouldn’t allow marble countertops to contact with acidic ingredients such as lemon juice or vinegar as it will cause etching.
Granite is also a great material for outdoor areas as it is resistant to weather conditions. It can be used for countertops in outside kitchens or kitchenettes, or for decorative purposes such as statues or paving stones. Granite can withstand exposure to elements such as sun and wind, making it a durable choice for both indoor and outdoor home improvement projects.
2- Versatility and Practicality of Granite Countertops
Granite countertops are highly versatile and can be utilized in different areas of the home such as the kitchen or the bathrooms. As they come in a wide variety of colors and patterns, they can be paired with many different interior decoration styles. From traditional to mid-century modern, minimalist to coastal, granite countertops can blend in and elevate any style.
You can pair dark-colored granite countertops with traditional-style homes to achieve an inviting and cozy atmosphere. Alternatively, slabs with few veins on them will complement minimal-style kitchens due to their simple aesthetic.
Granite countertops are viable to use in multiple spaces. The most common one is kitchen countertops. They can also be used as kitchen island tops, bathroom countertops, vanity tops, and more.
Moreover, their durability ensures that they can be used in both indoor and outdoor spaces. This wide range of applications, combined with the huge amount of colors it is available in, makes granite countertops a highly versatile choice.
3- Timeless Elegance and Allure of Granite Countertops
Granite countertops have a timeless elegance and unique visual characteristic qualities that make them attractive and appealing for home renovation. As it is a natural stone, all slabs have distinct patterns and colors. In other words, no two granite countertops are the same.
Its dense texture gives the base of the stone a smooth finish. Furthermore, polishing the stone will enhance its natural beauty and highlight its gorgeous patterns. It is a timeless stone that exceeds trends, thus it will always be in style even decades after it is first installed.
Granite possesses an earthy and organic feel that is hard to imitate with manufactured stones. This allows granite countertops to bring a touch of natural charm to the space without being overwhelming. Moreover, granite countertops will pair perfectly with other natural materials such as hardwood cabinetry and decorative plants.
Granite is mostly available in light and neutral colors with gray or brown-toned veins on it. Depending on where it is quarried, slabs with brighter colors are also available.
If you want to bring a touch of color to your space with splashes of blue, red, green, or whichever color fits your aesthetic, you can achieve that with granite countertops.
4- Granite Countertops Increase the Value
Considering that countertop renovation is a costly endeavor, it is important to consider the value your new countertops will add to your home in case you ever decide to resell it. As granite is such a sought-after stone, it will significantly increase the resale value.
Additionally, due to its amazing qualities such as its timeless beauty and long-lasting durability, granite countertops will be a great selling point that will highlight your home among all the other ones on the market.
Considering that kitchen and bathroom renovations can be hard to navigate and messy, buyers are looking to invest in homes that don’t require renovations in those areas. As your countertops will be newly renovated, you can use that as a selling point to increase the desirability of your home as well.
5- Granite Countertops are Low-Maintenance
One of the most impactful benefits of granite countertops is that they are low maintenance and easy to clean. They are highly resistant to stains that can occur because of daily use. This resistance is mostly due to the sealant that is applied on the countertops to act as a barrier between the stone and the outside world.
This is one of the only maintenance steps that granite requires. The countertops will be sealed before they are ready for use by the fabricators. Then, you will need to reseal your granite countertops regularly.
How often they will need resealing is dependent on how the countertops are used and the quality of the granite. If the countertops are used heavily for hours a day, then they might need resealing as frequently as every six months.
Moreover, lower-quality granite slabs can be more porous, thus needing more protection and more frequent resealing. You will know that it is time to reseal the countertops once the shine on the surface has started to dull. Most commonly, professionals advise that you should reseal the countertops once a year.
6- Heat Resistance of Granite Countertops
Heat resistance is one of the most important qualities to consider in kitchen countertops. As you will be commonly dealing with heat and hot pots and pans in the kitchen it is important to have a relabeled countertop that can withstand contact with hot dishes.
Granite is formed from the solidification of magma within the earth. In other words, it has a very high melting point that is typically around 2000 degrees Fahrenheit or around 1100 degrees Celsius.
This means that granite can easily stand the regular amounts of heat that occur daily in kitchens, making it an ideal option. Placing hot pots, pans, trays, or utensils that are taken out of the oven or stove won’t cause the granite to discolor, warp, or sustain any other heat-related damage.
With that being said, it should be noted that the sealants that are used in granite countertops aren’t usually heat resistant. Therefore placing hot items directly on the countertop can cause the sealant to burn, leaving the stone itself vulnerable to stains or bacteria. Professionals suggest using trivets to protect the sealant. However, if you did end up accidentally harming the sealant, the stone itself would still be safe. In that case, you would just need to reseal the countertops.
Cleaning Tips for Granite Countertops
Granite countertops offer the highly valuable advantage of being low maintenance and easy to clean. That means that you won’t have to spend hours in the kitchen scrubbing the countertops to get them clean. As long as you keep the countertop properly sealed, the cleaning will be very easy.
You don’t need special cleaning products either. You can use dish soap for daily cleaning and it will be more than enough. You can mix some dish soap with warm water and put the mixture in a spray bottle for easy use. Then spray the countertops and wipe them down using a soft, clean cloth or sponge. Afterward, rinse the countertops and always dry with a clean and dry towel to avoid hard water buildup.
If the countertops happen to get stained, you can, once again, use things you already have at home. Mix some baking soda with water to create a thick paste and apply it to the stained area. Cover it with plastic wrap, let it sit for a few hours, and check to see if it has lifted the stain by removing some of the paste. If you discover that it hasn’t removed the stain yet, you can let the paste sit overnight or for up to 24 hours.
Keystone is a leading supplier in the industry with their amazing range of high-quality and versatile stone options. Their experience ensures that they can offer each customer a well-rounded experience that will dazzle them not only with their amazing stones but also with their attentive customer care. You can visit the Granite Countertop page of Keystone Marble and Granite for further information about any of their products or services.
