More homeowners are choosing granite countertops fairfax va for their kitchens than ever before. Every home is different which requires you to choose a granite that works best within your particular kitchen based on quality, functionality, and aesthetic factors. Style and color are important, but you also want to be sure you get the best quality granite for your kitchen countertops.
That means knowing what to choose and how to choose it. Not all granite countertops are made the same and so it’s up to you to find the one that’s best for you and your family. Homeowners usually choose granite more often because it’s affordable to install and it has a distinctive, luxurious appearance. But there are other factors to take into consideration:
Reliability
Granite is among the most reliable materials being used in today’s kitchens. So, it’s crucial to know that your granite is going to be able to stand the test of time and weather the abuse and punishment that homeowners inflict on their countertops.
That include high temperatures and sharp objects all of them coming into direct contact with the surface of the counter. Knives and forks, heavy objects, searing hot pans and pots taken from the oven or stove, all of these things can put any countertop to the test.
Proper Sealing
In order for your granite countertop to function as it’s intended and withstand all of that daily wear and tear, the surface of the granite must be properly sealed. Why is this important? Because without having the granite sealed you run the risk of bacteria and germs becoming trapped inside the countertop, making it potentially hazardous to your health.
Granite is a natural stone and, like many stone materials, has pores along the exterior surface. Some stones are more porous than others, but all of them can absorb liquids. When those liquids come from raw meat, they can contain bacteria like E. coli and salmonella which can make you and your family very sick. If that bacteria becomes stuck inside your countertop, it’s not healthy and the granite may need to be removed from the home.
Sealing the countertop closes off the pores, keeping all those liquids and bacteria from getting into the material and staying there. Most granite countertop manufacturers will seal their products before they are distributed to the general public. But it’s a good idea to trust but verify before you have a granite countertop installed in your home.
Grading Your Granite
There are no hard and fast criteria for a grading granite. But you can tell the difference between one slab of granite and another as to whether you’re getting something of higher quality versus something that doesn’t quite cut it.
You know you’re getting the best possible quality in your granite if you find patterns that are brilliant and vibrant with colors that are truly unique and uncommon. Lower-grade granite has a look about it that feels common, the color variations are more average and ordinary, and the veining patterns are not extremely ornate or complex.
But don’t worry so much about selecting commercial or high-grade granite, remember there are no specific grading standards. Focus more on finding the color and style and cut that you like best and fits your budget. Only buy the highest quality granite if there is a specific color or pattern that you absolutely must own for your kitchen. Otherwise, if the cut and the finish on your granite are both good, you have a terrific countertop ready to be installed.
Sourcing Your Granite
You can find the highest quality granite from just about anywhere the material is sourced throughout the world. Granite that comes from China can be as good a quality as granite that originates from Brazil or Italy.
The labor costs associated with sourcing the granite and transporting it from one place to the next will often dictate how much you end up paying for that granite. Chinese granite is typically less expensive compared to granite from Italy or Brazil. Consider this when you make your selection, finding a certain type of granite in the United States will be a lot less costly than having it shipped from Brazil. This is due to the weight of granite, which is very heavy and costs a lot of money to ship.
The closer you can source your granite, the more money you can keep in your pocket or ultimately decide to put towards other home improvement projects in and around your home.
