Are you looking to breathe some new life into your kitchen decor? You need stone.
It’s like The Flintstones meets the Jetsons; stone isn’t the past, it’s the future! Granite countertops are a great way to and style and character to your kitchen!
There’s no need for an entire kitchen overhaul, simply adding new granite countertops can transform your space into something beautiful and new. Plus, granite has many other great benefits than just looking great. Read on to find out what they are!
1. Variety
One of the great benefits of granite countertops is the almost endless amount of styles and colors. From hints of blue and red to green and purple, you can find a style of granite to fit any kitchen color scheme.
Since it is natural stone, each slab of granite is completely unique. Cheaper materials like laminate may have a cool pattern or design, but they end up looking uniform. Nothing that’s man-made can match the unique look of natural granite.
There are even varieties of white granite that can give the appearance of more costly materials like marble. Whatever color you choose, it is sure to be uniquely yours!
2. Durability
Granite is one of the hardest natural materials. Unless you have a hidden grove of money trees and can afford to make your countertops from diamonds, you’re not going to find something stronger!
Since it’s so hard, granite is scratch resistant. It’s very durable and hard to chip or crack. It also stands up to heat well, meaning that if you accidentally set a hot pan directly on it, it won’t melt or burn as other materials would (we still don’t recommend doing that, though).
After a sealing process that is often offered with installation, they’re virtually stain-proof as well. For the DIY inclined, sealing your granite countertops is fairly easy.
Sealed countertops make maintenance a snap; they can be simply wiped clean with warm soapy water and a soft rag. This is a huge advantage over the more expensive marble countertops. While they are very fancy looking, they require constant maintenance to keep them in good condition.
With such high durability, granite countertops have an expected lifespan of over 30 years as long as they are treated well. In that amount of time, neighbors with laminate or wood countertops may go through two or three countertop replacements.
3. Mold-, Dirt-, and Bacteria-Resistant
Granite is naturally resistant to bacteria, mildew, and mold. It doesn’t provide a hospitable environment for them to form colonies and grow. This means that, as long as you clean them regularly, your countertops will stay free of germs.
Many of the sealants available add additional protection against bacteria, which is valuable in any kitchen or bathroom. Due to its high durability, granite also stands up to most cleaning products.
This means that in the event that you do actually manage to get something caked on to your countertop, there are many products that will clean it off without affecting its appearance. You can even lightly scrape caked on messes off with a plastic putty knife without harming your granite countertop.
4. Easy to Fix
What if something does happen to your countertop? Well, the good news is, it’s generally easy to repair! Refinishing can make the damage look like it never happened.
For small chips and scratches, using a colored granite epoxy can hide and fill the chip or scratch. Once filled, it will blend in, making the damage disappear.
5. Granite Countertops Are Affordable
Due to greater availability, the price of granite has dropped significantly over the last 50 years. Once considered a luxury item, granite is now an affordable option for making your kitchen or bathroom beautiful.
Depending on what you choose, slab granite countertops could run you about $40 to $60 per square foot. Marble is somewhere around $75 to $250 per square foot.
If you see resale in the future, steer away from economy materials. Many low-cost materials, such as laminate or solid surface countertop, have a ‘cheap’ look and are less desirable when potential buyers are checking your home.
There are also a few cheaper granite options available. You can get a granite overlay, for example.
Granite overlays are thinner and can be installed right over top of your existing countertops. This can be a great option to save time and money and avoid all the demolition work.
Another option is to use granite remnants. Just what they sound like, granite remnants are pieces left over from other slab cuts. This can be a great cheap option if you have several small countertop spaces to fill rather than one big one.
Using remnants could result in more seams, though, depending on your space.
6. Boost Home Value
Granite countertops are extremely desirable with those looking to purchase a home. They are beautiful and unlikely to need replacing anytime soon, so they appeal greatly to potential homebuyers.
It is generally accepted in real estate that kitchen renovation and countertop replacement are among those that add the highest amount of resale value to a home.
A New ‘Stone Age’
Granite is here to stay in this new modern stone age! Outfitting your kitchen or bathroom with granite countertops is an investment in a beautiful and durable material that you will enjoy for decades to come.
Granite countertops are a captivating and room-defining centerpiece, so you want to ensure proper installation. If you’re looking at making the move to granite, contact us today!
