Granite Countertops Pros and Cons

Granite countertops have a beautiful look to them. But is their beauty only skin deep? Are they all hype and no substance? What are the pros and cons of granite countertops? We look at the answers to all these questions in this article.

Properties of Granite
Let us have a look at the different properties of granite which make it a popular choice for kitchen countertops:

• Hardness: With a density of around 2650 Kg/m³ and an average compressive strength of 180 N/mm², granite is probably the hardest known building stone. No wonder then, that it is a preferred stone for a variety of applications such as flooring, roofing, tiling, buildings, monuments, and not to forget, countertops!
• Durability: Granite is extremely resistant to both air and water. It has a near negligible rate of wear and tear which makes it extremely long lasting.
• Colors: Granite is an igneous rock that is available in a plethora of colors. This makes it suitable for a number of applications, some of which have been mentioned earlier.
• Availability: Granite is a rock that is found in almost all parts of the world. Therefore, it is easily and widely available and this makes it all the more popular.

Granite Countertops Pros and Cons
Let us take a look at granite countertops and their pros and cons.

Pros of Granite Countertops

• First and foremost, granite countertops look awesome. They are oh-so-elegant and a total treat to the eye. After a long day's work, just the sight of that sleek sheet of rock in the kitchen will get you in the mood to whip up a lip-smacking dinner.
• Secondly, as mentioned earlier, granite is available in a variety of colors, patterns, grains and designs. Actually, the word 'variety' would be an understatement. With over 3000 granite countertop designs available, one would have to say there is a wide variety in the variety of varieties available!
• A granite countertop can have a polished finish or it can be left as it is to give it a more natural and unfinished look. An unfinished countertop is a good option if you prefer to have your kitchen nice and simple, whereas a polished one adds a bit of class and does enough to give your kitchen design the modern and contemporary touch that it needs.
• Durability is one of the biggest advantages of granite countertops. Once you have finished installing a granite countertop, you can just forget about it. Its longevity and low maintenance requirements make it a favorite among homemakers. You can clean a granite countertop with normal soap or by using a strong detergent too. Most granite countertops are resistant to chemicals so you shouldn't have any problems in using a chemical based detergent.
• Being highly water resistant, you do not have to worry about having spilled water or any other liquid on the countertop. All you should ensure is that you wipe it and keep it dry. This is because water or any other liquid, if left standing on the countertop for too long, may slightly stain the granite at the surface.
• Granite countertops are heat resistant and can withstand high temperatures. At the same time, they are also resistant to a number of bacteria.

Cons of Granite Countertops

• Probably, the only real complaint against granite countertops is that they hurt the pocket a little bit. They are expensive in comparison with other stones and materials.
• Granite countertops require sealing from time to time. This is somewhat necessary to protect the countertop from absorbing liquids and developing stains.
• As they say, "every advantage has a corresponding disadvantage". The same holds true in case of granite countertops as well. Each slab of granite is totally unique i.e. there are no two slabs which are exactly the same in terms of color, pattern and grain. This seemingly great property has a disadvantage in the sense that, if you fall short of granite or if you need replacements for any reason, there is little chance that you will get the exactly same pattern once again. Therefore, it is better that you purchase a surplus amount of the selected pattern at the time of buying itself.

Using the above-mentioned granite countertops pros and cons, you should be able to decide whether granite is a good enough option for your kitchen countertop or not. More often than not, you will realize that it is.