What To Know About Granite Countertops
One of main reasons to select granite as your countertop is the natural beauty of this solid surface material. Each slab is unique,with various colors, crystals, depth and "movement". Some slabs will appear almost solid in color, but as you look closer, you will begin to see the stone and crytal elements. The "movement" in a granite slab refers to the waves of colors that often appear.
The black and white granites that appear more solid work extremely well in kitchens with a modern, minimalistic or otherwise contemporary theme. The colorful varieties and slabs with
great movement and flow work well in more artistic or country kitchens, and can serve as a beautiful focal piece or statement in your new kitchen design.
Granite is made up of a variety of minerals, including quartz, silica and obsidian. Granite is an igneous rock, formed by molten magna which cooled and hardened under the earth's surface. The granite used for countertops is quarried from all over the world, including the US, Italy, Norway, China and India. And contrary to some perceptions, the lighter colored granite varieties are often more hard than the darker colors. This is because the hardest mineral commonly found in granite is quartz, which is often translucent, white or grey in color.
One of the factors in determining the cost of the granite installation you select will be the overall square footage. The backsplace and edge design you select will also affect costs. A round ed quarter-inch edge is standard, and as the edge designs get more elaborate, the costs increase.
If your kitchen design is large or the countertop layout a little complex, you will likely have a few seams in your granite installation. The seams will be strategically placed based on location and where the countertop requires support. Seams are filled will a colored epoxy that will blend into your granite choice and be virtually unnoticeable in a quality installation.
Granite countertops are understandably heavy. Weighing in at almost 30 pounds per square foot, you will need to confirm that the cabinets you have chosen can support the weight.