One of the strongest natural materials known to man, the advantages of having granite countertops in a kitchen seem obvious. Countertops made of a stone that can only be cut by diamonds will likely stand up to the punishment dolled out by the average homeowner or family cook.
Granite has other advantages as well, however. In addition to being scratch resistant, granite will not yellow like Formica or hard plastic countertops, nor will it peel, stain, or crack. Hot plates are not necessary with granite countertops, and granite can withstand the hottest pots and pans, and a granite countertop can be used to make pasta and dough, as the finish is both resistant to bacteria, and polished so that it is non-stick. Lastly, granite adds value to a home, because it is both stylish and durable.
The two options for homeowners who have decided to install granite countertops are granite slabs and granite tiles. Granite slabs are exactly what they sounds like – large pieces of granite that lay on top of cabinets, with the slab of granite comprising the countertop. Granite slab countertops are virtually indestructible, as well as extremely beautiful. However, the problem with granite slab countertops is twofold. First of all, because a slab of granite is so heavy, most cabinets will need to be reinforced to withstand the weight of a slab being placed on top of it. This adds time and money to the cost of a kitchen remodel. Secondly, because granite slabs have intricate patterns, and those patterns cannot be replicated, all of the granite slabs in a kitchen must come from the same granite quarry. This limits the options of homeowners, based on the size of their countertops, and makes granite slabs very expensive.
Alternatively, homeowners can choose granite tile countertops for their kitchen renovation projects. Granite tiles are generally no more that ½ inch thick, versus slabs which tend to be 1 ¼ inches thick, at the least. This means that cabinets generally will not need to be reinforced to allow for the installation of a granite tile countertop. Since these pieces of granite have been cut into tiles, a granite tile countertop can be installed in the same manner as a tile floor or ceramic tile bathroom, a manageable task for the handy homeowner. Lastly, because homeowners do not end up buying as much granite with a granite tile countertop, and because granite tiles do not necessarily have to come from the same quarry, their price is much lower than that of granite slabs. In general, a granite tile countertop runs about 1/3 of the price of a granite slab countertop.
With granite tile, homeowners reap many of the same benefits that they would with a granite slab countertop. The durability of granite tiles far surpasses that of synthetic materials, the finish is the same as a granite slab countertop, and the antibacterial and non-stick properties are the same as well. However, granite tiles allow homeowners to save money on materials, as well as the costly reinforcement of existing cabinets. This means that granite tile is a way to exhibit the beauty, durability, and value of granite, at a fraction of the cost.
Granite has other advantages as well, however. In addition to being scratch resistant, granite will not yellow like Formica or hard plastic countertops, nor will it peel, stain, or crack. Hot plates are not necessary with granite countertops, and granite can withstand the hottest pots and pans, and a granite countertop can be used to make pasta and dough, as the finish is both resistant to bacteria, and polished so that it is non-stick. Lastly, granite adds value to a home, because it is both stylish and durable.
The two options for homeowners who have decided to install granite countertops are granite slabs and granite tiles. Granite slabs are exactly what they sounds like – large pieces of granite that lay on top of cabinets, with the slab of granite comprising the countertop. Granite slab countertops are virtually indestructible, as well as extremely beautiful. However, the problem with granite slab countertops is twofold. First of all, because a slab of granite is so heavy, most cabinets will need to be reinforced to withstand the weight of a slab being placed on top of it. This adds time and money to the cost of a kitchen remodel. Secondly, because granite slabs have intricate patterns, and those patterns cannot be replicated, all of the granite slabs in a kitchen must come from the same granite quarry. This limits the options of homeowners, based on the size of their countertops, and makes granite slabs very expensive.
Alternatively, homeowners can choose granite tile countertops for their kitchen renovation projects. Granite tiles are generally no more that ½ inch thick, versus slabs which tend to be 1 ¼ inches thick, at the least. This means that cabinets generally will not need to be reinforced to allow for the installation of a granite tile countertop. Since these pieces of granite have been cut into tiles, a granite tile countertop can be installed in the same manner as a tile floor or ceramic tile bathroom, a manageable task for the handy homeowner. Lastly, because homeowners do not end up buying as much granite with a granite tile countertop, and because granite tiles do not necessarily have to come from the same quarry, their price is much lower than that of granite slabs. In general, a granite tile countertop runs about 1/3 of the price of a granite slab countertop.
With granite tile, homeowners reap many of the same benefits that they would with a granite slab countertop. The durability of granite tiles far surpasses that of synthetic materials, the finish is the same as a granite slab countertop, and the antibacterial and non-stick properties are the same as well. However, granite tiles allow homeowners to save money on materials, as well as the costly reinforcement of existing cabinets. This means that granite tile is a way to exhibit the beauty, durability, and value of granite, at a fraction of the cost.
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