Granite

Granite countertops are beautiful, but that is not the only reason they are popular choices for kitchens and bathrooms. Granite has many qualities that make it an ideal top for cabinets, islands and vanities. The natural material is also appealing as backsplash.

Formed when volcanic magma cools underground, granite is a rock that contains crystals of minerals, including quartz, feldspar and mica. The connected mineral crystals provide the rock its usually multicolored, patterned, grainy appearance. Each kind of the stone has its own hues and patterns, giving you many options for your countertops. You may want a stone style that blends with your kitchen or bathroom’s furnishings and decor, or you may want one that stands out.

Selection
See examples of the rock’s numerous colors and designs at a granite yard, which is also called a stone yard and slab yard. Large, roughly rectangular pieces of the material are called slabs. After a slab has been selected for use as a countertop, it goes through the fabrication process. The process includes cutting it to the correct counter size, smoothing it and polishing it. Holes for faucet water lines can be drilled in it.

The granite cost varies with the thickness of slabs. Selecting a thinner slab decreases the granite cost. The fabricator at the granite yard can help you ensure your selected piece is big enough and thick enough to be made into your countertop.

The Types
Colors of the rock range from white to black, with reds, golds, greens, blues and browns among the choices. Particular color combinations provide striking contrast, such as black with red or white.

The stone’s many varieties include Blue Eyes, which has bluish swirls on a whitish background, and Golden Paradiso, which features gold-colored tones. Sea Pearl has light tones while Paradiso Classic is a swirled mixture of pinks and bluish grays.

Beneficial Qualities
Granite is hard, which makes granite countertops durable. The hardness gives them several additional assets. For example, they are heat-resistant; hot cookware and appliances do not leave marks on them or cause them to crack and chip. They are also scratch-resistant and stain-resistant, making them suitable surfaces for food preparation, including the slicing of food. Low-maintenance, the long-lasting granite countertops keep their shiny polish for many years.

A countertop’s rim can be fashioned into a simple or multifaceted edge profile style. Smooth designs may be less likely to chip than designs with hard angles or that stick outward. Straight edge profile styles include bevel, radius and straight with apron. Curved designs encompass full bullnose, Tuscan curve and ogee, or S shape. Fancy designs include Versailles, Roman ovolo and demi-bullnose with step out. You may create your own edge profile style for your countertops.

Project Tips
* Set a granite countertop sample in your kitchen or bathroom to see whether or not the piece’s colors and pattern will work with the room’s hues and patterns. Testing more than one granite countertop sample at a time may speed your selection process.
* Install the rock countertop on only a kitchen island if granite cost is a concern or you want to make the island a focal point.
* Install the material as only backsplash if you desire an accent in that location.