Choosing Granite Countertops

You’ve decided to remodel your kitchen and it’s time to select your granite countertops. With so many options, where should you begin?

First of all, there are a few things you should know about granite:

Granite is porous. If you spill something like red wine, soy sauce or oil on the counter and forget to clean it up, you may have a stain on your hands that can be time-consuming and difficult to remove. The good news is that granite can be sealed against staining—more on that in a bit.
If not treated with a long-term sealing product, granite will need to be resealed periodically. How long you need between each sealing job depends on your stone. A little trick: Pour water on the countertop. If the water doesn’t bead up, it’s time to reseal.
Granite is priced by group or level—the more unique the color, the more expensive your countertops will be.
For any granite that has a lot of movement or veining, it is highly recommended that you view your slabs in person. By doing so, you not only get a better idea of what the stone will look like in an entire kitchen, but you may also request that certain sections of the slab be highlighted or not used.

Choosing Granite Countertops Made Simple

When replacing only your countertops, you will need to select a stone based on your existing cabinet and floor colors. If you are remodeling your entire kitchen and want granite that is more unique or exotic, start with that stone and build the rest of your color scheme from there. In addition to the multitude of colors and patterns available, many fabricators have access to stones that have been honed to a matte finish or even textured with a leather finish.

There are several edge treatments available for granite countertops. Selecting which one is based on personal preference as well as cost—profiles requiring more routing like bullnose or ogee will cost more than a basic eased or beveled edge.

Cleaning your new granite countertops properly will help keep them looking shiny and new. Many homeowners find that a good microfiber cloth and water work just as well as any granite cleaner on the market. If you have lighter colored granite or you don’t want the maintenance involved with yearly resealing, it’s worth looking into having your tops treated with a long-term sealer offering a warranty against staining. While this may add a few hundred dollars to the cost of your countertops, the peace of mind in knowing your new countertops are protected is worth the upgrade. Many factors go into choosing granite countertops for your remodel. But if you’re armed with the basic information above, you should be able to find a granite that works both with your budget and your style.