Kitchen countertops made of granite have become increasingly popular in the last decade due to improved understanding and pricing on granite. Granite is a natural product that is truly breathtaking in appearance. It is also incredibly durable and can survive more than a century without becoming severely worn out. However, while granite is surely the best choice
for kitchen countertop overall, making the right selection on the piece of granite you want is an important and careful decision to make. Granite is imported to stores from all over the world, and the price often reflects the overall quality of the stone. It is crucial to choose a high quality stone because lower quality granite may chip, crack or break during its lifetime.
There are several questions you should ask yourself before making a final decision. These questions include:
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How big is your kitchen? If you have a relatively small kitchen, a dark coloured piece of granite like black will make the space look even smaller. Instead, you should choose a brighter colour like azul, white, rose or gold.
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What colour are the kitchen cabinets? Your countertop should contrast to the cabinets in order to create a complementing balancing. If you are colour blind, you should definitely consult with an expert.
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How much light does the kitchen get? Again, if the natural light is low you may want to invest in a brighter piece of granite. An azul provides a nice light mirroring effect as well.
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What are the colours of the walls? This one again is straightforward to creating a warm space.
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If you intend to sell the home one day, will the
granite countertops appeal to others? This is an important step, because while granite retains their value, their appeal to a new owner will matter. Choosing a colour that simply does not draw people in, despite whether you like it or not, should be a consideration.
Overall, if your kitchen is well lit, has sufficient floor space and your cabinets are not overly unique, your options with a granite countertop will be plenty. This means the next thing you should do, is examine the piece of granite. You should keep your eye out for three things:
1.Pits
Granite naturally has some holes in it, so when you run our hand over the surface you should be able to feel some minor holes. The smaller the pits, the better the quality of the granite is.
2.Cracks
Hairline cracks are a definite sign of cheaper granite and are generally a weaker surface that may break in the future. Try to avoid cracks whenever possible.
3.Colouring Differences
The patterns and various grains within granite are one of the things that make them so beautiful. However, blemishes or inconsistent colourings look out of place. An ideal piece of granite will maintain similar colours, patterns and the flow throughout the entire piece.
Having considered the right piece for your kitchen countertops, and inspected a piece of granite to find the right one, you are ready for it to be cut to proper dimensions and installed. The result will be a revitalized, stunning and eye catching addition to your kitchen.