Granite Countertops
Granite is the most popular countertop material that we use in our kitchen projects. There are thousands of different selections available, each with it's own unique style. Most of our customers select granite because they enjoy the movement found in natural stone. Every square inch of natural stone is unique and varied. This level of variation changes from slab to slab, but it certainly does bring an interesting look into your new kitchen or bath.
Granite is a primordial stone with naturally occurring variations in color and pattern,the word comes from the Italian "granito", meaning grained. Aside from the traditional sources, such as Italy, USA, and Canada, popular producing areas now include India, China, many African nations, much of mountainous South America, and the northern European countries.
Granite is drilled and blasted from the quarry in large blocks, cut into slabs by a gang saw, and polished to uniform thickness by automatic polishing machines. Due to quarry variances, slabs are sold in random sizes. Supply is the affected by the accessibility of the quarry, the uniformity of the stone within the quarry, and the stone's workability.
Consumers who are less acquainted with the material may expect the slabs ordered to be identical to the sample they were shown. Granite is crystalline in structure, so it always has tiny pits or spaces between the various mineral crystals. These minerals are what give it its various colors. Other minerals imbue the stone with a rainbow of colors, depending on their source, and these varieties are often given unique names.
Granite counters offer great visual appeal and are also very durable. Having been used as a building material since ancient times, natural stone will never be an outdated material choice. Countertop finishes include Honed, Brushed, or Polished. Unlike synthetics, polished stone presents a surface depth that seems almost three-dimensional, however harsh chemicals and abrasive cleaners will dull the surface over time. Regardless of its finish, granite creates an immediate impression of elegance, and is considered a definite plus on any real estate broker's checklist.
We should mention that all natural stone requires a good penetrating sealer to prevent stain penetration. There are several ways to seal your stone tops, from every day cleaner/sealers, to heavy duty impregnating sealers. Not sealing your granite or marble tops, can lead to more frequent staining.
Media
Here is a great video from the Marble Institute of America.
Here are some of the most popular granite colors available:
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New Venetian Gold |
Juparana Classico |
Tropical Brown |
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Taupe |
Verde Butterfly |
White Springs |
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Madurai Gold |
Sapphire Blue |
Juparana Bordeaux |
Selecting Your Granite Countertop
If you would like to view granite for your new kitchen, please contact us to view our showroom. We have hundreds of granite countertop samples, as well as several full kitchen displays with granite counters.
Once you have viewed the sample, we can also send you to our slab yards to select the actual piece to be installed. This ensures you are happy with the final selection.