Deciding on a material for your new countertops can be tricky. There are plenty of beautiful options, each with their own pros and cons, to choose from.
Granite is a prime choice that comes in an array of dramatic and beautiful patterns and colors. But what are it’s other strengths and weaknesses?
Granite Countertop Pros
Beautiful: Granite is a high-quality material that’s hard to top in natural beauty. With more than 20 shades of granite to work with, matching cabinets, flooring, and walls to your new granite countertops is a breeze. There are even exotic granite options to choose from, if you’re really looking for a luxury countertop.
Durable: Granite is a very hard substance and will take normal wear and tear with ease.
Low Maintenance: The likelihood of being needed to be repaired or resurfaced is low. Many sealers will last upwards of ten years before needing to be reapplied.
Natural: Granite is a natural choice for a countertop surface, quarried from the ground in their natural state and sliced into slabs.
Heat Resistant: Granite countertops are heat resistant and won’t be damaged or weakened by things like hot pans or hair straighteners won’t cause damage.
Stain Resistant: When properly sealed granite won’t absorb liquids, so it’s resistant to stains and water damage. Granite is also resistant to chemicals.
Granite Countertop Cons
Sealer: You have to be careful of your granite countertop’s sealer. If it starts to wear off, it needs to be re-done to protect against any lasting damage.
Porous: If your countertop isn’t sealed correctly, or the sealant wears off, granite becomes porous and can absorb liquids and stain. This can also lead to your countertops concealing bacteria.
Breakable: This problem is uncommon, but not impossible. If a heavy object is dropped on a corner, your countertop might crack or chip. This would be expensive to fix or replace.
Expensive: The overall cost of granite is it’s greatest downfall. Although you’re paying for the quality and beauty, you can generally expect to pay an average of $64-$94 per square foot.