Granite countertops are now the most popular choice for kitchens and bathrooms. But it wasn't always that way. Not too long ago granite was somewhat rare and expensive since it was so hard to quarry and cut.

Now that effective techniques and machinery has been developed, the price of granite has come way down and the availability has skyrocketed.

Today, granite is imported to the United States from quarries around the world. With over 2700 varieties of granite, there is seemingly no end to your choices for color and pattern.

Advantages Of Granite Countertops

Granite is nature's most perfect countertop. It's been created over millions of years and as a consequence has a hard, generally impervious surface.

You can drop things on it, spill stuff on it, set hot pans and cut on granite without damaging it. Some of these activities are not recommended because in extreme circumstance you could cause damage, but the risk is low. Granite is very tough and durable.

However, not all granite is created equal and many stones with similar qualities are sold as granite, but are not true geological granite. They are not "fake" granite necessarily. Scientifically speaking, they simply are not classified as granite, but in your kitchen they perform very similar to granite, so commercially they are sold as one group. But again, performance can vary with different colors or species of granite.

For instance, some granite counter tops should be sealed to retard staining, but many granite varieties are naturally non-porous, nearly impossible to stain and don't need sealing at all.

You can perform simple tests to determine if the granite you like is a good choice for your kitchen.

Disadvantages Of Granite

You will get a tiny seam where the different slabs of granite have been placed together. Most likely you will also have a break in the color and pattern due to the seam. In most cases, however, the break can be minimized with good planning by the fabricator when cutting the slab and matching similar sections during installation.

Proper installation and support is paramount. Installing granite is not a do-it-yourself job. Granite is very hard and strong, but if not handled, installed or supported properly, cracks can develop.

You must seal many types of granite as soon as it is installed in order to avoid staining. You will also have to reseal it on a regular basis. This is not a difficult or complicated process and it only takes a few hours. So, you must maintain the surface, but that is true with any surface.

And remember.... you can test your granite samples and choose a granite that doesn't need to be sealed or one that won't need re-sealing but every 3-5 years.

Tip: Go to the granite importer's warehouse with your designer or fabricator and pick out the exact slab that you want to ensure you get the color and pattern you like. Even among granites with the same color and name, from the same quarry, there are variations from slab to slab. Most people view that as a benefit since your counter top will truly be one-of-a-kind.

Price

Granite countertops are most commonly sold by the square foot of the slab needed to cover your entire countertop including leftover scraps. Currently the price varies, depending on the quality and supply of the granite you choose, from a low of about $25/sq ft to a high of about $125 per square foot including edge detail.

Edges come in a variety of styles to match your design theme whether ornate or sleek. Some of the fancier edges are created by gluing or laminating the edge for greater thickness and then cut to style.

You really can't go wrong with granite. There are other surfaces that are very good, but when comparing all the pros and cons, none are better than granite.