Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Reasons to Choose Granite Over Other Countertop Materials

There are many materials to choose from for your countertops today. Manufacturers and designers have developed innovative countertop alternatives. Some of these use natural materials and some purely synthetic or engineered. With all these choices, why stick with granite countertops?

Reason #1: Granite is Time-Tested
Many of the products on the market today are relatively new and do not have the history that granite does. That doesn't make them inherently bad but consider that a countertop is not a simple thing to install and uninstall. It requires time, effort, and money. You use it everyday and no doubt you want something that will last, even if not forever at least for the time you live in that home. If you're going to all the work to remodel your kitchen, do you really want to have to do it again in the near future?

Then there's trends to consider. Many of the current countertop materials are in vogue now but may soon go out of fashion. While no style is permanent, granite transcends fashions easily. In time, you will remodel your kitchen again. Will the countertop need to go too? If it's granite, probably not. Other materials, however, may soon look sorely out of date and therefore destroy the look of the whole kitchen.

Reason #2: Granite Stays Beautiful
While some products may survive they may also show their years. Synthetic countertop materials like laminate stain and peel over time. Wood and concrete absorb stains easily. And even stainless steel tends to lose its luster. Granite will not. If it's taken care of, this natural stone will maintain its strength and beauty for as long as you use it. It's highly water, stain, heat, and scratch resistant making it ideal for the harsh kitchen environment. It's a low-maintenance material, making it practical for frequent use.

Reason #3: Granite is Not Overly Expensive
In terms of quality countertop materials, granite is not mind blowing. It is an investment but compared with other materials it's worth it. Laminate may be on the lower end of the scale but it also peels and stains and overall doesn't last very long. Higher-end products like concrete and stainless steel cost much more but won't necessarily hold their attractiveness. And then engineered stone, despite what you may think, may actually cost more than the real thing. In the long-term, granite is a reasonble countertop option. You can balance your costs based on what colors and options you choose. And then there's always the budget-friendly granite tiles that are now available.

In comparison to other available countertop materials, granite is an ideal choice. With a multi-hued color palette to choose from and even alternative installation methods, granite works for almost any kitchen in any style of home. It's been around for a while and has proven an ideal choice for kitchen countertops. It remains beautiful though used day in and day out. And, comparitively speaking, it's not outrageously priced. Granite is a classic material that won't quickly go out of fashion. If you're shopping for the perfect countertop material, consider granite as your preferred countertop choice.

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