4 Ways to Keep Granite Countertops Looking Beautiful

Whether your granite countertops are new or old, you no doubt love and appreciate how they enhance your kitchen. You're happy to have a flat, solid surface to work with, one that won't bubble or peel, one that doesn't stain easily or scratch quickly. Using the countertop day after day, you may worry what will become of it over time though. Will it lose its sheen? Will the brilliance fade with repeated wear and tear? Not if you know how to treat it. Here are 4 tips to keeping your granite countertop sparkling and functional for decades.

The 4 Ways

1. Wipe Up Spills
One basic way to keep granite healthy and looking wonderful is to wipe up spills right after they happen. It may seem obvious, but it's a simple thing you can overlook and underestimate. Granite won't absorb spills immediately but if left for hours or overnight, spills will develop into stains. Butter, coffee, and other food items are especially prone to leave stains behind. So make a habit of being proactive and cleaning up spills and drips before leaving the kitchen. This will go a long way to taking care of granite countertops.

2. Clean Granite Countertops Daily
Along with making a habit of wiping up spills, it's also wise to have a habit of cleaning granite countertops daily. This doesn't include anything difficult or time consuming. Just wet a soft cloth and use a drop of mild liquid dish detergent to clean the surface. Then remove any excess soap to avoid streaks. Do this regularly to prevent stains and keep the surface sheen bright.

3. Don't Use Harsh Chemicals or Abrasive Products
You may be used to using bleach or other harsher substances or materials to clean countertops. This isn't a good idea with granite, at least not if you want to protect its finish and avoid scratches. Harsh, acidic chemicals like bleach, ammonia, vinegar, and lemon juice or products containing these elements should never be used on granite countertops. The same is true of abrasive powders and scouring pads. All such chemicals and materials damage granite. So stick to mild dish detergents and soft cloths. Stone cleaners can be used for extra cleaning and polishing when needed.

4. Seal Granite Countertops Yearly
Daily cleaning, wiping away spills, and avoiding harsh chemicals will keep your granite countertop in shape. Another way to protect and preserve your countertop is by sealing it once a year. This protects the surface of the granite, preventing stains and water absorption. It also keeps up the shine you're used to seeing. Sealing is not much of an ordeal and does not need to be done more often than once a year. However, if you notice that water is no longer beading up on the surface, you'll want to seal it.

These are four easy steps to take care of your granite countertop. Nothing fancy or even time consuming. So remember to:

1. Wipe up spills immediately.
2. Clean your granite countertops every day.
3. Don't clean with harsh or abrasive chemicals or materials.
4. Seal your granite countertops once a year.

Follow these four steps to granite countertop perfection.

Selecting the Granite Kitchen Color

The first thing which gets noticed in the kitchen is the color of granite. Kitchen granite is gaining popularity because of its toughness, durability, requires very less maintenance and can be polished in various ways. It is a natural stone, so color variation is much more than you can think. Due to its large color choice, home makers can take their own sweet time to decide the color of their counter tops in the kitchen. And because of its natural quality it adds warmth to the kitchen. So whenever you are building the new kitchen or even remodeling your kitchen, there are few things that you must ponder over.
● First, find one good granite warehouse which has many collections. The material which you are going to choose also makes a big difference in the look of your kitchen. To find out, what suits your kitchen,you must keep in mind how much you are going to need and how much is your budget. While seeing the color you should be able to see the full slab of granite to have a better idea.
● You should choose light color kitchen counter tops for the smaller kitchens as it reflects the light in the kitchen and gives a feeling that the kitchen is bigger than its actual size and makes it look brighter.
● Home makers having larger kitchen are not bounded with any constraints of colors for choosing the slab for their kitchen counter top. The two most common color slabs used in big kitchen are red and black.
● When you are going to choose the color of your kitchen counterpane, do remember to bring the cabinet so that you can hold the sample of the granite and choose from them.
● You should choose the color of the flooring after granite selection if you are a new home maker.
● If you are renovating the house and working with the old flooring then do bring the sample of your floor so that you can match it with the granite. The color should be such that they should be complementary to one another.
● Once you are done with the color selection of your kitchen counter tops then make sure that it is looking well and you are fully satisfied with the color combination .This would be the definite element of your kitchen and you have to live with it throughout your life.
● Finally, when you are done with the final selection of the color of the granite, ask the person of ware house to take 5-6 slabs of the same color. Now you have to see very carefully whether any light or dark spots or any kind of pattern that you can see in the slabs. You should chose your granite slab and request them to come to your place so that you can have a better vision of how your kitchen is going to look. As granite counter top is a big investment, it must be done after all the available selection and getting the best.

Sealing of Natural Stones Like Granite

The general notion is that sealing of natural stones like granite does have long-term advantages. It is generally regarded as a small investment towards making surfaces like granite countertops more resistant against dirt and spillages that are a part of every day domestic routines. However, this cannot be regarded as a generalization for all granite installations or other natural stones that are used. Sometimes, the overuse or unwarranted utilization of topical sealers has been known to compromise the surface appearance and the overall texture and finishing of the stone.

Granite Countertop Sealing — It is now believed that most of granite countertop installations may or may need sealing depending upon the kind of daily usage it would be exposed to, i.e. it the homeowners are careful enough to regularly clean their granite countertop after each session of cooking or after using the granite surface in any other way, the need for sealing is greatly reduced. However, if the granite countertops that are about to be installed will be exposed to a lot of daily use without being looked after, particularly high volumes of water or oil spillage, then using a sealant is advised. This helps to reduce the volume of moisture and other fluids that could seep deep into the granite surface, thereby adding to its durability.

Understanding Sealing Requirement
There are some other factors that need to be considered while trying to determine if sealing a granite installation is actually needed:
· Will the stone be frequently exposed to weathering agents, particularly of the chemical type like detergents, soaps and other household cleaners?
· Does the quality of stone procured provide appreciable natural anti-porous qualities?
· What type of finish has been planned? (Polished granite surfaces will naturally repel water and staining agents but honed ones could benefit from sealing)

Current Trends — the contemporary stone industry has many granite installation configurations on offer and each of the countertop vendors may or may not insist upon the use of a sealant. However, most of the granite being sourced today has some degree of resin treatment which is done at the factory site where granite blocks and slabs are prepared and then polished.

_Treatment with Resins
The resin treatment is an innovative method that is being increasingly used to fill-up the minute spaces, invisible to the naked eye, like microscopic fissures or other surface-based indentations that are an inherent part of natural stones extracted from the depths of the Earth’s surface. Resin treatment can be simply understood as a method of correcting what are essentially imperfections that seep into granite due to the manner in which it is created and not due to the fault of the provider or the vendor. The entire marble/granite industry is trying hard to gradually move towards resin-treated granite, though granite slabs without resin treatment too are not weaker in any apparent way.

_Resin Treatment and Sealing
Granite that has been resin-treated during the procurement stage has a lesser requirement for any kind of sealing. However, those who like perfection in what they are buying and do not want to entertain even the possibility of any issues creeping-up even after decades of use could opt for resin-treated granite installations and further get them sealed.

Professional Granite Installation

Granite is cut and polished with great accuracy to get desired measure of granite slabs. Granite being one of the hardest stones available is extremely difficult to form and shape. This is one of the major factors that make granite counters expensive. Another factor that makes it expensive is the labor charges. Granite installation is one of the most important aspects of granite counter for kitchen. Therefore, it becomes an absolute necessity to have a professional installer or installation expert. This will ensure proper and efficient consummation of work as these professionals have the required tools and equipments and run through all the installation processes.
The first and foremost step that a professional granite installer would do is to decide the edge to be used for your countertop in consultation with you. There are several countertop finishing options available such as bull nose edge, polished square edge, wood trim, complementary ceramic rail or cap, manufactured metal profile made for tile installations. These are the various kinds of edges you can choose from. Once the type of edge has been decided, the next step that the installer performs is to remove or un-install the already existing countertop properly. It may also be required to remove any sinks, and disconnect any appliances. Then loosen the screw that holds the counter top in place and lift it off. The next two steps of taking measurements in granite installation are extremely important and need to be performed with utmost care. The previous steps can still be performed by the individuals but it is best to hire a professional granite installer from here on so that your granite piece is not harmed in any manner and the aesthetic value of the countertop is maintained.
The next step is to adjust the variations in granite slab thickness. Further leveling of the granite slab is done to reduce stress on the slab, thereby ensuring protection. What makes these two steps extremely important is the fact that if these are not performed with utter diligence, the chances of the slab cracking over a period of time greatly increase. The granite slab is cut to perfection using a diamond wire saw in such a way that it fits the kitchen template. Another advantage that the professional offers is of ensuring a smooth finish to the surface by using a suitable sealant. Also, he takes care of the provisions for electrical outlets and other appliances. There are many people who, in their attempt to save little money, perform the installation process themselves. But given the several advantages that a professional offers, it always pays to use a professional for granite installation.
The granite installer then creates a template by taking measurements. The installer measures the tile pieces with him to cut them with a diamond wire saw which is actually a part of his specialized tool box. To prevent any damage due to improper installation, kitchen and bathroom cabinet tops are created with a level seat to fit the granite tile slabs.

3 Ways to Use Granite in Your Kitchen

Granite is a much more versatile stone than you may realize. There are various ways to employ it throughout the house, including in the kitchen. It's popular for functional reasons but also for decorative. It fits in with so many design styles and has such a good reputation of durability and cleanliness that it's nice to know there's more than one way to work it in. If you are planning a renovation or considering it, take a look at the different ways to include granite in the kitchen.

Granite Countertops - A Must-Have
When you think of granite and the kitchen, you probably think about countertops first. And it's no surprise. The popularity of granite countertops never ends. They appear in both traditional and contemporary style kitchens, but it's not hard to imagine why it works with so many design aesthetics. The color choices range from neutral blacks and browns to vibrant reds and greens and everything in-between.

Another reason granite is a popular choice for countertops is because it lasts for so many years with little effort. It's easy to take care of, demanding very little tough cleaning or other maintenance. Granite’s natural resistance to heat, scratches, and stains, makes it a wonderful choice for a kitchen.

If you want to make a statement with granite, the countertop is the way to go.

Granite Medallions - A Decorative Touch
There aren't many ways to really decorate a kitchen. It requires so much attention to function that there may not be much room for fluff. An alternative way to add some decoration while maintaining the room's purpose is to install a granite medallion on the kitchen floor. If you're tiling, this is a way to add a pop of color and design to a room that can be rather plain. Medallions are granite mosaics that are pieced together on one large tile. Medallions can be installed on the floor and on the wall and come in various designs and use a rainbow of granite colors. If you want art in your kitchen, this is one way to go about it.

Granite Island Tops – A Small Luxury
If you already have an island in your kitchen or plan to add one, you should consider granite for the top. Even if you can't afford to have all granite countertops, granite on the island can make a statement, turning a functional center into a visual focal point. Because granite is custom fabricated, it can be cut into whatever shape your island is and will be just as durable and easy to care for as granite countertops. And because granite comes in such a wide array of color choices, you’ll be able to find one that blends in with your countertops and cabinets.

These are just three ways to use granite in one room of your house. Granite has many other uses both inside the home and outside. Consider adding granite to your kitchen with a countertop, medallion, or island top. It’s a little luxury in a functional space.