Five Facts You Need To Know About Granite Countertops

Natural stones like granite and marble have always been popular choices for home decoration jobs. The hardness of granite makes it the best material for countertops in bathroom and kitchen. Granite has been preferred by the homeowners for its longevity and elegance. It is the best material to make countertops.

If you are a homeowner and want to purchase granite to decorate your remodeled home or new home, then you need to know five facts about granite countertops. Once you know these facts, then you would be able to make the decision to purchase granite with much more confidence. First thing that you need to know about granite is its hardness. As far as hardness is concerned, granite is only next to diamond. Thus working with this natural stone can be labor intensive. You should have diamond encrusted blades to cut granite.

The next thing that you need to know is how the cost of granite is related to the place of its quarrying. Labor costs in the United States are quite high and quarrying granite requires a lot of labor. To save money and to make granite available at an affordable price, it is imported from other countries. A huge stock of granite tiles and decorative found in the market of the United States are imported from countries like India, China and Brazil. These countries export granite to the United States at a cheaper rate. Combined cost of importing and shipping is still lower than the cost of granite slabs quarried in the United States.

Price of raw granite and fabricated granite varies a lot. A raw granite slab costs lesser than fabricated countertops. The cost of granite is not determined by any governing body. So, the price of granite might vary from one type to other. In some cases, the huge popularity or a high demand for a particular granite type can increase the price of granite.

Fourth fact related to granite that a buyer needs is regarding the grading of granite. Someone who wants to get the best granite tops and countertops needs to grade granite. There are several ways to grade granite countertops. The most common way to grade this natural stone is appearance. Granite slabs with inconsistencies or imperfections might get a lower grade. Such slabs would be cost lower than the slabs which have perfection. Thickness of the granite slab can also affect the grading of the slabs. This also affects the price of the slab.

The fifth and last thing that a person needs to know while selecting granite for home decoration is the unique appeal of granite. As a natural stone, granite has an appeal of its own and can instantly enhance appeal of any place. Each slab of granite has some uniqueness and can give an elegant look to the house.
Granite is quarried in different countries of the world and these facts of granite would help a person to select the best countertop for his house.