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Granite Countertops: The Cons
By A Sneddon

Granite & marble countertops are incredibly popular. So much so that demand for this natural product is extremely high. Many people consider these two natural stones unequaled in natural beauty. Even more consider that the granite countertop is a mark of prestige.

However, there are some cons to this beautifully hard wearing material. Granite is naturally hard and scratch & stain resistant too but it can be damaged! Many people, foolishly, think that you are unable to harm such a counter top but this simply isn't the case and it is most unfortunate to find this.

Possibly the most important down side to granite countertops is that, as it is a natural stone, each countertop is absolutely unique. If you visit a friend and admire their kitchen, then go home and plan some kitchen remodeling yourself you may hit upon a couple of problems. Firstly each piece of granite is a mined product and is cut by the quarry. Granite is mined in many different areas of the world and in each area the resulting product is vastly different. Even if you had the foresight to request the name of the granite from your friend you would need to purchase it from the same supplier as each has their own set of names for the different colored granite.

Even if you manage to find a material very similar to the one you wanted the differences in each slab can cause problems in your kitchen. This is especially evident when two slabs meet - say at a corner where the differences are difficult to disguise.

Unfortunately, if you used the stone in it's natural state on your granite countertop you would soon find yourself in great difficulty. Granite is naturally porous and as such each spill of grease or other liquid would eventually soak into it and stain it. There are cleaners available to restore the look and feel but they work best on surfaces which have already been treated and it is just far better to avoid damage in the first place!

Indeed granite is far more porous and far less stain resistant than other materials used in the countertop such as man-made quartz or laminates. Although many would sing the praises of their work surface it is generally accepted that it is not the most suitable for food preparation. It is possible to purchase a small board for use when preparing food which is far more appropriate and even more hygienic.

Granite countertops are extremely heavy as a rough guide a 20mm thick slab will generally weigh around 12.8 lbs per square foot and a 30mm thick slab around 18 lbs per square foot.

Sadly, as mentioned earlier in this article, a granite countertop can be scratched. It is not scratched easily but when it is, it is virtually impossible to remove it and you may consider it permanent. However there are a few DIY kits available which can disguise such damage but the effects vary considerably. In the long run it may be better to employ a professional.

When your product is delivered the surface has been coated with a special material which seals the granite. It is recommended that the countertop should be re-sealed every 2 to 4 years to ensure protection and restore the natural beauty.

Author Details:
A Sneddon, copywriter for various websites including, Countertops and The A to Z of.

Article Source: Simply Top Articles

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