Granite Countertops – Best Kitchen or Bath Remodel for Beauty, Quality, and Durability

All homeowners planning a kitchen or bathroom remodel want only the best. Unfortunately, most cannot afford the best of every kitchen or bathroom component and therefore decide to prioritize which components to spend money on and which components to pass up. A general rule of thumb regarding kitchens is that those features that will get the most use are the items the homeowner should not skimp on.

Countertops and appliances, of course, get the most heavy use and should never be overlooked. The most prominent feature that attracts the most attention in any kitchen is always the countertop. There is an almost endless selection of sizes, shapes, colors, and materials to choose from when it comes to countertops.

Some materials, while available, should not be used in a kitchen countertop application. The most durable of all materials to use in the kitchen is granite and engineered stone or quartz. Below are solid surface countertops available under several different brand names and then laminate on the bottom.

Laminate countertops are the most common across the country. Most builders install laminate countertops because of its low cost and the ease of working with the material on site. For the most part, laminate countertops have very limited character and style. While overall durability is passable, laminate countertops don’t begin to approach the beauty, longevity, or durability of engineered or natural stone.

Granite is the primary material for kitchen and bathroom countertop applications. Shapes, style, and finish vary and can be altered to the owner’s wishes. There is an almost limitless range of colors and options with granite because it is 100% natural stone. Granite is naturally resistant to stains, heat, scratches, and other blemishes. No two granite countertops are the same in the entire world. This is not the cause of the higher price.

The extraction of granite from quarries is a complex and dangerous task that requires the use of explosives, industrial cranes and cutting machines. Granite stone requires highly skilled craftsmen to safely shape and handle granite or any other natural stone. Except for diamonds, sapphires, topaz, and rubies, which are highly impractical to use in a kitchen, no other material is harder than granite. For this reason alone, highly specialized industrial machining is necessary to cut and work with granite. After all is said and done, it’s surprising that the installed cost per foot is as cheap as it is.

Engineered stone or quartz countertops are another favorite to use in kitchens. Quartz is a key ingredient found in granite and therefore shares much of the same durability and longevity that granite countertops are known to possess. The differences between granite and engineered stone are negligible and should not affect any decision-making process.

Solid surface countertops are strictly man-made synthetic with some natural elements built in and are about the same price as granite countertops with respect to installation. Solid surface countertops are not as hard as granite and therefore can be more easily dented or scratched. When these accidental blemishes do occur, they can be sanded and polished relatively easily, unlike granite or engineered stone countertops.

There are many other natural stone materials of which marble, limestone, and onyx are some, but these stone materials are best suited for bathroom or fireplace and mantle applications. Whichever material is used to upgrade the kitchen or bathroom, be sure to pay attention to the supplier’s maintenance instructions to ensure that the beauty of the material endures for decades to come.