Granite Counter Tops – The Pro’s and Con’s

People commonly associate granite counter tops with sophisticated bathrooms and classy kitchens. But granite can be used far and wide in your home if you so wish – as functional window sills, ornate fire mantelpieces, eye-catching cabinet tops and impressive bar counters. Since granite slabs can be custom made to measurement, you can use granite in far more places than you may have first imagined. But as with all other counter top material choices, make sure you know the facts before you design your house with granite.

The Pro’s

A Unique Look: as a natural material, no two pieces of granite look identical. So in addition to adding a touch of luxury to your home, you know that no-one else will have exactly the same counter tops as you have.
Color Choices: granite is available in a whole host of natural color choices from beige and gold, blue and black, to red and burgundy.
Resistant: granite is tough – in fact there is no tougher material, being second only to diamond in hardness. Granite countertops can last a life time and they have an element of heat resistance meaning you can place warm pans on top of the granite without fear of damaging it.
Added value: granite counter tops are much sought after and will add long lasting value to your home.
Easily to clean: granite can be kept looking immaculate with daily cleaning with a specific granite surface cleaning product and a non abrasive cloth. And due to the absence of grout, as the granite can be installed in large slabs, there is one less thing to worry about in your cleaning routine.
The Con’s

Expensive: granite is more expensive than other counter tops. Whilst granite countertops can last for a long, long time, homeowners who like to change the décor of their home regularly may find the cash outlay makes no sense if they plan to change them after only a few years.
Not indestructible: yes granite is tough, but if a heavy object is dropped on it, it may well crack. And although it is resistant to the heat from a warm pan, a very hot pan can damage the surface.
Scratches and stains: somewhat surprisingly due to its strength, granite is susceptible to scratching (not to be used as a carving board), and stains from liquid and food spills. It should be treated routinely with a chemical sealant to help prevent against this.
Heavy: granite is a very heavy material. That means you can’t place granite counter tops on various items of furniture without firstly ensuring the furniture has the required support.
Inconsistent appearance: if you are planning to use granite across a large space and need to use a number of granite slabs, it will be impossible to match them perfectly as each is unique.
Hard to remove: granite countertops are very difficult to remove once installed. For those who like to see regular change in their homes, granite countertops would be far from ideal.

Granite countertops can look stunning in a variety of situations within the home. With regular cleaning with a specialized granite cleaner and routine maintenance, they can retain their good looks for many years to come. However, there are some disadvantages that the homeowner should consider before making a final decision