Granite Countertops Price,
|
Granite is an igneous rock, made from magma deep within the earth. It is comprised mostly of silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, potassium oxide, and sodium oxide. It is formed under extremely high heat and pressure which gives the granite it's high durability and weight.
The granite countertops price is among the highest of all countertops. The reasons for this is the machinery needed to extract it from the earth, as well as the machinery needed to finish it into a countertop. Due to granite's density and strength diamond tipped tools are needed.
The machinery needed includes diamond cutters, drilling machines, diamond hones, diamond tipped routers, high pressure water jet cutters, and diamond coring bits.
Not only does the machinery cost a lot of money, but the time involved to make a finished piece is immense. It can take up to 1 week to fully finish a granite worktop. That does not include the processing, quarrying, and installation. All of this adds to the granite countertops price.
Another factor that increases a granite countertops price are the edge treatments, and these are an extra cost. The most popular edge treatment is a full bullnose, where both the top and bottom edges are rounded over. The other option is a Full Ogee.
The edges should be rounded over to reduce the possibility of chipping. It is also for safety, a rounded edge is less likely to cause injury. These edge treatments are normally done by hand with an industrial router and diamond bits.
It also needs to professionally installed, as well as a template made to ensure a flawless fit. Which requires someone to come to your house after the cabinets are installed to measure for the stone. The time from when measurements are taken, to installation time can be as much as 1 month. Yup, this all adds to the granite countertops price.
This also means the rest of the kitchen will have to wait for your granite, that includes finished plumbing and the installation of tile in the backsplash area.
It's important to get slabs from the same batch of quarried stone, if more than one slab is needed. Differences in color can be vast even in slabs from the same quarry. It is best to go to a place that sells granite and walk through their selection. The reason for this is to get the "overall" look. A sample piece may not represent the whole picture. Veining and colors may not be uniform throughout a single slab.
If you don't want to go through all of the fore mentioned steps you can go with a granite tile countertop. Granite tiles are available in most home improvement centers, as well as online. When buying online the pictures of the stone may not match perfectly, so a sample should be acquired before a large purchase.
The other benefits of a granite tile countertop over the slab is weight and cost. The weight will be considerably less and no extra reinforcing of the cabinets is needed. Plus the cost is much more reasonable; $20 a square foot installed for tile, and up to $200 for granite slabs.
But with tiles you will have grout lines and the extra maintenance that grout lines require. The countertop edges are sometimes hard to cover, unless you buy a specially made edge dressing. Tiles are the most cost effective way to lower a granite countertops price, although it's not a solid slab it's still granite at a fraction of the cost.
Granite At A Retailer's Yard
Granite is very durable and easy to clean. You could set a hot pan down on, but it's best if you put down a trivet to help prevent the possibility of spalling the stone. Acids are very destructive to granite and non-acidic cleaners should be used. This includes citrus based cleaners and harsh abrasive type cleaners of high acidity.
The average thickness is 3/4", due to granite's high weight, 1 1/4" is also popular but ways considerably more. The edges are doubled up to give the look of a 1 1/2" thickness on a 3/4" top. This not only reduces the weight but also the granite countertops price. Most cabinets could not hold a full 1 1/2" thick granite countertop. Granite tops weigh approximately 12.5 lbs per square foot in 3/4" thickness.
Every cut made in the stone is an extra cost, which includes the sink. If you decide you want an under-mount sink the cutout will need to be very precise and time intensive. Therefore increasing the granite countertops price.
Proper care needs to be taken to ensure it's longevity. Even though it's very durable it still needs to be sealed every 1-3 years with a stone sealant, depending on the color and type of granite you have. Consult a local dealer to make sure before sealing to prevent any possible damage. Sealing prevents moisture from getting into the crystalline structure of the stone. Scroll down for some cleaning tips.
Some companies completely seal their countertops with an epoxy, forever sealing the surface. This is a huge benefit and it does not detract from the look of the stone. But you guessed it, it adds to the granite countertops price.
It is no doubt that a granite worktop is a popular choice. It's price is also prohibitive in most kitchens. The fact that granite will last forever if the proper care is taken is a huge selling point. It also adds a great amount of value to your kitchen, and your home.
Tips for cleaning granite countertops
Granite worktops are not commonly stained with everyday use, but granites with intense veining are the most susceptible. Lighter colors are also more likely to stain because they contain more of the softer minerals than the darker granites do.- First thing to do always is to clean up spills immediately after they occur. Especially liquids such as orange and lemon juices, and anything acidic.
- Use only water to clean the surface of the stone. Lightly spritzing the surface and buffing with a cloth towel is the easiest, and best way to preserve the sealed finish.
- Using a mixture of rubbing alcohol, liquid detergent, and water can be used for very dirty countertops. This should only be done occasionally because a film of soap can build up on the top; making it look cloudy.
A mixture of 1 part alcohol 5 parts water and a five drops of detergent in a sprayer is sufficient for general cleaning.
- Regular sealing of granite is a must. Sealing is inexpensive and easy to do yourself. I recommend sealing once a year for the average kitchen, but this depends on how much you use your kitchen. More frequent, or less frequent, sealing may be required. And some granites like Absolute Black should not be sealed. So check with a reputable dealer or installer for more information on your particular countertop.
- Stains, once they set in, are almost impossible to remove. There are products on the market for just this purpose. These products are poultice powders and they remove a variety of stains. Home remedies for removing stains generally do not work, and cost you time and aggravation.
Cleaning granite countertops is very easy if the spills are cleaned up immediately. Not a problem for adults, but children should also be educated in the proper ways to prevent stains. Adults can't be around all of the time!
Return From Granite Countertops Price to Kitchen Countertops
Return To Kitchen Remodeling Ideas Homepage