Among the many types of materials used to make kitchen countertops, granite is perhaps the best. This is the reason why granite countertops are becoming more and more popular for this function. Traditionally, kitchen countertops have always been a problem. They have been made of cement, stone tiles, ceramic tiles, marble, and even plywood. But all these materials have disadvantages. Cement kitchen countertops look ugly, stone tiles chip or stain and are difficult to remove, ceramic tiles can crack, and of course, marble is expensive. Plywood can scratch and is flammable. Depending on the quality of the wood, there is a possibility that the wood will be attacked by termites, borers and other insects. Wood can also rot or expand unevenly due to the use of moisture absorption. It is difficult to avoid using water in the kitchen.
Granite countertops outweigh all of these drawbacks. They look good and blend into any setting just like marble. They are hard and do not break easily. Most varieties do not absorb water like wood. They are not affected by insects like plywood, nor are they flammable like plywood. To some extent, granite countertops are also scratch resistant. Unlike stone countertops, they won’t stain with lemon juice, vinegar, or other foods frequently used in the kitchen.
It is not very difficult to find a replacement for a granite countertop, unlike ceramic tiles, which are difficult to replace if they become cracked or damaged. Laying a granite countertop is also easy as a single slab of the required size of granite can be ordered. Unlike this, ceramic tiles need to be cut to the required size and may need to be ordered with some additional quantities keeping future requirements in mind.
Cleaning is easier than cleaning cement countertops or stone countertops. Ceramic countertops have gaps between the two tiles. This means that, over a period, this gap, however small, would become a dark outline. This is not the case with granite countertops as they are placed in one piece that can be the same length and width as the countertop.
Both fine grained and coarse grained granite stone are available in the market. But kitchen countertops made of fine-grained granite have a more attractive appearance. Granite countertops are also available in different thicknesses, but a 1-inch-thick countertop definitely has an advantage over a countertop that is only 1-inch thick. Such thickness enhances the functionality of these countertops and gives them a rich look. The edges of granite countertops can be smoothed and polished, making them look even more elegant.
