The Pros and Cons of Granite Countertops

Designing a beautiful and functional kitchen in your new home gives you a great space to prepare fantastic meals. A really well designed kitchen makes meal prep relaxing and even fun. Before you head to your builder’s design center to outfit your kitchen and the rest of your new home, you need to decide what type of counters you want. If the thought of having granite countertops in your kitchen has crossed your mind more than once, NewHomeSource has created this helpful guide to the pros and cons of installing granite counters in your kitchen:

Pros of Granite Countertops

• Granite is a durable surface
• Granite is easy to clean
• Granite is a sustainable material
• Granite works with all styles
• You can install undermounted sinks in granite counters

Granite countertops are highly durable. With the right amount of maintenance and proper installation, homeowners can expect granite countertops last a decade or more. These stain resistant countertops can withstand a lot of heat from pots and pans fresh out of the oven and off the stove. It resists scratches, with a hardness rating of about 7 on the Mohs scale used to gauge that quality in natural resources. Cleaning them isn’t a problem either, homeowners can use warm water and mild detergents to handle any spills or stains.

For homeowners that want to go green, granite is a stylish and sustainable material. The industry has made efforts to use responsible quarrying and production processes. Granite comes in a variety of hues, with a lot of internal veining to give it an alluring exterior.  Darker shades to minimize visible seams. Darker shades of granite also require a lighter sealing process, making the more desirable than lighter colored granite.

Homeowners that like the look of granite countertops can also appreciate that sinks can be undermounted. Having this kind of set-up means that you can wipe crumbs and spills  directly into the sink.

Cons of Granite Countertops

• Granite counters are difficult to make
• Granite counters can cost more than other surfaces
• Granite counters must be sealed

The process of installing granite countertops in your home can be costly for a number of reasons. Labor costs drive up the price of granite counters. While the granite itself is priced at $100 – $300 per square foot, homeowners can expect the labor to run up to three times the cost of the material depending on the scope of the installation.

Sealing granite counters is another major con to this stylish material. Granite is a porous stone, sealing it keeps spilt liquids from sinking into the material and permanently staining it.

Homeowners must know which kind of sealer was used by the installer. Each year when you reseal your countertop, you need to use the same type of sealant originally used. Getting a different sealer can result in a bit of a mess if mixed with the residue of the original.

Also, as much as granite countertops are tough with day-to-day usage, they can sustain damage such as cracks or chipping if you’re not careful.

Lastly, bear in mind that you won’t be able to install traditional backsplashes behind your counters. Your builder will install a 4” slab of granite to the wall behind the countertop.

Do you love the look of granite countertops? Would you install them in your dream kitchen? Let us know in the comments below.