Why Granite Countertops Are Still One of the Best Options

Countertop tests are not for the faint of heart. As you debate which type of countertop is right for your home, you should assess the challenges the surface must withstand on a regular, if not daily, basis. If your home is like many others, your kitchen is one busy place, with people preparing food — hot, cold, sticky food and probably cheesy food — at all hours of the day.

The spills they leave in their wake may be one thing, but the tools they brandish along the way – including meat mallets, rolling pins, knives and pizza cutters – are enough to get your heart pounding. And those hot and heavy gadgets?

Your new countertop might have to stand up to a toaster oven, waffle maker, quesadilla maker and maybe even the drips and sizzles of an indoor grill or deep fryer. If you’ve resigned yourself to forsake a stunningly beautiful surface in the interest of durability, then you’ll be pleasantly surprised to learn that granite is one the best of all options. Yes, ceramic tile, stainless steel and butcher block countertops suit some people’s taste. However, granite earns “extra credit” on every conceivable benchmark, including durability, care and maintenance, style, cost and economy of scale. Consider:

• Granite countertops are virtually scratch-resistant. An igneous rock consisting mostly of quartz and feldspar, granite is tough and strong.
• Granite countertops are virtually impervious to extreme temperatures, meaning that they tolerate hot dishes that come right out of the oven and freezing tubs of ice cream that might fall right out of your freezer.
• Granite is easy to clean, requiring a little amount of soap and water, for a quick clean-up, only warm water and a soft towel.
• Granite countertops require minimal maintenance. A topical sealer, applied about once per year, will keep granite at its best.
• Granite countertops offer unparalleled beauty. No two pieces are the same, with veining, specks and swirls that can beguile the eye.
• Granite also adds significant value to a home and is as versatile as they are sought-after. So if you can’t afford to install granite throughout your entire kitchen right now, you can install a granite island as an accent piece to your kitchen and choose another material for the perimeter. In this way, the granite island is bound to stand out.

Granite isn’t perfect; it’s only a nearly perfect choice. In other words, it’s not indestructible and can chip in extreme cases. However, granite is affordable, a very durable surface option, easy to maintain, and because granite’s complex, variegated quality deftly disguises any slight imperfections.

Let Synmar and Castech design consultants show you how granite can transform your kitchen with its resiliency and luster. Call us for a consultation and you’ll soon understand why granite is one of the best options available.