Worktops are the most important aspects to consider when planning a kitchen renovation. You have many options from less expensive laminate models up to custom tile with inlays and the choices are almost endless in reality. Most people are finding that granite worktops offer a very unique look, but they are not really all that costly. When you think about the longevity you will get out of a granite top you can see that paying a little more now is well worth it for the years to come.

Granite is a very hard and long lasting stone that is formed at high pressures and extreme temperatures under ground such as at the base of a volcano. You will always be able to see the grain pattern in granite and this is something that adds so much to its beauty. You can assume that the longer the molten rock was underground the larger the grain structure will be. Before finding its way to the surface, the minerals can coalesce into large crystals over the years. It is not uncommon for granite to spend 10 million years cooling which can provide grain structures the size of peas.

In addition to the variability of the grain, there is also a difference in color depending on where the granite was mined. These colors vary from jet black and deep, rich maroon to light gray and even ivory which is almost entirely white. No two pieces of granite will be the same with different combinations of grain patterns and colors. For this reason, it is very vital that you get all your work pieces cut out of the same block. After installing the granite counter tops there is not much you can do if they do not match, except remove them and start again.

An overhang is not very strong and this is the only downside of granite. If something heavy is dropped on a corner the top can crack and break. Apart from that there is not much to reduce its use in the fitted kitchen. There is some upkeep in the form of polishing and sealing that needs to be done every few years but other than that you just have to keep them clean.

If you plan to set the tops yourself request some friends to come over and help because the pieces are going to be quite heavy. Be sure everything is ready when you bring in the slab for placement as it is not something you want to hold for very long. Granite is beautiful but it takes some forethought to install it safely.

If you would like to learn more about the beauty and variability of granite then visit us at the Granite Worktops Center. You can find out everything you need to know including more about using granite worktops in the kitchen.

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