subject: Bring the Beauty of Granite Inside With Kitchen Remodeling [print this page] It has long been hidden, embedded inside rock all over the world. Granite is a beautiful stone, now being mined from quarries in all corners of the globe so it can be brought into homes to decorate the kitchen. Granite countertops are the most popular addition of all kitchen remodeling projects and just a small slab can dramatically change the appearance of your home and improve the value of your home at the same time.
Granite is formed from the heat and pressure that builds up in a volcano. The magma that flows from a volcano cools and mixes with minerals in the earth to form granite. Most of the rock is brought to the United States from India, China and Brazil even though granite rock can be found on all of the continents in the world.. The large blocks of granite from the mines are cut down into smaller slabs that will be turned into your countertop. The rock is then cleaned and polished with diamond wheels that smooth out imperfections and bring out the natural luster. There are no two pieces of granite that are alike, each will have its own unique properties.
Since granite is one of the hardest rocks found on the earth it is very difficult to cut. A special diamond saw is needed to bust through the slab and cut it down into size that will fit into peoples kitchens. The intricate process of mining the granite and polishing it are a big factor in the high cost. So is the cost of transporting the rock to the United States, it is very heavy and prone to split unless handled with great care. Expect to pay between $2,000 and $8,000 for the granite to outfit an average size kitchen.
Pricing granite countertops can be very confusing. While most places will give you a cost per square foot, that often does not include installation and options to make the finished product look as good as possible. Make sure that they add in the cost of a back splash, edging and sealing the surface. You want the total out the door cost so you can truly compare one company with another. Ask for references from the company and pictures of their work. Installing granite countertops can be very difficult, especially if it wraps around a corner and a seam is visible. Examine how the company has done seams in those photos or the showroom and make sure there are no gaps and the two sides meet perfectly.
Granite countertops when properly installed look amazing. They give a glow to the kitchen that radiates class and luxury. There is a wide variety of color choices for granite and you are sure to be able to find one that will match your decor. The biggest challenge you will have after you have granite countertops installed is figuring out what to do with all the appliances that you used to have setting on the counter. You won't want anything resting on top of the granite hiding its beauty.
Bring the Beauty of Granite Inside With Kitchen Remodeling
