3 Countertops Tips from Someone With Experience
What To Know Before Installing A Granite Countertop?
While it is true that granite countertops are seen mostly with expensive and luxurious properties, it doesn’t stop it to grow as one of the popular aesthetic options in residential homes. They actually serve as a status symbol that the person living in that house is style conscious. To make sure that you are shopping responsibly, you have to be aware of all your options when it comes to granite as not all countertops are created equally.
Hand versus machine fabrication – machine or hand fabrication are the two ways of fabricating stones. Handcrafted finish comes with a higher price as it provides better quality. While machine fabrication is perfect for mass productions, there are instances to which it fails in polishing the edges. Some companies are compensating for rougher edges by means of waxing them but eventually, the wax wears off.
Inquire about installation – some bigger warehouse style suppliers do not fabricate their stones or even install the finished products. Rather, they are just supplying for other contractors, wholesale buyers or stores. If you’re in search for such company that is installing granite countertops, then you better inquire for it before you start shopping.
Seams – the seams are the lines to which the piece of stone meets the other. Granite countertops may be fabricated individually and assembled or vice versa. Edges would look better if it’s assembled first but this will require exceptional craftsmanship and steady hands. What this mean is, the process can cost you a high price. When it comes to the installation of seams, it is necessary that you inquire in the craftsperson if they make use of suction automated machine.
Thickness – counters are most of the time around 2 or 3 cm thick. In regards to kitchen applications, you have to insist on using 3cm granite because less than that creates 70 percent chances of breakage. For bathroom applications on the other hand, there’s a tendency to be smaller and for that, the thinner you go, it’ll be fine.
Overhang – this is basically the amount of stone that hangs on the edge of kitchen countertop. If you want to create additional space in your kitchen island, then an overhang will probably be a very smart option. If you choose thinner slab of granite, you may have to brace underneath in order to avoid breaking.
The popularity of granite countertops for being the most preferred option for bathrooms and kitchens happens so fast. Even though they seem to be the same, the differences affect the durability, appearance and the cost of the slab of stone that you wish to install. Yes it is true that most of the stones look the same but mind you as the differences they have to each is enough to affect their durability, pricing and appearance.