When you are looking for color options for your benchtops then the best would be to go for granite. The mottled and grainy texture makes it a welcoming and warming option. Granite benchtops are completely impact, stain, scratch, and heat resistant. Apart from that, it is also very much stylish and economical in nature. This makes it within budget for people who are in the middle-income group. However, these days there are many fabricators that trick their customers by selling low-quality granite benchtops without you even noticing it.
Thus, in order to save from the hands of such unethical fabricators here are certain useful tops that you can take into consideration while buying granite benchtops.
Slabs or tiles
You must first make the decision of buying granite tiles or slabs. Now, if you take into consideration granite slabs then you can be rest assured that it is made of solid granite. Slabs are basically carved from a block of granite and the pattern and the color is also same all throughout the slab. However, it is a bit costlier than granite tiles but the best part is that it requires low maintenance. If you consider granite tiles then it is important to know that tiles are cut from various left out pieces of granite. These may be less expensive, but the maintenance cost is high for granite tiles.
Granite direction
After knowing the difference between granite tiles and slabs, there is one more thing that you should take into consideration when buying slabs. There are unique patterns that can be seen on granite benchtops. The two most common patterns are flowing and wavy. Thus, when you plan to buy them, make sure the pattern on these benchtops are in the same direction and not haphazard.
Polish
Polish is also an important thing to consider when buying benchtop. It is the polish of granite that gives it an enhanced look and a mirror-like appearance. Most of the fabricators only polish the upper surface and leave the edges. Well, it is important to polish even the edges as there are high chances of the wax falling off after a certain period of time. Thus, when you go to buy granite benchtops do not forget to run your hands over the slab and also the sides in order to check the material quality.
Sealing
Good quality granite will have sealing in order to protect from stains, scratches, and spills. Basically, the sealing helps to maintain the shine of granite. Even if you mistakenly spill liquid on top of the granite slab, it can be easily removed with the help of a sponge.
Common Defects That Should Be Taken Care Of While Buying Granite Slabs
Cracks
Most of the times cracks are unnoticeable because the granite slab is polished, so it is important that you check the unpolished side to consider if there is any crack in the granite slab that you are buying. You will have to look very closely to find any crack on the slab as they are unnoticeable if seen from a distant. This is the first thing that you must check in order to use the granite slab for a longer period of time.
Color Defects
Good quality granites have a uniform color. There is an even color distribution on the entire granite slab. However, there are times when the color is faded in few places. This happens mainly when certain minerals are unevenly distributed. Quartz is one of the minerals that are present in granite whose concentration if high can create a whitish patch on the granite surface. The excess presence of quartz can make granite brittle. So, if you find a whitish patch on the granite slab you are planning to buy, do not purchase it because it will not last long.
So the next time you think that your kitchen interiors are kind of boring, do check out these tips to enhance the décor and get the best look to your kitchen with granite benchtops.
