I love my Granite Countertops

Granite countertops are the gorgeous and functional finishing touch to a modern kitchen.

Granite Countertops

Granite countertops are made from cut and polished granite rock. They look gorgeous and work in modern and traditional kitchens. Granite comes in a wide range of natural colors including dark blacks, shades of brown, and white.

Granite is a very functional countertop material. It's heat resistant and very hard - it will stay looking good for a very long time.

Granite is more expensive than many other countertop materials. It's a luxury option that won't suit every budget. But if you can afford it and having a wonderful kitchen is important to you then it can be a brilliant choice.

This article will help you decide whether granite countertops are right for you.

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Why I love my Granite Countertops

I have black granite countertops with sparkly bits in. They are one of my favorite things in my whole house. I really enjoy using them on a daily basis.

I'm a real fan of good design and function - must be both, not just one or the other. And granite countertops tick both boxes very well.

I love my granite countertops because:

After 6 years they still look as good as they did on the day they were fitted
I can put hot pots and pans straight onto them without having to worry about trivets cluttering up the place
I can work with pastry and other foods straight onto the countertop giving me a big work surface when I need it
I have grooves cut into it to act as a dishrack - this means I don't have to have a dishrack taking up space and can use the space for other things too when I'm not drying dishes.

Deciding to buy Granite Countertops

We had a new kitchen built for our house 6 years ago. I designed the kitchen layout and took a long time deciding whether or not to buy granite countertops. They were a large proportion of the overall budget of the kitchen.

We're careful with money but more concerned with value for money that getting the cheapest option. I'd previously had kitchens with cheaper countertops and they had always looked scruffy after a couple of years.

We planned to make this house our family home and stay here for a very long time. I wanted a kitchen that would last. For me, that was the deciding factor. I wanted my kitchen to still look good in many years time and I didn't want the hassle (and expense) of remodelling the kitchen every few years. So although granite was a more expensive choice up front, long term it shouldn't work out more expensive plus I'll have a gorgeous and very practical kitchen for that whole time.

Problems with Granite Countertops

So surely there are some problems with granite countertops? Well there are certainly some things you need to be aware of:

These countertops are made from hard granite. Drop a glass onto the surface and it is likely to shatter. Consider carefully if you are prone to dropping things!
Some granite surfaces are prone to smearing and tricky to clean. I think this is worse if you go with a single color, mine is mostly black but with gray and sparkly bits in it, I think that has helped.
It's expensive! Yes, this isn't the cheapest option. If you are on a very tight budget then this may not be the time to splash out on granite (I didn't have it in my first kitchen because we only planned to stay a few years and the additional cost didn't make sense.)

Things to think about when buying a Granite Countertop

A granite countertop is a big purchase. You want to get it right. Here are a few tips:

Do get a selection of samples and try them out in your kitchen.
Try cleaning a sample - does it smear?
Buy a granite pastry board or chopping board and use it to try out the material
Consider granite splashbacks on the wall to match the countertops
Make sure you buy accessories before the countertops are installed - the fitters will need to cut holes for faucets and other fittings. I recommend adding a soap dispenser - it looks much tidier than having bottles on display.

Granite Pastry Board

14 Inch Round Spinning Granite Pastry and Cutting Board

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Accessories for a Granite Countertop


Delta RP1001SS Soap/Lotion Dispenser,... ~~$58.57~~ $33.78	Delta 9178-SS-DST Leland Single Handl...

Cleaning your Granite Countertop

You can get kitchen cleaning products designed specifically for granite countertops that should give you a streak-free result.

	Granite Gold Daily Cleaner 24 fl oz (750 ml) This unique, streak-free formula safely deep-cleans granite, marble and other natural stone surfaces, and quartz surfaces such as Silestone. Our Daily Cleaner leaves a fresh ... Only $4.96
	Method Granite & Marble Spray, 12-Ounce Bottles (Pack of 6) Special surfaces require special treatment. These non-toxic spray cleaners are specially formulated to gently clean stone, stainless steel and wood surfaces, leaving them ... Only $66.5

More Kitchen Design

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Updated: 02/23/2012, TerriRexson

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Marie on 12/11/2011

I love granite. Our kitchen has thick bamboo worktops but we have a black granite chopping board and placemats which are a perfect contrast with the wood. The next kitchen we get will have ganite worktops because I love the idea of just placing hot pans down - you can't do that on wood without risking leaving a mark.