Three easy steps to beautiful granite countertops for your home or office

Posted by Ben Dahdah on January 16th, 2018

Many will agree that installing granite countertops is one of the surest ways to upgrade the appearance of a kitchen, bathroom, or commercial space.

Nor is choosing the right materials or qualified installation contractor complicated.

In the Boston area, quality granite countertops will run you as little as - per square foot for materials and include a wide variety of stone variations and colors.  The same hold true for quartz countertops, an incresingly popular New England countertop choice.  Material prices for more distant parts of the state and for adjoining areas of Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island are only slightly higher.

The first step, then, is deciding which granite to go with.  There are a multitue of types available offering exciting choices for any room's color, decor, or funishings.

Step number wto is choosing an installation expert who doesn't run up the price by charging extra for things like bringing granite samples for you to view or for sink cutouts, edges, templates, disposal of your old countertops, or transportation fees.  The contractor should include the cost of measurement for any existing countertops or the size and shpe of the proposed new stone countertop to be cut and fabricated.  Seams should be avoided wherever possible, but keep in mind that no installed granite can extend beyond ten feet maximum.

Once installed, your new granite countertops require minimal upkeep beyond soap and water cleaning, plus periodic sealing.  How often to seal depends on just how porous the granite is.  Performing this simple water test may give you a quick and fairly accurate indication:

1. Pour one quarter cup of water onto your granite countertops.
2. Note how many minutes it takes the granite to darken as it absorbs that water

Immediate darkening of the area indicates that you should probably apply several layers of sealer each year, and be ready to wipe up everyday spills promptly.  If darkening takes 4 to 5 minutes you should probably apply several layers of sealer every 3-5 ears.  If ten minutes go by before darkening is evident even more years can probably go by without resealing.  If 30 minutes or more of elapsed time goes by before the stone darkens, or no absorption at all is evident, then perhaps simply wiping up spill promptly will be enough to avoid staining, with  no need to bother with a sealer!  Some varieties of granite truly are less porous than the norm.

But to be on the safe side, you should apply sealer at least one time initially and retest your granite per the above from time to time.  Most improtantly, use soap and water to promptly clean any spills; especially when they involve dark or acidic liquids more likely to stain the stone.  Protectting you granite investment ensures its beauty will last the lifetime of the surface without any extra care.

Your installation expert can advise you in all maintenance and upkeep matters.  Wishing you good luck with your decision and hope you get beautiful granite countertops in your house or office!