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Every year, one out of every 10 households in the United States will remodel their kitchen. On average, these remodels will cost about $21,751. But all that money is worth it when you finally get to make breakfast in the kitchen of your dreams.

One of the most popular components of a kitchen remodel is the countertop. And no option is more popular — or as stylish — as granite. The main allure of granite countertops rests on their durability and their plethora of design and color choices.

Let’s take a more in-depth look at why you should invest in granite countertops for your kitchen.

1. One-of-a-Kind Design

Granite countertops are like snowflakes: no two pieces are alike. Every slab’s variation in color holds unparalleled allure. Between the coloration, the veining, and the flecks of unique color, there is no better countertop for the homeowner who wants to make a statement. As a property owner, that means you will never bump into another countertop that looks like yours.

If you are looking to add flair to your home, then a granite countertop with a dramatic design is the perfect option to spruce up your kitchen. For the more conservative property owner, granite countertops can also come in softer tones with less dramatic veining. Such slabs will settle into the background and let lay the foundation for the rest of the kitchen’s style.

2. Easy to Maintain

A granite countertop is an attractive option for many property owners due to its ease of maintenance. Granite is sturdy and doesn’t scorch when you happen to place a hot pan on it. For everyday cleaning, all you need to do is use a soft cloth to wipe it down with warm, soapy water. This makes it the perfect option for the busy cook or the homeowner on-the-run.

Granite also does not etch or stain easily. That means it won’t change as you prepare foods and spill various ingredients on its surface. Even if you neglect cleaning these countertops for a considerable amount of time, a strong degreaser can restore it to its original luster. Vinegar and water is also a great cleaning option for the naturalistic homeowner. All you need to do is reseal your countertop every three to five years to keep it gleaming and new.

3. Increased Home Value

Adding a granite countertop to your home will have a positive effect on its value should you choose to sell. Due to granite’s long lasting nature and enduring beauty, any granite countertop will last for many decades. When prospective property owners go shopping, they put a premium on that which makes a home unique. A kitchen with granite countertops appeals to potential buyers due to its novel beauty and lasting design.

If you happen to sell in a buyer’s market, such a differentiator becomes critical. Having granite countertops will help you stand out from the pack and command attractive pricing for your home.

4. Affordability

Granite countertops offer an aesthetic appeal identical to marble but at a much friendlier price point. When you want to find out the exact cost of granite countertops, several factors come into play. These include where the countertop will come from, the stone quality, as well as the retailer from who you purchase it.

Generally speaking, granite countertops are in the same price range as other man-made countertop materials. Thus, as technology advances, you can only expect the price to keep getting more competitive.

Style Your Kitchen with a Granite Countertop Today

Granite is a coveted material due to its durability, ease of maintenance, and the unparalleled beauty that each stone delivers. Once you use granite to lay your countertops, you will add value and beauty to your property. Contact Supreme Stone when you’re ready to transform your home for the better.

Kitchen remodeling is the single most popular kind of home renovation project, and a major factor in kitchen design is the countertop you choose to use.

While it can be tempting to buy a new countertop just because it looks so nice, you’ll want to think about a lot more than mere appearances. The material’s durability, ease of maintenance, and cost are equally important factors to take into consideration before you make your final choice.

Choose a Countertop for Your Lifestyle

Homeowners should consider the way that they live before choosing a countertop surface. If you have three children at home, or if your family doesn’t have a lot of extra time for keeping the kitchen spotless, you may not want a white granite countertop, even though it looks nice. In that case, you would want one that won’t highlight the dirt as much.

Material Options

Thanks to modern design and engineering, if you have your heart set on a certain style of countertops but the material won’t work for your lifestyle, there might be a workaround. You can probably find an easy-to-maintain material that looks just like the countertop you really wanted. The following are some common materials used for countertops.

Granite

Granite, which is a number-one choice for countertops, comes in a wide variety of shades. These include various whites, blacks, greens, beiges, and corals. Another cool thing about granite is that no two pieces look exactly the same, so a granite countertop will always be one of a kind. Granite is also available in two different finishes — polished and honed. Polished granite is shiny and typically darker than honed or natural granite would be. Honed granite is soft and matte in its appearance.

The cost of granite countertops depends on the color, finish, and where the stone was sourced from. Some types of granite are imported from exotic places, and these can be fairly expensive.

Other Natural Stone Materials

Other natural stone countertop materials include marble, soapstone, and limestone. These are softer than granite, and they demand more delicate use and higher maintenance. All natural stone countertops have to be resealed occasionally.

Engineered Stone

As opposed to natural stone, engineered stone comes in a much wider variety of colors. Engineered stone countertops are also more durable than natural stone, and they involve less maintenance. There isn’t any significant cost difference between natural and engineered stone, however.

Solid Surface Countertops

Solid surface countertops can be highly appealing because of their versatility and ease of maintenance. A solid surface countertop can be made in virtually any color. They are very stain-resistant, and scratches can be easily buffed out. It is possible for very hot pans to damage solid surface countertops, but as long as you routinely use potholders in your kitchen, you should be safe.

Concrete

Concrete countertops are becoming increasingly popular. Their colors are completely customizable with pigments, so there’s a lot of room for variety.

Concrete can be made with several different finishes: trowel (smooth), ground (sanded down to show the sand aggregate), and pressed (using a tool that reveals marble-like veining).

The downside to concrete countertops is that abrupt changes in temperature can cause them to warp or curl. Leaving a wet sponge on the counter can cause discoloration, and acidic spills may cause etching. To maintain them in optimal condition, you need to seal concrete countertops up to four times per year, and wax them every two to three months.

Wood

Wood countertops, such as butcher block, will instantly warm up a kitchen’s look and feel. These countertops are very easy to clean, and any scratches that occur can easily be sanded out. However, they are susceptible to water damage, so they must be oiled regularly to reseal the surface.

Laminate

Laminate countertops are the most affordable option, and the are available in a wide array of designs and colors. Although laminate has become more scratch resistant over time, it maintains a reputation for scratching too easily, and it can scorch if touched with a hot pan.

It’s important to remember that when you’re looking for kitchen countertops, you should never make a decision based on an image in a flier. Always visit the hardware store in person if you can to see countertop surfaces in real life, before making a final decision on what material to buy.

Home renovations are a great way to add value and charm to your home. One of the most commonly renovated rooms in the house is the kitchen, which almost 60% of people say is important to be styled the way they want. Add fresh appeal to your home with new kitchen countertops in stones like marble, granite, and quartz.

Marble Countertops

Marble is a luxurious stone that is waterproof and heatproof. While it is expensive, if you’re looking to add value to your home marble is the way to go. Some things to keep in mind are that marble is a porous stone, so it will stain and scratch easily, and it may show damage from citrus fruits and acids. It needs to be installed by a professional so they can seal it well to prevent any visible or structural damage. Contact a marble retailer today for more information on how you can increase your home’s value with marble countertops.

Granite Countertops

Granite countertops are one of the most commonly used items in home renovations. Granite is almost completely heatproof and is a very durable stone. It does add value to your home, and it comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns. Like marble, granite needs to be installed by a professional. If installed improperly, it can crack or receive stress damage. A professional will also ensure that the stone is sealed appropriately to help prevent stains. You’ll want to invest in a good cutting board as granite can dull your knives.

Quartz Countertops

Quartz, an engineered stone, is another commonly used stone in kitchen countertop renovations. It is heatproof and doesn’t stain or scratch like granite and marble because it is nonporous. It also doesn’t require sealing, so it’s suitable for do it yourself projects. Just watch out – granite is heavy! Because they are engineered and don’t naturally come from the earth, quartz countertops can be fabricated in any size necessary to complete your kitchen renovation.

There are other stones and materials available to renovate your kitchens, but these are some of the most time-tested materials available for kitchen renovations. Contact us today for more information on how we can help you with your kitchen renovation.

Remodeling any room in your home can be a frustrating experience, but the kitchen may be one of the most important rooms to renovate. Three meals a day are typically made and eaten here, plus the kitchen is a space where people tend to congregate for snacks and drinks. It’s a hub of activity in many homes, so it stands to reason that you should invest in a solid kitchen renovation.

Countertops Can Change A Lot

Your countertops get a lot of use. From a place to stand and eat a snack to a space to chop vegetables and meat, your countertops need to be able to take a lot of wear and tear. You also want them to look nice, so consider options like marble countertops, granite countertops, or quartz countertops. Each of these is a bit different than the next, but a kitchen design store can help you decide which is the best for your home.

Appliances Make A Big Impact

Aside from your countertops, your appliances get a lot of use in the kitchen. Whether you’re baking a cake in the oven while making candy on the stovetop or melting chocolate in the microwave while chilling your ice cream bowl in the freezer, your appliances are getting frequent, if not constant, use. Choose appliances that make your home more efficient and try to match them with the countertops. This is easier than ever with all of the countertop and appliance options available today.

Floors And More

While appliances and countertops make up a big portion of a kitchen renovation, other aspects of your kitchen may need to be remodeled as well. Those include:

• Floors
• Cabinets
• Lighting
•  

You’ll want to research each of these in tandem with your appliances and countertops so you can ensure everything coordinates and works together. You don’t want your floors to clash with your countertops. Kitchen design stores can help you figure out which countertops to pick for your cabinets and which floors work with your countertops.

With a return on investment of 81% for minor remodeling, investing in your kitchen can increase your home’s value. Kitchen remodeling is a big task, but don’t let it overwhelm you. Use these simple tips to make your project a little bit easier: research countertops and how they differ, find appliances that can handle the way your family eats, and invest in floors, cabinets, and lighting that complement your space.

If you’re considering renovating your kitchen, you’re not alone. They are the most popular room to renovate in the home. Creating a new kitchen can bring new life to your home and make cooking dinner way more fun.

Renovating your kitchen also means that you get to make some design choices. Picking paint colors, cupboard styles, and flooring can be an exciting experience. You also get to choose the kind of countertops that you prefer. This can be a hard decision, though, especially with all of the options that are available. If you’re struggling to choose the perfect countertops for your kitchen, here are some tips to make the decision easier.

Consider the Color Options

Whether you go with marble countertops or decide that granite is right for you, there are going to be a variety of color options for each choice. Taking time to consider the color scheme you want for your entire kitchen can make choosing the material for your counters easier. You will want to choose something that is going to complement the cupboards, walls, and flooring that you pick. Granite tends to come in more earthy or neutral tones rather than colors that are bright or vibrant. This can be a nice option for someone who wants to have a modern, neutral kitchen. However, if you want to make things a little more fun and colorful, you could choose marble. Marble designs are often laced with different colors and can add some texture to a room.

Consider the Feel

If you care about the texture of your counters, then you will want to take that into consideration. Different materials are going to have different feels to them. Some options might be rougher while others will be silky and smooth. Others could be a mixture of the two. Take a second to consider what you want to feel as you run your hand over your counter. If you don’t like roughness, it might be best to steer clear of more textured options.

Consider the Price

Something else to think about is the price of the materials. You probably have a specific budget set for your renovation costs and need to fit your countertops into that budget. This can help you to eliminate materials that will cost too much and narrow down your options a bit. If you’re stuck between two favorites, you can pick the one that fits your budget better and make the choice easier.