granite

Jan 26 2021

Is It Worth Getting Granite Countertops?

If you have been talking to your friends about renovating your home, everyone must be telling you to install granite. While the stone has been around for ages, is it worth getting granite countertops?

There is no definite answer to this, as it depends on you. To help you make an informed decision, here are a few granite features you should know about before making the purchase. Go through them and decide whether granite counters are worth it.

The cost

If you have been shopping for stone kitchen countertops, you must have noticed they don’t come cheap. In fact, price is one of the prime reasons most homeowners go for cheaper alternatives such as laminate.

While the laminates are cheaper to purchase, they don’t last as long as granite, so you have to replace them more often. If you do your calculations, you will find that granite is much cheaper when you factor in the durability aspect.

To get a great countertop deal, don’t be in a hurry when buying. Take time to visit different countertop stores and compare their prices. Avoid buying from the big box stores as they not only sell their countertops at premium prices, but they also don’t have many countertop options to choose from.

Instead, buy from the small countertop stores. There you will find many countertop options, not to mention these stores don’t sell their countertops at high prices.

Quality

Granite is one of the toughest countertop materials you can install in your home. The only thing you need to do is clean and seal the countertops so stains don’t get to the deeper layers.

Although the countertops are tough, and you can chop, slice, and even bake on them, avoid doing it often as you risk scratching the surfaces, hence giving your surfaces an ugly look.

Instead, always have a chopping board in place at all times. To avoid stains and spills on the countertops, have coasters, pads, trivets, and other items that will provide your countertops with an extra layer of protection.

The cool thing is, once you take good care of the countertops, they last forever.

Natural beauty

Since granite is obtained from a natural stone, no two slabs are the same. This gives you a variety of colors and textures, so when you install the countertops, you can be sure no other person in the world has the same countertop slab.

To buy countertops that match your home design, take your time to try different slabs and see how they come in.

As a rule of thumb, never buy a slab from the store. This is because the slab might look good in the store, but otherwise in your home. The right thing to do is to carry the slab home and see how it looks there. Remember, the slab’s look varies depending on the lighting conditions and other factors, so you will have to try out different slabs before you find the find the most ideal for your home.

The heat resistance

Granite is natural, so it can withstand high temperatures. While this is the case, you should note that the countertops aren’t heatproof. This means when you regularly expose them to high temperatures, they are bound to get damaged.

To protect the surfaces from damage, avoid placing hot pots and pans directly on them. Instead, have a trivet in place all the time where you set your hot pots and pans.

Installation

One of the major misconceptions is that granite is tough to install, but this isn’t the case. While the installation isn’t a DIY project, installing the countertops isn’t hard, especially when an expert does the work.

If buying the countertops from the small countertop stores, you don’t have to worry too much about granite countertop installers, as most of these stores have their own installation professionals that don’t come at premium prices.

If you have to hire the installers, take your time to interview three to five of them and settle on the most qualified charging a sensible fee.

Yay or Nay

After reading the above guide, do you think granite counters are worth getting? It’s all up to you. If you think they are worth it, have them installed by experienced granite installers. You also should take good care of them, so they last for a long time.

Dec 12 2020

How to Remove Hard Water Stains from Granite Countertops

Granite is tough and can withstand plenty of elements, but if you live in areas with hard water, your granite can develop hard water stains giving your counters a dull, ugly look.

To restore your countertops to their former glory, you need to get rid of the stains. How do you do this? Here are tips on how to remove hard water stains from granite countertops:

Why does hard water stain granite?

With all the granite toughness, the last thing you expect is for something as simple as water to stain it. If you are like other homeowners, you have your granite counters in the kitchen or bathroom. These places have water all the time, so the hard water is always in contact with your counters.

Hard water contains magnesium and calcium. When you allow water to sit on your counters for a long time, the water evaporates, leaving the hard deposits behind. Over time, the deposits accumulate, and you end up with dull, whitish stains on your countertops.

Although hard water stains don’t harm your countertops, they get harder to remove with time.

How to remove hard water stains from granite countertops

How you remove the stains varies depending on the type of stains you have. To help you out, here are tips on how to remove them:

Removing light stains

If there are only a few stains, you can remove them using a mild detergent and water on a sponge. You can also use a cleaning product tailored for cleaning granite.

The cool thing with light water stains is they are easy to remove. If the sponge doesn’t clean the stains, use a brush with soft bristles or a toothbrush. You should put the cleanser on the stain, then gently scrub it with your brush to lift the mineral deposits.

Once you are done, rinse the countertops with clean water and dry with a towel.

If you don’t want this, you can use a designated granite cleaner. Let the cleaner sit on the stain for at least 30 minutes to loosen the minerals, then gently scrub the counters with a soft brush. Finally, rinse and dry the counters once the stain is gone.

Removing slightly stubborn hard water stains

If you have tried the above tricks and none is working, try out the baking soda. Create a baking soda paste, apply it to the hard water stain, and gently scrub it with a soft bristle brush.

Once you are done, rinse it with fresh water and dry the countertops with a towel.

Getting rid of stains around faucets

It’s normal to have water rings around the base of the faucet. If your countertops have the rings, bring out the big guns—a putty knife or razor blade. Ensure the knife’s edge is flat against granite, then remove the mineral deposits by pushing the blade against the stains.

Be cautious when doing it and ensure you apply gentle pressure, so you don’t make gouges in the stone surface or damage the sealant.

If you are doing the right thing, the buildup will flake off, and all you need to do is wipe it with a sponge, rinse the countertops with clean water and dry them with a towel.

If you try removing the stains with the putty knife, but you make little progress, use a sharp, clean razor blade. Like with the knife, ensure the razorblade is level with the granite, then work slowly while loosening the mineral deposits.

Besides taking care not to damage your countertops with the sharp edges, take care not to cut your fingers.

How can you prevent stains from coming about?

Although it’s hard to avoid granite stains, you can reduce their chances of forming. How do you do this?

Protect the sealant

Granite is naturally porous, and when you don’t protect the sealant, the sealant comes off, increasing the chances of stains forming.

Stay away from acidic cleaners.

You should never use acidic cleaners, even natural ones such as lemon or vinegar, as they etch the surfaces giving the stains easy access. You also should steer clear of steel wool and other abrasive materials that can scratch the surfaces.

Reseal the countertops

Even with the best care, it’s common for the seal to wear out. To keep your countertops protected, reseal the counters at least once a year. You can do the resealing or hire expert granite installers to help you out.