One of the strongest natural materials known to man, the advantages of having granite countertops in a kitchen appear obvious. Countertops made of a stone that can only be cut by diamonds will likely stand up to the punishment dolled out by the average homeowner or relatives cook.
Granite has other advantages as well, however. In addition to being scratch resistant, granite won't yellow like Formica or hard plastic countertops, nor will it peel, stain, or crack. Hot plates are not necessary with granite countertops, & granite can withstand the hottest pots & pans, & a granite countertop can be used to make pasta & dough, as the finish is both resistant to bacteria, & polished so that it is non-stick. Finally, granite adds value to a home, because it is both stylish & long lasting.
The one options for homeowners who have decided to put in granite countertops are granite slabs & Granite Tile. Granite slabs are exactly what they sounds like – huge pieces of granite that lay on top of cabinets, with the slab of granite comprising the countertop. Granite slab countertops are virtually indestructible, as well as beautiful. However, the issue with granite slab countertops is twofold. To start with, because a slab of granite is so heavy, most cabinets will need to be reinforced to resist the weight of a slab being placed on top of it. This adds time & money to the cost of a kitchen remodel. Secondly, because granite slabs have intricate patterns, & those patterns cannot be replicated, all of the granite slabs in a kitchen must come from the same granite quarry. This limits the choices of owners, based on the size of their countertops, & makes granite slabs expensive.
Alternatively, homeowners can select granite tile countertops for their kitchen renovation projects. Granite tiles are usually no more that ½ inch thick, versus slabs which tend to be 1 ¼ inches thick, at the least. This means that cabinets usually won't need to be reinforced to permit for the installation of a granite tile countertop. Since these pieces of granite have been cut in to tiles, a granite tile countertop can be installed in the same manner as a tile floor or ceramic tile bathroom, a manageable task for the handy homeowner. Finally, because homeowners do not finish up purchasing as much granite with a granite tile countertop, & because granite tiles do not necessarily must come from the same quarry, their cost is much lower than that of granite slabs. In general, a granite tile countertop runs about 1/3 of the cost of a granite slab countertop.
With granite tile, homeowners reap plenty of of the same benefits that they would with a granite slab countertop. The durability of granite tiles far surpasses that of synthetic materials, the finish is the same as a granite slab countertop, & the antibacterial & non-stick properties are the same as well. However, granite tiles permit homeowners to economize on materials, as well as the expensive reinforcement of existing cabinets. This means that granite tile is a way to exhibit the beauty, durability, & value of granite, at a fraction of the cost.