It is no secret that granite is one of the best natural stones you can choose for your interior design. Being such a resistant and versatile stone, granite countertops shine both in bathrooms and in kitchens. You can never go wrong with granite, but there are a few important questions you should ask when buying granite countertops.
In most cases, you can ask those questions directly to your contractor. You can even see the full granite slab before buying it. Think of it as research. You would want to have as much information as possible if you would buy a fridge, for example. Treat your future countertop the same way.
So let’s discuss what are those questions and the importance of asking them.
Looking for more information on granite countertops in order to make better informed choices? We can help you that! We gathered all of the most important information into a single text, our definitive guide on granite countertops. It’s the best way to get up-to-date on everything that granite has to offer to you.
Questions To Ask When Buying Granite Countertops: Price
This first one is pretty self-evident, right? The price is usually the starting point for most customers, and rightly so. You always want a balance between what’s affordable according to your budget and the quality of the material you’re going to acquire.
When thinking about price, it will usually be included the cost of the granite slab itself, plus the fabrication and the installation of the countertop itself. Installation and fabrication will roughly range from $25 to $50 per square meter. The cost of the stone however can vary greatly according to your supplier.
Questions To Ask When Buying Granite Countertops: Finish
Granite countertops can have three different finishes: polished, leathered, and honed.
The polished finished is the default one, and the more popular one also. It gives the countertop the classic shiny look most people love. But that is not your only option! That’s why is so important to ask about finishes to your contractor.
You can also go for the leathered finish, which is basically almost no finish at all, leaving the countertop with the natural color and texture of the original slab. The middle ground would be the honed surface, where the countertop will be smooth, but not polished, preserving the original color of the stone.
Is the Slab I See the One I Buy?
That is a very important question. Being a natural stone, every granite slab is different from each other. So when browsing a granite showroom and choosing a slab, make sure that’s the one your get.
Don’t let anyone convince you otherwise, some contractors will display their most beautiful pieces but try to sell you another one saying it is “just the same”. It never is, don’t let yourself be fooled.
The Importance of Sealing
Granite countertops need to be sealed. That’s kinda non-negotiable. Not sealing your countertop can be catastrophic in the long run and will end up making you have to acquire a new countertop sooner than you think. In fact, a sealed granite countertop, when properly cleaned and maintained, can last for a lifetime.
So make sure to ask about the sealing process with your contractor. Maybe the cost is already included in the installation process. If it isn’t, ask for it and include it in the final price. Again, sealing is a very important step and not something you want to skip.
Special Requests
Maybe your design is particular in some way. Maybe you need a very specific layout, a very different cut, or a different edging. There are many ways in which your design can be different, so make sure to talk about that to your contractor.
Maybe they are not equipped to deal with a specific request and can only do basic cuts and edges. In that case, you are free to look for a new contractor or find a middle ground between what you want and what your current contractor can provide.
Be as it may, explaining your vision and asking questions about the possibility or not of bringing it to real life is really important right from the beginning.
A Good Contractor Makes all the Difference
As previously mentioned, granite is an excellent choice. Those questions serve as a guideline to help you choose the right material without expending more money than you have to, or at least knowing upfront how much you’re going to spend.
A proper contractor will not only help you with all those questions but actively participate in the process of reaching the best possible outcome for your home design. Here at Eagle Stones, we are proud to provide that service, amongst many others related to the fabrication and installation of stone products, countertops included.
Feel free to reach us through our phone number +1 941-227-2000 or through our email at sales@eaglestonesusa.com. We’ll be happy to hear from you and help you with any countertop need you might have.
