How To Choose Countertops And Which One Is Better

Countertops are considered to have a great impact on the feel and look of your kitchen. While choosing countertops, a number of factors must be taken into consideration such as cost, durability, weight, aesthetics and upkeep. While considering the budget, the maximum price must be considered and the reason for availing the countertops must also be determined by you.

You must ensure that each work zone must be customized with the most appropriate surface. In order to save money, luxury materials must be installed at that place where it is required.

The options of materials should also be explored by you, depending on the utility and price. The common varieties of materials available are rock maple, laminate, marble, granite, limestone, engineered stone and stainless steel.

Marble v/s Granite Countertops

Marble and granite are considered to be the most preferred options as they both lend elegance and beauty to your home. They are available in several varieties and are capable of suiting any preference. A detailed description of both the materials will help you in deciding the one that is suitable for your home.

Marble is a metamorphic rock and its basic ingredient is limestone, which is a sedimentary form of calcium. Though marble is durable, it is considered to be porous and can be easily destroyed by heat, acid and even, water. Every year, a seal coating needs to be religiously applied but that can be destroyed by high heat from pans, citric acids and abuse from water. Owing to the fact that it is porous, it can also easily get stained. Marble is considered to be ideal for use in sculpting art or low traffic areas. In case of high traffic use like kitchen or bathroom countertops, it requires high maintenance.

Like marble, Granite is also a metamorphic rock that is made up of ingredients like silicon, mica, quartz, feldspar and various other minerals. Granite is resistant to acids and chemicals and is not as porous as marble. The presence of quartz provides hardness and durability to granite. In comparison to marble, granite is more stain and wear resistant. With proper care and proper seal coating, granite is likely to last for years without staining, scratching, wearing away or chipping and for this reason; it is perfect for use as countertops. Unlike marble, it requires low maintenance.

Advantages of Granite Tile Countertops

Besides adding to your home’s aesthetic appeal, granite tile countertops are the best alternative to the expensive solid granite countertops. The granite tiles are available in diameter of 12, 24 or 36 inches. It offers a wide variety that fits with almost any design scheme. Its beauty complements with majority of cabinetry style. It is capable of withstanding heat and serves as a perfect surface for handling confectionary and rolling dough. With granite tile countertops, you can enjoy the benefits of solid granite countertops, at a cheaper rate.

Tips for maintaining a granite countertop

You need to follow some basic steps in order to maintain the beauty, longevity and durability of your granite countertops for years:

- The granite countertops need to be wiped daily by means of a mild cleanser and soft rag. Stains and heavy dirt must be cleaned immediately so that it does not make it into the granite. Potential staining problems can also be prevented by availing stone polish that is designed for granite counter tops. In this manner, your countertop will surely look great.

- You should often buff your countertop by means of an old terry cloth towel so that any sort of streaking that occurred, gets removed. Though at the time of installation, the countertops are sealed, the reapplication is required every few years in order to protect its appearance.

- Placing hot items or dropping heavy items on the countertops should also be avoided. Though granite is very strong, placing heavy items, especially on the fissure line can chip or break the countertop. On the other hand, hot pans or pots can damage the sealer of the countertop.

- You also should not stand on them, especially on the overhangs as excess weight can chip and break the counterpart or cut directly on them as it can damage the sealant and cause a bit of streaking.

Granite countertops are considered to be the best owing to its natural beauty, durability and usability level that meets the demand of every household. It offers a number of advantages in comparison to marble and is much more durable and cost-effective than it. So, go ahead and avail the countertop of your choice.


Writing is my life and I love it. I write a lot of articles and blogs to relay all of my experience about Granite Counters . To know more about Granite Counters Chino visit the website yourhomeaccents.com.