When renovating a kitchen, many women request the installation of a granite countertop. Not only are they extremely durable, they are also beautiful and very functional.

A granite countertop will give you many years of natural beauty. Granite is comprised of many different types of stone, such as mica and quartz, which gives it a distinctive appearance. Within granite you will find many different colours, or simply dashes of clear quartz, which sparkles just a little in the light to give it depth. No two pieces are alike, so you need to do all your countertops at the same time so they match best.

When purchasing a granite countertop, there are many options available, starting with colour. There are blacks, greys, and lighter not quite whites, or earth tones in tans, browns, even russets. Depending on what you are creating, a contemporary kitchen or a more traditional, even country type kitchen, the colour of your countertop will play a very large role in achieving the look you desire. On top of the colour, there is the edge to consider. The standard edge is a bevelled quarter inch. However, there are many other edges to choose from, but they will be an additional charge. Sometimes, though, the edge makes the countertop more special and can help blend in different aspects of your cabinetry or decor.

You do have to care for a granite countertop. They make cleaners especially for granite countertops that help maintain the shine and beauty. You must be careful not to spill acidic food or liquids on them, as it will eat at the finish and your granite countertop can absorb it, creating stains. Also, you have to reseal your granite countertop every couple of years. This is not difficult; just follow the directions on the sealant, which are very easy to follow.

The most wonderful thing about a granite countertop is the very reason why it is prized by professional pastry chefs and the home baker alike. It is wonderfully heat resistant. You can roll out a piecrust on a granite countertop and it won’t stick to it like it does a wooden countertop. The cold granite makes the butter in the pie crust solidify quicker, so as you roll it out it chills and allows the dough to simply be released without a hassle. This is also why it is nice for cooling fresh baked goods. You will still want something between your countertop and the food item, but the granite countertop will actually help to release the heat from your pie, cake or cookies much quicker than traditional countertops.

Due to a granite countertop being a natural stone, it cannot be warranted against anything except maybe the installation. Should a section get broken, you will never have a very close match again, but it will still be attractive. One last thing to think about before installing a granite countertop: you have to be absolutely certain that your cabinetry can stand the weight of it or they will simply collapse due to the great burden.

If you are looking for marble worktops, then choose Do Stone who are a specialist Granite Company near London.

[tags]granite worktops[/tags]