Do granite countertops fade?

Unfortunately, they do. Just like the interiors of your car or any other thing, when the countertops are exposed to the sun rays for a long time, they fade or darken. The cool thing is that you can prevent them from fading.

You can do this by always keeping the blinds closed all the time, especially during the peak sunlight hours. Do you have an outdoor kitchen? Buy a cover for your countertops so that you can cover the units when you aren’t using them.

Has your countertop already faded? You don’t have to worry as you can have it repaired by a professional. The repair method depends on whether the countertop has been resined or not.

If resin hasn’t already been installed, you should ask a professional to hone and re-polish it. If the countertops have already been resined, the professional will prepare the appropriate dye for them, the apply it.

Are there granite countertop alternatives?

Again, yes, there are plenty of other alternatives that you can go with. Some of the alternatives to choose from include:

Marble: It’s often cheaper than granite and has an elegant look. Since its soft and porous, it tends to stain and etch easily. Due to this, you need to put a lot in order to keep it in good shape. If you don’t mind having to keep on cleaning it to keep the stains off, you should go ahead and get it.

Engineered stone: It’s made from small pieces of quartz mixed with a binder molded into countertop shapes. You should go for this option if you don’t like to undertake a lot of countertop maintenance. The pieces are also ideal for you if you are looking to create a minimal look.

This is because they come in only two colors: white or pure black.

While this option has its great features, its main flaw is that it’s expensive; therefore, when you are looking to install it, you should be ready to part with a substantial amount of money.

Stainless steel: Stainless steel has a number of features that make it a great option. It’s durable, easy to clean, and gives your kitchen a great industrial and modern look. The downside is that just like engineered stone, it’s expensive thus you need to dig deeper into your pockets to install it.

Concrete: Concrete countertops have raw elegance that is great to look at. The attractive thing about them is that you can pour them in any thickness of your desire creating any look that you want.

Butcher block: It has been voted as the next big thing in the countertop industry. Butcher block is cheap and when you install it, it gives your kitchen a beautiful, warm look especially when you match it with the right cabinets.

Are there health risks of using granite countertops?

Due to the presence of radon in granite countertops, some people are worried about the safety aspects of installing the countertops in their homes. If you have never heard about radon, it is a radioactive gas created by the natural decay of uranium found in rocks, soil, and water.

While granite countertops have these gas, experts have been able to show that the levels are extremely low to cause any harm. In fact, the levels are too low compared to those found in the sun, earth’s crust, and electrical appliances.

It’s always said that it’s better to be safe than sorry; therefore, for you to be safe that your countertop radon levels aren’t too high, you should have them tested before installation.

Are granite countertops overrated?

This totally depends on your perception. There are plenty of man-made materials in the market that are good looking and strong, but when it comes to natural stones, millions of people around the world still prefer installing granite.

This is most likely due to its stunning looks and awesome properties. Are you are looking to transform your kitchen, find an experienced granite company Raleigh NC, to help you with the installation.