This rock is so tough that only a diamond-edged cutter or another piece of granite can be used to trim it to the desired shape. Its toughness, however, can also be its disadvantage. When you are in a hurry and slice a piece of food directly on the granite countertop, there's a big chance that your knife will become dull because of it.

Granite comes from magma, which is volcanic rock, and is quarried in some countries in Southern Africa, South America, and Europe. These slabs, which must be as large as possible, are then transported to a granite processing factory in Italy.

One of the factors causing the high cost of granite is the difficulty of harvesting it. They cannot be loosened from the earth with blasting because it is necessary to get the biggest portions possible. The larger the slab cuts are, the higher their prices will be.

Unrivaled durability

Granite countertops are heat resistant, scratchproof, and will not blister, unlike the cheaper countertop materials. You can set hot pots and pans on its surface even without using trivets, and this is a boon for people who cook rapidly and handle a lot of utensils at a time.

During the processing of granite, the surface is sanded, showing the beautiful patterns coming from a combination of mica, quartz, and feldspar plus a host of other chemical components. A sealant is applied on a cut slab to give it gloss and to protect the stone from spills which can seep through the rock.

This sealant, however, can wear away when acidic substances are accidentaly spilled on its surface. Vinegar or juice, when not immediately mopped off, can eat away at the sealant albeit very gradually. It is also not advisable to use harsh cleaning products whose acid content can do the same damage. Instead, use mild cleansers with neutral pH.

Natural beauty of granite

This natural stone now comes in various colors: black, gray, pink, green, red, blue, and more. Beige and brown are the most popular ones so far because neutral colors can go with almost any Kitchen Countertop motif.

It is said that no two granite blocks are identical, even if you choose the same color, size or shape. This is because being natural stones, the granularities and patterns in each one have evolved over the years, making each piece truly unique. Thus, the patterns you see on brochure or website samples may not be the ones that end up in your kitchen.

If you're particular about picking out the perfect granite kitchen countertop, then you have to personally visit the showroom of your choice and have the particular granite slab reserved.

It wasn't too long ago when granite was only used in palaces, mansions, and 5-star hotels. Now, you can enjoy the beauty of natural stone right while you're enjoying your morning latte.