Newly Installed Granite In Our Phoenix Office

Many of us have the luxury of owning our own businesses, homes, and vacation homes. We just remodeled the interior of one of our offices in Arizona. My business partner had bought out an industrial space in Phoenix and completely remodeled the interior of the space before moving any employees into it. The new office space has an open floor plan and is equipped with a beautiful employee kitchen and eating area. As we discussed this project prior to completing it, we determined there were some touches we really wanted to make it unique to us and our business. Granite countertops was one of those must have items we wanted all throughout the office. We had a granite installer in Phoenix come in and measure all the surface areas and confirm path we could install the natural stone in both bathrooms and the kitchen area. They took measurements and confirmed that they had enough granite material to cover all the surface space in the kitchen and bathrooms. At that, I will leave you with this. Granite is beautiful, durable, and highly recommended. Below you will find my take on granite, enjoy!

As few as thirty years ago, the only people who knew about granite were geologists. When granite first made its debut as a countertop, it came in limited colors and it was very expensive. These countertops were so expensive, people who opted to have them installed could not expect a fair return on investment. Fast-forward thirty years, and granite is the go-to natural stone used in homes and businesses as the countertop of choice. Its varied designs and colors as well as its durability have made granite countertops increasingly popular in many American homes. Granite is something homeowners nowadays, well, take for granted!

Your parents or grandparents had to muddle through with tile, solid surfacing or plastic laminate countertops; not so anymore. Countertops have grown up and become their very own status symbol. Years ago, an entire kitchen would cost the same amount as a few slabs of granite today, but in its defense, the granite is much stronger and longer-lasting than any of the countertops of yesteryear. While laminate countertops peel and tile countertops chip, granite countertops will last until you decide to replace them, not because you must replace them. Plus, the granite’s natural colors can be used to highlight the kitchen, making it a showpiece of the home.

Granite is known as an igneous rock, which means “born of fire”. Granite is formed from molten magna far beneath the Earth’s crust and then it hardened as the Earth cooled. Formulated of quartz, feldspar and mica, these large mineral grains fit tightly together. As the most common rock in the continental crust, it is mined and cut into slabs, where it is polished and sold mainly for use as bathroom and kitchen countertops. While granite is generally lighter in color, it is noted for its “vein” or “flecks” of darker color that come from additional minerals in the granite. Granite does not crack or chip easily, and it is very easy to clean, making it a desirable kitchen workplace. It is highly scratch resistant and can withstand hot pots and plates without damaging its surface, making it an excellent product for both kitchen and bath counters. While it is scratch resistant, it is also a very porous material, so cutting directly on the granite is not advised. Germs and bacteria can build which can lead to some health hazards. It is important to have the granite countertop sealed preferably once a year to help protect against its porous nature and to ensure it doesn’t succumb to stains. Once granite has been damaged or broken, it is difficult to repair. A stone restoration professional should be called to assess the damage and to see if the stone can be repaired. The other major drawback to granite is that it is not a ‘green’ substance; its harvesting process requires digging up the Earth to retrieve it.

Having granite installed in the kitchen or bathroom is a great long term investment. Since it is so durable and easy to clean, it is very desirable, especially when it comes time to sell your home. Granite, when well cared for, will outlast even soapstone and quartz when used in a bathroom or kitchen. Aesthetically, they are beautiful, and you can select the colors and the amount of mineral color you would like to run through it. If you appreciate the veins and flecks, you can get something with more character, while granite offers subtle colorations, too. With so many different colors and patterns to choose from, and the durability of the rock itself, it’s no wonder granite is such a popular natural stone.

As with many types of natural stone, there are variations, and not just in the color. “Granite” is a loose term; natural stone dealers consider granite to be any type of rock with big grains and hard minerals which may not technically be considered granite by geologists. Natural stone dealers can have the granite quarried into a dimension stone, a natural rock that is cut into slabs of a certain length, width and thickness. Natural stone dealers know that granite, in the broad sense, can be used not only for durable countertops, but also for headstones and monuments. Found in such places as Yosemite Valley, California, and Pike’s Peak, Colorado, granite is abundant and beautiful. Even Mount Rushmore in South Dakota was carved in granite almost 80 years ago, and the presidents look like they haven’t aged a day. The rocks resistance to acid rain and general weathering make it an excellent outdoor choice for these purposes, as well. To say granite is rock hard is giving too much credit to the term “rock hard”; granite is virtually stronger than steel. Second only to diamonds in hardness, granite is an excellent choice for heavy duty jobs.

Granite is plentiful, especially in areas like India and Brazil, where it is less expensive to extract from the ground due to labor costs. Once it was determined that there was a demand for granite, more and more sites began mining it, causing costs to drop and the color options to increase. In the United States, the areas with the most granite are Massachusetts, Georgia, New Hampshire, South Dakota, and Idaho.

Granite comes in so many colors and styles, it is best to work with an expert when selecting which will work best in your home. Selecting a natural stone like granite will bring a warmth and elegance to your home, and its ease of care is unmatched. While initially the cost may seem expensive, the durability and longevity of the stone will give you your money’s worth. This natural stone is unique in each slab, and it never loses its brilliance, even as it ages. You will want to make sure that you seal your granite at least once a year to protect it from oils and stains. Since the material is so porous, items like red wine and mustard can’t add colors to your granite that you don’t really want! Like most materials, the better you care for it, the longer it will last.