Having Granite Countertops Custom Made

People who want their kitchen or bathroom countertops custom made often choose granite, for its beauty as well as for its durability. Choosing from the many colors, they can match virtually any style of decor, whether it involves warm browns, cool blues or greens, or dramatic blacks. And since granite is one of the hardest stones in the world, it can handle most normal household usage when sealed and cleaned properly. Choosing granite for custom countertops is a very smart choice, whether the homeowner is renovating their current abode or has just bought a new home.

Granite kitchen countertops and bathroom vanity tops can, of course, come in a prefab form. That is, certain types of popular granite blocks are pre-cut into standard sizes that only await the final placing and cutting of holes for sinks and plumbing. While these prefab counters are less expensive, they also preclude many of the more exotic granite colors and patterns, and can't be used in non-standard kitchen or bathroom designs. Custom made countertops, on the other hand, allows for a wider range of colors and shapes.

Cutting a granite slab is a precise science and the measurements must be done with care to ensure the granite countertop installation goes off without a hitch. After all, once the holes for sinks and plumbing are cut into the stone, the cutting can't be undone if the measurements were wrong. And the width of the backsplash or the clearance for appliances will also have to be taken into account. Additionally, for some kitchen countertops, the original slab of stone may not be as long as the counter requires, so there is likely to be one seam at least. To have countertops custom made is a detailed and meticulous process, since granite leaves little margin for error.

The homeowner can't forget proper maintenance either. The cleaning of granite isn't hard if the proper sealant is added when the counters are installed, and refreshed each year after that. Adding the sealant as the final touch at installation will help the stone countertops last for as long as the home does. It may involve a lot of careful and detailed work, but having countertops custom made will add value and beauty to the home, and will be well worth the expense.

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