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 bridge saws
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 accidentally 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.
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