Granite Countertops

Benefits of Granite Countertops

Granite countertops add a certain depth and character to an existing kitchen or bathroom. This natural stone is stain and scratch resistant. In fact, you probably will never have to worry about scratches with granite countertops.

Stains too are unlikely to be a problem, as granite is such a hard and dense stone that it is very resistant to absorbing stains. If you do manage to stain your granite countertops, simply scrub with one part white vinegar to two parts warm or hot water.

Though it is unlikely that your granite countertops will stain, it can happen. For really tough stains, try letting the affected area soak in straight white vinegar overnight. This should help leech the stain out of the granite.

Though it is not recommended by most granite countertops manufacturers, one may carefully apply concentrated bleach to very difficult stains. You should probably keep an eye on such a bleach application though, as you can't be certain that the bleach will not affect the color of the granite in some way.

Most granite countertops manufacturers recommend a kind of silicone sealing treatment to add protection from stains. This type of protective sealant is usually applied when the granite countertops are first installed, as well as once again each year.

There are differing views as to the effectiveness of such granite sealing treatments. Where some feel it's worth the added peace of mind, others feel that sealing granite is rather unnecessary.

While many proponents of the granite sealing treatments argue that it helps protect food preparation areas, others point out that simply washing the surface regularly will keep it perfectly clean.

For regular cleaning, dish soap and warm water are all one needs to clean their granite countertops. For extra disinfecting cleansing, use a vinegar and water solution; again, the mixture being about one part white vinegar to two parts warm or hot water.

You can use the vinegar and water cleanser every day to kill germs, or just every week or so. Vinegar is a powerful disinfectant and is perfectly capable of keeping food areas safe and clean.

Though there are several granite countertop cleansers on the market, it is questionable whether these products are any more effective. At the same time, the vast majority of the commercially prepared granite cleaners are not going to be non-toxic, as are soap, water and vinegar.

If one is really concerned about the sanitary conditions of the countertop on which food is prepared, it seems to me that avoidance of harmful chemicals being used on food preparation areas would be just as important as keeping the area clean of food residue.

Unless you have a rare stain or other granite cleaning problem, I see no reason why sticking to natural cleaners would be a problem. Granite countertops are wonderful because of the warm, earthy tone they give a room, but also for their lasting durability. Regular washing with soapy water and the occaissional vinegar will keep your granite countertops beautiful for years to come.

Here's The Best Way To Clean Granite Countertop Surfaces

For the most part, granite countertops will never suffer from deep scratches or stains due to normal wear and tear. In fact, granite is so hard and dense that it is unlikely to ever give you such a puzzle. But if you do find a scratch, try this: Find "000" steel wool or finer. Carefully scrub n a ci...

What You Need To Know About Cleaning Granite Countertops

In order to remove more stubborn residue, such as gum, glue or hardened drink mix, use a box cutter or razor blade, tipped carefully to an angle. Scrape over the affected area until most or all of the substance has been removed. After using a razor blade or similar tool to scrape off difficult re...

Pick Color Selections for Granite Countertops

If the pictures of the various colors of granite are high quality, you may be able to print out pictures of colors that interest you instead of ordering samples. Take either printouts or real samples of the various granite color selections, and look at them in the room in which the granite counte...

Colors of Granite Countertops - What You Can Choose From

If you're bathroom already has a particular color scheme, in terms of wall paint and decorative accents, a starting point would be to choose a complimentary color or another shade of that color. Let's say that your bathroom has nice pink or peach walls with stunning white trim around the windows ...

Discount Granite Counter Tops - Get The Best Value For Your Dollar

Whether you buy your discount granite counter tops on the internet or at a physical, retail location, the internet is a hugely valuable tool. With the internet, you can comparison shop over a selection of hundreds of thousands of stores without having to leave your computer. Using the internet, y...

Discount Granite Countertops - Where To Find Them

Here you will be able to talk with others who have more experience with installing granite countertops. Learning all you can about choosing and installing granite countertops before you commit to the project yourself, can save you so much frustration and money. And who doesn't want to save money ...

How To Find A Granite Counter Top Wholesaler

The only drawback is that the top consumer reports sites are not free, but the memberships are generally reasonable. That's not to say that there aren't many community type websites that are populated with some very informative and helpful people, and that are free too. But it takes a little more...

Learn About The Granite Counter Top

Bodies of magma that solidify underground before they reach the surface of the earth are called plutons, named for Pluto, the Roman god of the underworld. Correspondingly, rocks of this kind are also referred to as igneous plutonic rocks. Granite is not a substance that can be whipped up in a moder...

Learn About The Granite Counter Top Continued...

Near horizontal intrusions along bedding planes between strata are called intrusive sills. Granite has been intruded into the crust, outer layer, of the Earth during all of its geologic periods. Granite is widely distributed throughout the continental crust of the Earth and is the most abundant ba...

Online Granite Counter Tops Kitchen Gallery For Your Pleasure

In fact, even if you plan to buy your next granite counter top from a local retailer, the internet is a great way to do some preliminary research and find out what all is available. You may be surprised to find out what you learn about the differences between different colors or brands of granite co...

The Best Granite Countertop Cleaner - Why Settle For Anything Less

Granite countertops can last generations upon generations with very little maintenance. The amount of cleaning and maintenance that is required to properly maintain a granite countertop may surprise you. The best granite countertop cleaner is simply warm water and dish soap. If you require extra ...

Granite Countertop Cleaners - Only Use The Best

Granite countertops are made of such hard and durable natural stone, that you will probably never have to worry about scratches on the surfaces of your countertops. However, if you do come across a scratch, the best thing to do is to carefully work it out by scrubbing the area with a very fine steel...

Granite Countertop Colors - What They Can Do For You

Movement is the additional color pattern that may be found in addition to the background or main color of granite. When you see the way that combining movement and color makes a given style of granite its character, you see how easy it is for no two pieces of granite to look exactly alike. There wil...

Why You Would Choose Granite Kitchen Countertops

Even if you are able to find the type of granite that you want in your area, you should at least consider the deals that you can find on the internet. Sure, you have to pay for shipping, but sometimes the deal or finding that odd color or pattern, is simply worth shopping on the internet. Are you...

Granite Tile Countertop - It's a Simple Decision

Since you do not require as large of pieces of granite for a granite tile countertop, you may be able to find some sort of deal on granite tiles. In fact, granite tiles are generally less expensive than the same area of tile in slab form. A granite tile countertop is the perfect thing to take on ...

Granite Vanity Countertop - The Style And Elegance

If you have decided that you want to use glass blocks and if you fancy yourself an amateur architect, designing with glass block just got easier. There is EZ Design software powered by SketchUp that lets you start with loose proportions and add exact dimensions and details as you go. You can wor...

Granite Vanity Countertop - The Style And Elegance Continued...

For ways to create your own relaxing space, think out-of-the-box. Asian-inspired open-base vanities and faucets or traditional granite vanity countertops are spacious, simple solutions. These ideas will work even in the smallest bath. There are new formats in tubs that offer the luxury of a de...

Installing Granite Tile Countertops - The Do It Yourself Guide

This defeats much of the purpose of opting for pre-cut, easy to install kits. But then again, perhaps you'd like to do most of the work yourself but lack the tools for cutting granite. Actually, there are several modular granite tile countertop systems that make it easy for you to install your ow...

Wholesale Granite Countertops - What To Look For

It's all about the research. With the internet, it's relatively simple to carry out some comparison research in order to determine the fair market price of your next granite countertops. With a couple of hours of research and exploring different online granite dealers, you'll be able to determine av...

How To Install Wood Countertops

If you are keeping your existing cabinets then you might consider refinishing them now while you are replacing the counters. You will need to attach the wood top with wood screws and washers to the cabinet box. If you like you can set it using wood glue and then attach with the screws and washer...