Once thought of as a luxury, granite is quickly becoming a popular countertop material.
Here's how to find the granite that's right for your kitchen Countertops must not only satisfy
homeowner's craving for a certain style but must also meet the functional demands of being a
used and abused surface. More and more, granite is the material of choice thanks to its
natural durability and visual appeal. "It's the luxurious look of the stone that lures
homeowners first, but the practicality that grabs them in the end," says Vicki Smith, designer
and owner of Dallas-based Active Marble Inc.

The Material: Granite, found from Brazil to North Dakota, is a igneous rock composed
primarily of mica, feldspar and quartz. It's also the second-hardest stone, next to diamond.
Granite is also naturally resistant to heat scratching and bacteria. "In many ways, it's the ideal
kitchen countertop material,". says Cheri Antozak, CKD, CBD, NKBA member and owner
of Grandville, Michigan-based Interiors by Cheri. "You can take hot pans off the stove or
out of the oven and place them directly on the counter without having to be concerned that
you will damage the surface.".

How to Choose: Color choices range from basic blacks and whites to brilliant blues and
greens. "If you have a kitchen with streamlined cabinets and lots of stainless steel, you'll want
to use a dark shade of granite like a greenish black Uba Tuba, " Antozak says. In a more
traditional kitchen, colors such as Gold Juparanna, a brownish yellow work well. Because
there is often a wide variety between the showroom samples and the actual quarried stock,
both designers and fabricators suggest handpicking each slab at the suppliers warehouse. If
the granite you want must be special ordered, ask the slab yard to send pictures of the
individual slabs for approval before they are shipped to the fabricator to ensure you get the
look you want.

Care and Maintenance: Because granite is a porous material, each slab must be
sealed to make it moisture and stain resistant. Once sealed, all that is needed for
everyday care is water, a sponge and a dry cloth. Abrasive cleaners and scouring pads
should never be used because they can damage the protective finish, explains Antozak.
For difficult stains like oil and grease, first try a mild detergent and water. If that doesn't
work, Barb Macgillivary, representative of Great Lakes Granite Works in Comstock
Park, Michigan, recommends a rug cleaner by the name K2R. {Spray the stain with the
cleaner, cover it with a plastic wrap and by morning the stain will be gone she says.

Cost: In recent years, dealers have dropped prices of common granites to compete
with Avonite, Corian, Surell and other solid surfacing choices. {Spending upwards to
$200 a square foot for granite counters used to be normal." Smith says, {but these
days, it's possible to outfit and entire kitchen for as little as $65 a square foot. "The
price of a granite counter is based primarily on the rarity of the stone. Of course, special
edging and extra cutouts for multiple sinks and cooktops add to the price. Using tiles
(designed primarily for flooring applications) will bring the price sown because a
fabricator can get more 12 inch square tiles than slabs out of one piece of granite.
Installation will cost more, however, because laying tile is much more time consuming
than installing a slab. To get the very best deal on granite, ask your fabricator about
remnants. Smith says remnants can cost 30 to 50 percent less than the normal price.
{Just remember the final look may not be uniform in color and texture she says

Why You Should Choose Granite?

Taken from a Woman's Day Issue