Many of those who want to have their kitchen or bathroom countertops custom made choose granite for both durability and beauty. The many colors can integrate into almost any style or mood, from dramatic blacks to cool blues or greens, to warm browns. And being made of one of the hardest types of stone in the world, this material will handle all household wear and tear if properly sealed and cleaned. Choosing granite is a wise choice for many homeowners, whether they’re buying their first home or doing renovations on their existing residence.

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.

Another area where care must be taken is maintenance. Cleaning granite surfaces does not have to be hard, as long as a special sealant is added when the countertops are installed, and then refreshed yearly. With the adding of the sealant as a final detail, the kitchen and vanity counters should last for as long as the kitchen or bathroom remains. Having countertops custom made might require a lot of care and attention to detail during the process, but it will be worth it as these durable, beautiful surfaces add to the appeal and value of the home.

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