A guide to choosing granite worktops

Pros of Granite worktops

There are many pros and cons of granite worktops, from durability of the material to the cost. Here are the key pros and cons to consider:

Highly Durable

Granite worktops are highly durable, with granite being one of the hardest natural materials available on the market, second only to diamond. This means granite worktops can last for decades providing they’ve been looked after properly. While they can be scratched, the hardness of the material means doing so would require an extreme amount of force.

Stain & Heat Resistant

Being stain and heat resistant makes granite worktops the ideal choice when it comes to your kitchen. When properly sealed, granite worktops are fully heat resistant, preventing any form of marks when hot pans, dishes and more are placed on the surface. Being sealed also means that granite worktops are easy to clean and maintain, with only water and soap needed to clean the surface.

Hygienic

Another benefit of granite worktops and having them properly sealed is they’re much more hygienic than other materials. Being sealed prevents bacteria and moisture being let in, and means the non-porous material can be much easier to clean than those that do let in bacteria and moisture such as wood.

Increase Home Value

Not only are they practical, granite worktops look great. With them being aesthetically pleasing, granite worktops tend to compliment any kitchen design. Being both practical and improving your kitchen’s design, this ultimately results in your home increasing in value.

Many people tend to invest in new granite countertops as they come with a range of benefits for day to day use, and add value to your home if you were to sell it later down the line.

Cons of Granite worktops

Can be cold

With granite worktops being stone and heat resistant, they can be cold to the touch especially in colder parts of the year.

Can be expensive

Granite is a luxury material, which does tend to mean a bigger price tag unfortunately. Materials such as wood, laminate and more all tend to be much cheaper options, but come with less benefits.

Heavy

Granite worktops are extremely heavy, and will need strong kitchen units to support them. If your kitchen doesn’t have strong kitchen units, they may not be able to support the stone, especially if you choose a thicker option. The weight of these worktops also means that when they’re installed, there will need to be multiple people there to carry and fit the countertops.

To read more about the pros and cons of granite worktops, read our blog post ‘Granite Kitchen Worktops: Pros & Cons’.

How to choose the right size

Choosing the right size worktop can be difficult but is usually based on three factors; the cost, durability, and the supporting units. It would also be worth considering how each thickness would work in your kitchen design.

When it comes to cost, bigger/thicker countertops will come at a higher price than smaller and thinner options for the obvious reason of the more stone used, the more expensive it will be.

Due to granite being a heavy material, you would need to ensure your units can withstand the weight of granite worktops, and wouldn’t get damaged or break under the granite. When choosing your supplier for the worktops, in most cases the company will run a check on your worktops beforehand to make sure they can support granite worktops if chosen.

Before choosing the thickness of your worktops, it’s important to plan your kitchen out, and see if it may need to be thinner in some places to accommodate kitchen utilities or other objects.

Still unsure on granite worktop sizing? Read more on this topic in our blog post ‘Granite Countertop Size & Thickness Options’.

How much do granite worktops cost?

With there being so many different variants of granite worktops, from sizes, colours, thicknesses, and more, the price can be varied too. Granite worktops can typically range anywhere from £100/m2 to £1000/m and beyond. Prices can also fluctuate depending on which supplier you go with.

Read more on this topic in our blog post ‘How much do granite worktops cost? Factors to consider’.

How to choose the right supplier

Choosing the right supplier for your granite worktops can be tricky. Here are a few things to look out for when choosing a supplier:

Inventory

The last thing you want after choosing your ideal worktop is to find out the supplier doesn’t offer it. Have a look around, see what variants different suppliers offer. You may find that your perfect granite worktop is only available at one or two suppliers, or it could be offered at most. We would recommend keeping an eye on inventory at the suppliers you’re looking at.

Price

Different suppliers offer different rates, so browse the market and take a look at which suppliers are within your budget. Some companies may offer much cheaper rates than companies who charge a higher price.

Installation

Are you looking for installation after purchasing your granite worktops? Not all suppliers offer an installation service, so when browsing the market make sure you go with a company that offers this if it’s what you’re looking for.

Credentials & Reviews

When looking at worktop suppliers, make sure the company you decide on possess the correct business licences, insurance, and professional affiliations. Credentials such as insurance protect you and your property should the worst happen and any damage is caused.

Reviews are also a great way to see genuine opinions from people that were in the same boat as you and decided to go with that company. Credentials and reviews help show that the company and product are genuine, and you’re signing up for a high-quality and professional service.

Looking for a bit more advice on this subject? Check out our blog post ‘How to choose the right granite worktop supplier’.

In Summary

We hope this short guide helps to make the process of choosing a granite worktop easier, and simplifies some of the more complicated aspects of the decision.

If you’re still struggling with any of the areas mentioned or have questions about anything we missed, we’d be happy to discuss this with you. Picking a worktop is no easy decision, so we’re open to answer any questions you may have to make this process as quick and painless as possible.