Things To Consider Before You Get A Granite Kitchen Countertop 

[dropcap1]G[/dropcap1]ranite is one of the most popular materials for kitchen countertops, but there are drawbacks to having it in your home. Here are tips, pros and cons you should know about before bringing granite into your kitchen.

Pro: It’s Beautiful

Since granite is a natural stone, each countertop made from it will be completely unique, with different colours and patterns in it. This creates a beautiful and distinctive element to your kitchen design.

Con: It’s A Little High-Maintenance

Granite is scratch-resistant, but prone to stains, so you want to avoid using anything abrasive or chemical when cleaning it. A great solution to clean your granite countertop is to make our own DIY cleaning product. Add five tablespoons of regular dish soap to a cup of baking soda. Add enough water to the mixture so that its consistency is thick like yogurt. Apply it to any stains on the granite, before covering it up with plastic wrap and leaving it to do its magic overnight. The next morning, make sure you wash it with water.

Avoid using white vinegar as a natural way to clean granite – it can leave permanent stains!

Con: Granite Needs To Be Sealed

Granite is very porous, so it should be sealed once a year. This helps to keep it free of bacteria and looking as beautiful as the day you bought it. A penetrating sealer is recommended to display the natural beauty of granite and give it greater protection against spills and stains in the future, although it’s always good to mop those up as soon as they happen.

Pro: Granite Is Heat-Resistant

Granite’s the perfect material to have in the kitchen because it’s resistant to heat. That means you can rest hot pots and pans on it without worrying that it will get damaged or scratched. This makes granite highly versatile in the kitchen.

Con: It Might Release Radon Gas

Back in 2008, the Environmental Protection agency talked about dangers of granite countertops containing radioactive elements that can emit radon gas. This gas is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, which is terrifying. How can you know your granite countertop contains radon? It’s mainly red, pink and purple granite colours that are the most prone to releasing radon gas. Black is generally safe. However, to be on the safe side, ask the supplier to test your granite slab.

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