27

May

How To Choose Granite Countertops For Your Outdoor Kitchen?

Since the weather is getting nice with the warm sun and the light breeze, an outdoor kitchen sounds like the perfect place to fire up the stove and cook some delicious food. So, if you want to build an outdoor kitchen and you are stumped on the countertops, then here is everything you need to know about choosing granite countertops.

Why Granite For Outdoor Kitchen?

Granite Is Durable

Granite’s middle name is durable, which is something that you don’t see every day with kitchen countertop materials. If you want to go for a material that will not only look amazing but is amazing at staying that way for longer, then granite is what you want to choose for your outdoor kitchen.

It is a perfect material for the outdoors because the patterns, the colors, and everything just look so natural, and add to that its amazing strength and durability and you’ve got yourself the entire package.

Can It Handle High Temperatures?

Shortly, yes, granite can handle high temperatures. If you live in a place where the sun is always mercilessly blazing and there is no shade whatsoever, then you will see that granite will do just fine. It is a natural stone that is made underneath the Earth under unimaginable pressures and temperatures, so what’s a little bit of sun?

Granite is an amazing option to go for if you want something that will last you for a long time without fading away.

Granite Boosts Home Value

This is something that will convince you to get granite for your outdoor kitchen. Granite, even though it is expensive and not everyone can get their hands on a material like this, is amazing when it comes to return on investment.

When you go ahead and sell your house in the future and you add details of everything in the description of your house and the features, then you’ll see that people will flock over to see what the deal is. So, if you’re going to spend money on granite, then don’t worry because it will come back in one way or another.

Tips For Choosing Granite Countertops For An Outdoor Kitchen

Think About The Budget

When going for granite, one of the biggest things you have to think about is the budget. You don’t want to jump into granite without any financial prep. Think about it – granite is an expensive material. It is going to need a hefty budget for you to be able to afford it. You want to set a budget when getting granite, because the last thing you need is to go completely broke thanks to not planning things ahead of time. So, a budget, as tedious as it sounds, is crucial.

You want to think about how much will granite cost. Do your research on the internet and retailer shops, and then figure out an estimate for the slabs. That is how you will know how much you have to spend on getting granite for your outdoor kitchen.

Don’t Forget The Maintenance Aspect

Granite, as amazing as it is, is a very maintenance-heavy material. It is something that you have to keep in mind when going in for granite. Granite is a very durable material, but it also needs a bit of maintenance, especially when it is going to be outside almost all the time. So, you want to ensure that you’re thinking about how much maintenance it will require and also how much it will cost because that is another debacle that you have to sort out.

Things are not as easy when it comes to marble and you have to do everything you can to think about every possible thing before going for granite for your outdoor kitchen countertops.

Select The Color

The next thing you want to go over is the color of the countertops. Granite is available in a lot of colors and all of them are very pretty and majestic, but you want to choose the color you desire carefully. If you like darker colors, then check out the darker variants in granite.

If you love light and more neutral colors, then you can go for lighter ones. However, the part where you need to think about something else is the availability of said colors. Usually, dark colors are easily available, but light colors, not so much. So, you need to search the right places to get what you want.

Granite Needs Protection

Since the granite countertops will be exposed to extreme temperatures and weather 24/7, you need to think about protecting these bad boys and that is possible through proper sealing and taking care of the granite countertops. This is something that a lot of people don’t think about, but you have to if you’re going to get granite for your outdoor kitchen.

You will need to seal it more frequently than indoors because when you’re concerned with an outdoor kitchen, whatever you’re doing to protect your countertops indoors has to be done almost twice or three times as much.

Check Samples For A Better Idea

When you’re choosing granite, this is something that you want to avoid doing online or not in person. This is something that you have to do in a store under the different lights, checking and feeling for textures. This is why samples exist. Samples can give you a better idea of what the stone looks like and what it can feel like.

Yes, some samples can also be deceiving, but they’re very close to the real deal. Samples are worn out and the color may also be a bit dull, so the natural stone will be brighter and will look new because it hasn’t been touched and felt by hundreds of buyers before.

Go To A Trusted Retailer

When you’re getting granite for your outdoor kitchen you want to make sure that you’re going to a trusted and reliable retailer. There are lots of people who can scam you in any way and you want to steer clear of these circumstances at all costs.

If you’re spending the money on granite, then you should at least get something from a good retailer. So, check reviews of different places and even check different stores by yourself. You can’t fool what you see.

Slabs Or Tiles?

You also want to go over the choice of slabs or tiles. Granite is available in both forms. Slabs are thicker stones with a more edgier look to them, whereas tiles give a more unique look to the kitchen.

Slabs are thicker, so they’re stronger, but also heavier to deal with and install, whereas tiles are lightweight and can be easily installed, however, they’re fragile and can break easily. So, take your pick because it all boils down to what you like the most in your outdoor kitchen.

Conclusion

Granite is an amazing material and it is suitable for outdoor kitchens too. Buying granite countertops can be easy if you know your requirements and consult a trusted granite contractor Potomac who can guide you through the process. Good luck!

14

Apr

Dos And Don’ts Of Choosing Granite Countertops

There are dozens of countertop materials out there. Some are natural stones, while some are man-made like quartz. If you want natural stones and have your eyes set on granite countertops, then remember to follow these dos and don’ts of granite countertop selection.

What To Do And Not To Do When Selecting Granite Countertops?

Do Keep Budget In Mind

One of the most important things to do before choosing any countertop material really, is to look at your budget. When you’re looking at countertop materials, there are tons of options to choose from. However, they also vary a lot in price. This is why you want a countertop material that fits your budget. But, how do you make a budget?

Well, it’s relatively simple since you can find out most of the prices of countertop materials online, and then you can allocate a set amount of money toward buying said material. This will not only make you choose options that you can afford, but it will also ensure that you don’t overspend on a material.

A lot of people tend to forget that buying a material isn’t just the only thing to worry about. You have to get it installed and maybe resize it according to your kitchen’s dimensions.

Don’t Forget About The Layout

The next thing you absolutely shouldn’t forget when it comes to choosing granite countertops is the layout of your counters. You might have the sink somewhere. You might have different-sized countertops and all of these things make up the unique layout of the kitchen.

If you don’t want the new countertops to mess up your layout, then you need to be careful when choosing prefabricated countertops because those are like puzzle pieces that are meant to fit in a specific place. So, when you’re trying to decide between getting custom granite slabs or pre-cut countertops, this is something to keep in mind.

Do Take Care Of Dimensions

The next thing that you want to keep in mind is the dimensions of the countertops when you’re choosing granite as your kitchen material. This is something that should go without saying, but you’ll be surprised at the fact that many people forget about the dimensions and they can either buy too big or too small countertops and then have them resized, which is doable, but tedious nonetheless.

So, if you want to save yourself from the trouble, then make sure that you’re taking the dimensions of the place where your new countertops will go and double and triple-check it, just in case. You don’t want to get these numbers wrong.

Don’t Ignore The Slab Thickness

The thickness of the granite slab is also very important to consider. It will determine the weight, the strength as well as the look of the side profile. There are varying thicknesses available in granite and you might think that getting the thickest slab possible is going to be a good decision but you know what they say: The bigger they are, the harder they fall.

However, that also doesn’t mean that you have to get paper-thin slabs. You want to choose something thick enough to be sturdy and strong, but manageable enough to get installed without the worry of it falling or damaging the cabinets just because it weighs too much.

Do Consider Edging

Countertop edges are also very important to go over and with granite, you have a ton of options. There isn’t just the simple edge but also the rounded edge, the bullnose edge, the tapered edge, and more. There are lots of edging design variations for granite countertops and you need to choose one that speaks to you.

Most edging designs are practical but some can be very difficult to deal with, so you want to look at a couple of designs and then make your decision.

Don’t Knock The Colors Till You Try Them

A lot of people love granite because it is available in lighter colors. Well, this is the very reason why a huge group of people tends to stay away from it. Light colors are just not their cup of tea. Well, you still might want to look at granite because it is a very aesthetic material.

Yes, it is light in color, but the way it looks similar to marble and the way it just compliments your kitchen is a thing that you don’t see in a lot of materials every day. They either overpower everything or they don’t look characteristic at all. Well, granite is the perfect balance of simplicity and magnificence. Moreover, their are darker granite colors as well for people who don’t like lighter tones.

Do Look At Samples

When you’re out buying granite countertops, one of the things you don’t want to forget is looking at the samples. Just like when you buy clothes and you check fabric samples, this is the same thing even though you’re looking at slabs for kitchen countertops.

Before saying yes to a material, you want to check the samples for the look, the feel, and the overall appearance of the material under different lights. This will give you an idea as to what the actual slab will look like.

Don’t Overlook Lighting

Speaking of light, you also want to keep the flow of light and the type of light coming into your kitchen in mind. Whether you have natural light, artificial light, overhead lights, hanging lights, or recessed lights, all of this will make a huge difference when it comes to how granite countertops look in the kitchen.

You might think that this is a bit too over the top, but once you see how the light reflects off the surface, you will want to keep this as a habit when selecting countertops for anywhere in the house. Light makes all of the difference.

Do Hire A Professional

Granite is a heavy material. So, if you think that you can install it by yourself and cut the costs of the installation crew, then you might want to think again.

If you want a seamless and effortless installation without breaking a sweat, then you need to hire a professional because they will install the slabs quickly and efficiently without even frowning. This is something that you will not regret because the results will speak for themselves.

Don’t Buy Before Comparing

You already have granite on your mind, so chances are that you will probably go for it. But this is where you’ll be making a mistake. If you’re spending the money on a kitchen countertop material, then it needs to be done the right way.

You want to explore all the options and while it doesn’t mean abandoning the option of granite altogether, it certainly does mean that you should not compare other materials and weigh out their pros and cons. This will lead you to make the right decision for choosing the best countertop material for your kitchen.

Conclusion

Granite countertops are amazing and all, but you need to know everything from the front to the back about these natural stone slabs so that you can make a decision you won’t regret in the future. Do get in touch with a reliable granite contractor Rockville who can guide you through the entire process of countertop selection and installation.