Countertops Granite 2018-06-28T16:40:17+00:00



Granite countertops don’t depreciate and installing Granite actually adds to the value of your home.
It’s a one-of-a-kind, natural surface that has an almost luminous look.
It’s sanitary — bacterial contamination is not a problem with granite.
Formed by heat and pressure, it can take the heat of a pan. It’s also easy to clean with warm water and a mild detergent.



Granite countertops last forever. If you get tired of the color, you’ll either need to learn to live with it or rip out the entire counter, because you can’t change the color. In addition, once glued onto the cabinets, granite is quite difficult to remove, and may result in damage to the cabinets.
Granite itself is expensive, and the labor-intensive installation can run three times more than the cost of the material.
It can crack when hit by a hard, sharp object like a meat cleaver.
Because it’s so heavy, granite often requires additional structural support, especially in spans and cantilevers.

Granite Countertops

The word “granite” comes from the Latin word “granum” or grain that refers to the crystalline grains of the various component minerals found in granite. Black granite and green granite gained popularity in the early days of granite kitchen countertops. Many new condominium developments in Clearwater and across the country feature black granite countertops.

Black granite is actually a misnomer for a related group of intrusive igneous rocks called gabbro. While geologists have different standards for what can be called “granite”, the construction and home renovation industry commonly lump together all naturally occurring, harder than marble rocks quarried in slabs as granite.

Stone has been around for billions of years, man has used stone for millions of years, but it wasn’t until the late 1990’s that everything changed. Prior to that, almost all stonework was for commercial/monument purposes. In other words, unless you were building a shrine, it was just too expensive for everyday applications.

It was then, that cutting tools began to use diamond-wire saw blades. The machines that utilized this technology quickly became commonplace at (and near) the quarries in almost 50 different countries around the world. This allowed for the quadrupling of efficiency in extracting, slabbing, and transporting stones.

Commonly asked questions:



Not too long ago, granite countertops were a rarity; today, because of greater availability and an increased number of fabricators, granite tops are more common and affordable. Granite is available in a variety of colors, sinks can be undermounted and a variety of edgings can be crafted. Since each piece is unique, you may want to visit the fabricator to select the exact slabs for your kitchen. Seams are slightly more evident in granite, and hot grease can stain unsealed tops, but overall, granite requires very little maintenance. Expect to spend $60 to $125 per square foot, installed.

Almost all granite tops are installed professionally, since fabrication and installation require specialized tools and skills. It’s simply not worth it for a do-it-yourselfer to invest the time and dollars required, especially for a project that’s usually a once-in-a-lifetime affair. If you want to roll up your sleeves, pick up a paintbrush or hammer, but leave these tops to the pros.

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