What To Consider When Installing Granite Countertops

Granite countertops are great investments that can add lots of value to your home. You may not know what to consider when installing granite countertops for the first time, however. So, we’ve prepared a list of a few things to know. Continue reading for tips on choosing and installing these beautiful countertops.

The Countertop Style You Want

Granite comes in a variety of colors, patterns, and polishes. As a result, it is versatile as a countertop choice.

Granite Color and Pattern

There are so many colors and patterns of granite that it can almost be overwhelming to choose one. Depending on the vendor you use for your granite source, you may have access to a showroom. Through this, the vendor will allow you to peruse the different styles and colors. If not, even comparing samples can help you get a better idea of your desired color and pattern. When choosing your style, you might want to compare it with other colors in your kitchen, bathroom, or another destination for your granite. For example, if you have black cabinets, you could choose a granite option with black speckles or veins running through it for a cohesive look. Because granite comes in various styles, the possibilities are nearly endless.

Layout

The layout of your granite countertop will determine what size slab you need. Maybe you want your countertop to match the edge of the cabinets or extend just slightly over. Alternatively, you might plan on extending the granite past the edge of your cabinets to create a bar to sit at. In that case, you would need a long slab of granite and heavy-duty countertop brackets. Granite is an extremely heavy substance, but these brackets from Right On Bracket will give your countertop all the support it needs.

Knowing the Measurements

Now that you have an idea of what you want your granite countertops to look like, you’ll also need to know your desired measurements. Make sure you measure the length, width, and thickness of your current countertops so that you can compare them to your home’s space. You can find the total surface area of your counter by multiplying the length and the width. Having these measurements ahead of time helps you ensure that you won’t be overpaying for a larger piece of granite than you really need.

Lots of Prep Work

Another important thing to keep in mind is that you will need to do lots of prep work if you plan to DIY your installation. Installing new countertops requires you to tear up the old ones and remove plumbing and appliances. You may even need to cut the granite yourself. But if this sounds like something you can handle, installing your own granite countertops is a great way to save money in labor and installation fees.

We hope these tips for what to consider when installing granite countertops have provided you with some new insight. While they are big financial commitments and take careful planning to install, granite countertops can improve your home’s aesthetics and long-term value.