Whether you are a seasoned home improvement professional or a new homeowner just stating your first Do-It-Yourself project, you have proved yourself a discerning customer just by considering natural stone for your worktops. At this point you get to wondering, is the cost of putting in a granite worktop worth it? Granite is by far the best known option for worktops, but it is also hyped as one of the most expensive. When you cut through all the chaff there area few points that emerge that should be considered:
Price: While it is true that man made laminates or prefabricated material like Corian are less expensive to start out, people are drawn to the natural beauty and lasting value that granite surfaces guarantee.
Durability: Granite is arguably the strongest and most resilient of surfaces that will take use and abuse better than most any other material. Since granite is naturally resilient and does not need babysitting, it becomes the material of choice for any kind of worktop.
Cosmetic Appeal: Since it occurs naturally, there is really no end to its possibilities for colour and shade variations. The fact that no two slabs are exactly alike elevates it above the cookie cutter quality of man made materials like quartzite worktop.
Prestige: When it comes right down to it, the prestige and aura associated with a gleaming granite worktop, is what swings individual opinions. Though not a concrete measure of value, that is by far the most important factor in our decisions.
A case in point is the blue pearl granite that is making waves in the world of worktop design. The stone comes in a base colour of blue and has flecks of a pearly white or silver mixed in. The blue base itself has suggestions varying from grey to dark blue, to sometimes a deep ocean green, giving the stone an overall light or dark cast.
The flecks act as highlights and reflect the light, giving the surface an iridescent sheen. The blue grey colour lends itself to most decors. Paired it wooden cabinets and floors, it sets off the warm tones of the wood. Matched with stainless steel, it lends its shine to the metal, making for a sleek contemporary look.
If you are looking to do bath vanities and sinks, the aquatic tones of this stone make it a logical colour choice. Paired with burnished bath fittings to offset the sparkle in the stone, you have yourself a subtly glamorous look. A simple wipe down keeps your worktop shining like new for years. And no, you do not need to keep sealing your counter (if at all) for it to retain its shine and polish.