Having beautiful kitchen countertops, be it slate or granite, is very good. Aside from the space and freedom it affords, an elegant kitchen with beautiful and durable countertops also provides you with a suitably calm atmosphere.
This invariably complements and, whether you believe it or not, also improves your culinary skills in the long run.
Granite, among other stone countertops, remains the most suitable choice for your home or industrial kitchen. They’re trendy and durable. They also have the quality of boosting the resalable prospects of your home.
Just like every other countertop type, granite and slate also have their pros and cons.
The sufficient knowledge you possess about the disadvantages and advantages of these materials will always help you to choose just the right countertops perfect for your kitchen style and design.
In addition, it’ll also provide you with those important tips you need on the cleaning and maintenance of your countertops too.
Slate Countertops
As a revolutionary homeowner who’d like to buck the use of regular kitchen countertops like granites and marble, the slate would be the next-to-best option for you.
It has been used over the years by architects for flooring and roofing designs, but rarely for kitchen or bathroom countertops. Slate countertops hold out amazing benefits if properly installed by a professional.
One thing you must always consider before choosing any countertop type is durability.
Interestingly, slate is a choice you can make based on this feature. Although, it’s not as heavy as granite countertops, which could weigh a minimum of 10 to 13 pounds per square foot, it’s still a very durable material.
Slate is also heat resistant. A properly installed slate is easy to maintain and should even last you a lifetime if maintained properly.
Slate is not as porous as granite and marble. It has a liquid absorption rate that falls below 0.5 and doesn’t hold stains or liquids like other materials.
However, to keep your slate countertops from quick damage, you must regularly seal it.
Slates can be very attractive if properly installed too. The coloration is not as sharp as that of marble or granite, but it’ll give your kitchen a perfectly organized look.
Slates come in uniquely attractive colors: brown, grey, pewter, charcoal, and black. And, to add to the rustic feel in your kitchen, many slates slabs usually appear with subtle hues of copper red, blue, and green.
This material adds a dramatic feel to your kitchen and makes it look cool and calm always.
In comparison to marble and granite, slate is much more affordable. Per square foot, you could get slate slabs from between $50 to $70 per sq ft.
You might find this quite hard to believe, but slate, of all the countertop types, still remains the only material with minimal disadvantages.
One major downside, however, of this material is, after some time, it starts to brittle around the edges.
Also, slates typically have sharp edges. This is why professionals would advise you upon installation to round the edges up to prevent injuries and cuts that the sharp edges may instill.
This material would also be the best option if you want countertops with a more subdued coloration and feel. Unlike granite, marble, and others, they are not very bright. They’d be the best fit if you only want a cool and calm kitchen design.
Granite Countertops
Granite is a really common material used in construction. This is because it offers a delicately attractive exterior that could powerfully blend with any kitchen design and style.
Even though granite offers amazing qualities, it also has its own disadvantages. And these (both the pros and cons) are things you’d want to consider before purchasing one.
Granite has a lasting appearance. The elegance it’d lend to your kitchen is one of the many reasons it’s the right choice for your countertops design. The attractive nature of granite countertops could give your kitchen arrangement a standard and unique appearance.
Granite also delivers standard bright colors that’ll blend perfectly well with the paintings in your kitchen.
Countertops made out of granite are also very durable. They’re quite hard which makes it almost impossible for the surfaces to scratch or wear easily from long use.
Like slate, granite is also heat resistant. You can even place hot items over the top. However, if you really want to enjoy it for as long as it should last (probably forever), it’s best to avoid placing hot items over it.
Granite countertops are also water-resistant. To prevent stains and liquid absorption, let it be properly installed by a professional (A professional installation of granite entails that the surface is properly sealed)
One of the weaknesses of using granite is its high porosity. It easily absorbs stains and liquids if it’s not properly sealed. Over time, poorly sealed granite countertops can wear and tear because it stores dirt and grimes.
Granite is very hard, no doubt, however, one still needs to be cautious of the activities you perform on its surface. Heavy use of sharp or weighty objects can scar the surface over time.
Granite countertops are also rather expensive when you compare them to slates. You could spend as much as $250 per square foot to install this material in your kitchen.
Reasons Granite is A Better Choice
- Granite is hard and strong. Their durability makes them resistant to wear, tear, cuts, and scratches. They should last you for over 30 years, if installed properly and maintained regularly.
- Granites have also been said to add resalable value to your home. Aside from the fact that they are elegantly gorgeous, they could also generate you up a 10% investment return upon lease or resale of your home.
- One major reason for the common usage of granite countertops is the naturally beautiful appearance it has. It’s generally believed that granite is the most elegant stone material.
- It can be easily maintained if properly and regularly (say every one year) sealed.
For more information on granite countertops, an RSK Marble and Granite professional will always be available to talk to you. So don’t hesitate to call us or contact us today.