Design Center

• March 22, 2015

GRANITE COUNTER TOP:

The use of Granite for your outdoor kitchen counter top. Granite, quarried from the mountains of Italy, the U.S., India, and dozens of other countries around the world, is one of the most popular natural stones on the market. Available in a striking array of colors, granite’s durability and longevity make it ideal for kitchen countertops and other heavily used surfaces.

While some synthetic surfaces scratch easily and melt under hot cookware, granite resists heat. Granite is also one of the most bacteria-resistant kitchen surfaces and it is not affected by citric acid, coffee, tea, alcohol, or wine. It is also nearly impossible to scratch, and with proper cleaning, will not stain under normal use.

A leading consumer magazine recently compared granite with engineered stone, ceramic tile, laminate, butcher block, and other manufactured surfaces. Granite received the highest overall performance rating as a kitchen countertop material.

As the saying goes, imitation is the greatest form of flattery. Countertops made from acrylic and other manufactured materials may have the “look” of granite, but the similarities end there. For resistance to bacteria, heat, scratches, stains, and overall performance, granite is unsurpassed.

Does Granite stain?

For the most part, granite does not stain. While it is true that stone is a porous material, of all the stones, Granite is the least porous. The manufacturer applies an impregnating sealer to the stone when it is mined to further protect it from potential damage. Water left on a Granite counter top for a long period of time will show evidence of moisture. It will however evaporate and the “dark spot” will disappear. Oil left on a Granite surface will slowly be absorbed into the stone. It is recommended that any spills be wiped up when they occur. If the spill is not caught in time and a stain does occur, a poultice may be applied to draw the oil back out of the stone. Over time the oil will naturally redistribute itself in the stone until it becomes virtually undetectable.

Unlike “man made” synthetic solid surface counter tops, granite can withstand a dish hot from the oven or stove right onto its surface.

There are many variations in granite colors, styles, availability and difficulty of mining and transportation. All of these factors affect the cost of the granite. To make things even more difficult, different granite manufacturers have different names for their granite, even though it may be basically the same color. Creative Outdoor Kitchens works with several excellent granite distrubutors locally. We hand pick our supply yards and work with each one on an individual basis. We may recommend you visit a particular yard because of their location relative to you, their level of service and the availablility of the type of granite you may be looking for. In general, the granite yards usually have many colors that fit within the standard pricing of our estimated kitchen designs. Should you choose an upgrade color, you can expect to be charged for the difference between the standard color and the upgrade price.

Sides of the Cabinets:

There are several materials we recommend for the kitchen and fireplace cabinet sides, depending on your choice of design and the aesthetic appeal we are looking for. One of the most popular materials we use is called “Crushed granite stucco”. This material has excellent color retention and is resistant to dirt pickup, mildew growth and UV degradation. It is rated 5000 psi and may be pressure washed. Although you CAN match the stucco of your house perfectly, we prefer to recommend Crushed Granite stucco, as it is regarded for high durability and longevity.