There are materials for counter tops that can be purchased in any home improvement store. Most of these can be installed by the home owner. For truly high end products, like granite, one has to go to a specialty center.



Granite offers a gleaming, refined look to the kitchen and bath. This naturally occurring stone is very limited in color and pattern. Each piece of granite is unique and it is often difficult to match it to another piece of granite. For this reason the advice and assistance of an expert are of tremendous value. As an expert, this person can envision how the pattern will lay out on the counter top and will also know how to make seams appear less noticeable if two pieces of granite must be used.

As a natural stone, granite is porous and is very susceptible to stains. Granite must be sealed before installation and at least once a year afterwards to protect it from stains. Food and liquids should not be allowed to remain in contact with the surface of granite. If contact occurs it should be cleaned immediately. Granite is not heat resistant and hot pots, or any other hot item, should never be placed on it.

The cost of granite has been reduced in recent years, but it is still a rather expensive material to use. The cost to install granite in the average home is about ten thousand dollars. The typical kitchen has about ninety square feet of counter top space. Larger or custom kitchens will cost a lot more. This cost should be figured into the budget well in advance of beginning work. At the current price buying granite can cause the project to go over budget very quickly and by a substantial amount.

There is also what is called "budget" ganite. These are pieces of granite that is somewhat inferior to top grade granite. This granite may also be in a much smaller slab or the remnant of a slab used in another project and will be almost impossible to match. This type of granite may be well used in a bathroom. Bathrooms are usually much smaller than kitchens and do not have nearly as much counter top area. Purchasing this so-called "budget" granite could greatly reduce the cost of having granite installed in small areas.