“Good food and a warm kitchen is what makes a house a home.” – Rachael Ray.
Whether building a home from scratch or starting with a remodeling project, you must be excited about the outcome. Most homeowners these days go with unique styles in their kitchen to make it look different from others. People are all creative with their kitchen designs, from installing wooden cabinets to keeping kitchen islands of natural stone.
Most things are easy to choose but not the countertop material; when you decide to install granite countertops in the kitchen, checking the stone’s quality is the next big thing. Several companies claim to offer the best quality granite to their customers. But is there any way for the customers to know if the quality is accurate? Yes, there are certain things that you should keep in mind while checking the countertop material. This article mentions the essential points to help you choose suitable granite for your kitchen. Read on to know more about granite and the steps for the quality check!
Steps to Check The Granite Quality For Your Home
Homeowners need to understand that granite countertop installation is an overwhelming process. One must ensure that everything they choose is right and goes a long way. You can checklist the following things to ensure that you bring home the best quality granite.
Check The Polish Quality of The Slabs.
Most people choose to ignore this aspect when picking up the granite for the countertop in their house. If you check the granite quality, the polish on the top layer is an important feature to consider. It is always good to visit the store and look at the material. However, if that is not feasible, you can ask for samples at home. A good quality polish will mirror most things around it, and you will find no scratches.
On the other hand, you will see scratches and blurry reflections. Experts suggest looking at the sample in bright light for the best results. Choosing the one with a fine polish will help you maintain the look of your house.
Consider the Thickness and Consistency of Granite Slabs.
Granite thickness and texture are essential depending upon the usage. The values differ depending on whether you have to use the granite for the countertop or flooring. You can refer to the reference range while checking the slab’s thickness. The best time to examine thickness and consistency is at unloading. You can discard the non-conforming slabs and pick the ones with suitable thickness. It is essential because a thick slab will resist breakage and cracks when something falls on it.
Ensure There Are No Scratches on The Granite
Choose the granite slab that has no scratches or holes in it. The partial damage on the slabs does not allow them to sustain under stressful situations. There have been circumstances where homeowners had to bear a loss because of installing low-quality granite material in their homes. You can check for damage using ultrasonic scanners in the company itself. If the company does not have access to ultrasonic scanners, you can use the other method. Spray water on the surface and observe it closely. If the water bubbles or slides in from specific places understand that the granite has some damage.
Match The Slabs With The Samples
When you pass a sample and ask for the same material in bulk for installation in your house, you should keep the sample piece with you. After you get the delivery of the material, ensure to match it with the sample. It will help assure that you receive the best quality granite for your home. Many homeowners have complained about receiving sub-par goods, so matching the quality will help refrain the company from sending any low-quality products home.
Check The Porosity of The Granite.
Checking for the porosity is vital to ensure the granite slab is strengthful and does not break easily after installation. Granite is a naturally porous material. Therefore, most companies put a layer of epoxy to prevent it from soaking water and other spilled liquids. You can check the porosity by pouring some droplets of lemon juice or any citric acid on the surface. The granite has low porosity when you find the lemon juice on the surface like that. If the granites absorb the lemon juice or you see stains on the surface, then it is a highly porous material. You should not finalize the one with high porosity as it will break down quickly and will not be durable.
Look out for Bends in The Slab.
Little bends are typical in granite and marble slabs. If you use it for countertops, you should duly check the slab for any curves. The best way is to use a slab with a minimum of 20mm thickness. If you skip out on curvatures in the slab by chance, you can correct it by using weight over the slab after installation.
Check for Even Cutting.
Your work does not end at ticking off the checklist to select a quality granite slab for your project. The next big thing is to ensure that the granite slab is evenly cut to your requirements. Countertop or floor fabrication will affect the overall look of your house; therefore, you must choose an experienced fabricator for cutting out the slabs. Custom cutting the slabs is a work of art. Professionals use modern technology to cut the slab in your desired style, angle, and size.
Final Words
Starting a home remodeling or construction from scratch will need you to focus on many things. From flooring to countertops and slabs, you need to chalk out the plan and start your research for the material. Most homeowners go for granite and marble for their countertops and floorings.
However, they lack the basic knowledge about selecting the best quality material. Therefore, we have prepared the above guide to help you pick suitable granite material. Choosing a good quality granite helps in reducing maintenance costs and preventing uncalled-for damages. We hope the directory enables you to select a good quality granite to make your home look amazing.