Granite Countertops that Cost Less!

Granite is one of the strongest building materials available on the market, resisting incredible pressure as well as all types of heat, cold, and water damage. Formed beneath the surface of the Earth over a period of millions of years, granite can carry as much as a full ton of weight on an inch thick slab and is a popular choice for interior design and exterior trim or framing. Some installations, such as outdoor hot tubs, use granite, as it is much less susceptible to warping from the hot water as wood, and will not rust like metal. Although granite is both practical and beautiful, it is also very expensive. Granite countertops cost anywhere from twenty to thirty-five dollars per square foot, depending on stone quality and conditions. Check local stores for particular deals on a granite counter top, or online for significant pricing arraignments.

The majority of granite used by masons and interior decorators is simple brown black stone, quarried and processed in Finland and then exported to the United States. This is the cheapest type of granite, and can be purchased in large qualities for as low as twenty dollars per square foot; this granite countertops cost does not include professional installation for the counter tops — or other fixtures — but is simply a base rate. These slabs are polished and perfectly smooth, ready to be put into a home the very same day. Home improvement stores — such as Home Depot’s and Lowe’s — carry not only granite counter tops but also have an installation service that comes standard, allowing customers to take advantage of a money saving offer in having the counters put in.

A second type of granite is called seafoam, which is imported from Brazil rather than Finland. This type of stone is different from the brown or black style, with softer cream-colored tones. The appealing colors are rarity of the material makes seafoam granite more expensive as a building material than its Finnish counterpart; seafoam granite costs between thirty and thirty five dollars per square foot for in home construction. Many customers claim they prefer the seafoam variety even with the additional cost; the light color is more compatible with interior color schemes, whereas the earth colored granite must be paired with darker colored room tones. Seafoam granite is otherwise completely similar to regular stone, and bears the same resistances to damage, endurance, and smooth polished feel.

Another type of granite is called decomposed granite.  This is primarily used for outdoor flooring (think sandy flooring), and the decomposed granite cost is much lower than the granite used for granite countertops and granite tile flooring.