These stone countertops become the most in-demand upgrades in any home, more so in bathrooms and kitchens, to provide an impression of luxury with durability. However, why are granite countertops so pricey? Let's discuss and break down the factors involved in making granite countertops an expensive option and explain their value as an investment.
Factors Contributing to the High Cost of Granite Countertops
There are many factors that contribute to the cost of granite countertops. Starting from the extraction process of granite, this is a natural process of extraction to the labor used in installation, which multiplies the cost. Listed below are the main key elements that make granite countertops more expensive:
1. Granite Is a Natural Material
Granite is one of the natural stones that takes millions of years to produce in the inner depths of the Earth. It's a tedious and heavy machinery laboring job to bring out enormous slabs of granite from the quarry. Since it is not man-made, it has a limited availability, which adds more worth to granite compared to the engineered materials such as laminate or quartz.
2. The Extraction and Transportation Process
Once granite is quarried, it must be cut into slabs, polished, and then shipped to the distribution centers. The cost of transporting it may be high, depending on where the granite is coming from, and its overseas destination. Besides that, the heavy weight of granite adds to the shipping cost, which will make it pricey to deliver to your house.
3. Labor-Intensive Fabrication
Following the shipping of granite slabs, they will be cut to size precisely that fits your countertops. Cutting, edging, and polishing involve very experienced labour and equipment. When applying more complex cuts for fitting sinks, corners, or edges, the cost also increases due to increased time and effort.
4. Unique Patterns and Colors
Each type of granite is unique; no two pieces are similar, with different patterns and veining and color shades. The cost of a few types of granite may be higher with rare colors and intricate patterns, being expensive because of their low availability and aesthetic value. A particular type of granite that someone might want is bought at a premium just for that perfect slab of granite.
5. Durability and Longevity
Granite is known to last forever and never wear off easily. It is almost completely resistant to scratches, heat, and stains once they are sealed properly. For that reason, granite countertops present one of the best long-term values, but a countertop made of such premium quality material and that comes with such an exhaustive process to install it calls for such a high initial expense.
Why Granite Countertops Are Worth the Investment
Even though their expense is very high, several reasons make granite countertops be worthwhile investments:
- Durability: Granite countertops last for years with low maintenance, which gives you an excellent long-term investment in your home.
- Aesthetics: You will achieve a luxurious feel of nature by using granite countertops in your home since it's beautiful and elevates the beauty and worth of your home.
- Resale value: Granite countertops are desired by most buyers and raise the market value if you intend to sell. How to Save Money on Granite Countertops
How to Save Money on Granite Countertops
If you really want to use a granite countertop but can't afford it, then you can work with the budget limitation by:
- Choose standard colors: Seeking those standard colors such as black or white granite for you to get a good price and not spend that much for your countertop.
- Look for remnants: A smaller leftover piece of granite can cut down a significant amount of cost since the size is necessary for covering smaller surfaces, like a vanity or kitchen island.
- Minimize custom cuts: The fewer the custom cuts, the smaller the labor costs will be. Simple edges or seams would minimize labor cost.
These come very expensive as they contain natural products, the processes involved in their extraction and shipment, are labor-intensive while fabricating them, and have this unique aesthetic appeal. Some may attract very high initial investment but would last long; its beauty is beyond compare, and it does boost the value of your property. To homeowners looking to incorporate granite countertops into their next kitchen renovation, this goes some way toward demystifying some of the factors to consider in deciding which countertop to choose.