Top 5 Things To Consider When Buying Granite Countertops For Your Kitchen In Jessup Maryland

Are you planning to buy new counters for your kitchen? Granite countertops look gorgeous in a kitchen and people know this! It gives their home some extra pizzazz and instant flare. They also know that they need to be absolutely sure those are the countertops they want.

Here are the top 5 things you need to consider before making a purchase decision.

1. Buy Countertops That Have The Right Thickness

Thicker granite countertops will work best for you as they’ll lay flat on top of your cabinets (provided your cabinets are leveled with minor, yet necessary, shimming). They should be the standard thickness, which is approximately 1-1/4 inch here in the local Jessup area.

Back in the days and still in many parts of the West Coast, 3/4 inch thick granite was the thing! They were very popular among homeowner, but a bit more fragile depending on the color and density.

2. Plan For The Sink

This one is important too! What kind of sink do you have now in your kitchen? Is it an undermount? Is it a stainless steel sink? Or perhaps a drop-in sink (overmount)?

But what is more critical here, is to ask yourself whether you like your current sink, its layout, its material, its position, etc. What about the faucet? Do you like your existing faucet? Is there something about the handle you’d like to change or upgrade?… What about a soap dispenser? Bet you weren’t thinking about those, eh? 🙂 (I’m smiling)

3. Customize Fit Granite

This should really be somewhat obvious, but some homeowners don’t realize it. Be sure that your countertops are custom made and custom fit. This requires for an expert Templator or Measure Technician to come out and take exact measurements of your cabinetry. This step usually follows once you’ve signed a contract with your local granite countertop fabricator.

Honestly, most local granite fabricators will make sure to custom-fit your tops to match you cabinet layout, since you can’t really take these with you if you were to move. In other words, you most likely won’t be able to reuse your countertops if you were to move to a new home. So a good custom fit will be best.

4. Consider The Number Of Seams

When you are getting new granite countertops, it’s almost inevitable to not have seams. Natural stone is extremely fragile, heavy, and prone to damage if not handled properly throughout the process. This means that seams may be required in order to accommodate the particular slab, access to your home, transportation, or the overall fabrication process.

So keep this in mind and be sure to ask your local fabricator or sales person.

5. How Easy Will The Maintenance Be?

Lastly, this is also a very important point to consider. Most homeowners don’t plan ahead or even think about this when selecting their granite. We have a great resource on how to keep your granite countertops shining, be sure to check it out.

Again, this is definitely something to discuss with your local Jessup granite sales representative. But before you do, start asking yourself things like; “how often do I cook?”, “will my cooking schedule change in the future with kids leaving the house?”, “do I enjoy cleaning my counters?”, “will you plan to sell your home in the next five to 10 years?”, etc. These questions will help you have a better conversation with your granite sales person, as they will most likely ask you the same!

So Now What?

Knowing these tips will help you when you are making your purchasing decision for new granite countertops. Remember to only choose a classic granite color that absolutely love!

Enjoy your new kitchen and remember to show off your new granite counters with friends, family, and other company. We wish you luck in your quest 🙂 and please allow me to say it again (wink wink)… we’re here to help answer all your questions if you need it. Feel free to request a free estimate or simply give our team a call at (301) 605-1168. Look forward to seeing you around!