Granite Counters: Philadelphia's Top of the Line

When it comes to choosing the very best for your home, natural stone has a look and feel that's hard to beat. Using stone in and around the house gives your property a feeling of authenticity and history. Granite in particular is a highly prized building material in just about any capacity. In Philadelphia, granite countertops are not as common as tile or laminate, so they're a great addition to consider if you want to give your home a unique look and raise its market value, too.

Benefits of Granite Counters in Philadelphia Homes
Extreme durability, uncommon strength, and a luxurious appearance characterize granite countertops. Philadelphia homeowners will certainly find that this material is, in almost every case, an improvement over their existing counters. Under normal circumstances, granite doesn't scratch, chip, stain, crack, or burn, and with its classic good looks, granite is sure to fit right in with the city's more historic homes.

When compared to the tile or laminate that is so common in Philadelphia, granite counters perform better in almost every way. Laminate, while certainly less expensive, has a mere fraction of granite's strength. Laminate is far less durable and adds far less value to your home. Though tile has historically been the popular choice in Philadelphia, granite counters are every bit as appealing and are easier to work on and clean due to the lack of grout-filled seams.

Drawbacks of Granite
Granite has very few physical drawbacks. Like any natural stone, granite is porous. High quality granite, however, is much less porous than many other materials. In some cases, it can become slightly discolored if a dark liquid is left to pool on it for extended periods of time. In general, though, the slightly porous nature of granite is not a problem.

Philadelphia Granite Counter Pricing
It isn't cheap to purchase or install granite countertops. Philadelphia prices are around the national average of $4,000-$5,000. The price will be lower or higher depending on the quality of granite you purchase, the size of the counter, and sometimes the color of the stone, as well.

Colors and Qualities of Granite
Granite used in construction can be taken from anywhere between the grounds surface and many feet underneath. The farther down you go to get the granite, the higher the quality (because it has been exposed to less damaging elements) and the more expensive it will be because it costs more money to extract.

The color of granite can also play a part in its ultimate cost. Variations in color come about because of different minerals and conditions of the area where the granite is quarried. This means that a specific color of granite generally comes from a specific area of the country, and may only come from a specific quarry. One of the many factors that influence the price of natural stone is the cost of transporting such a heavy material. The farther your granite needs to travel to get to you, the more likely it is that it will be expensive.

When it comes to variety and color, Philadelphia residents will have a wide selection of stone that comes from relatively nearby. There are many quarries on the east coast (from Georgia and South Carolina all the way up to Maine and Canada) that produce many different colors of granite. For most, one of these east coast quarries will produce a color and texture that will compliment your home.