Newark Granite Counters: The Countertop of Choice

Countertops are one of the three central elements of any kitchen. Like cabinets and flooring, they are an integral piece of both the functionality and the look of your kitchen. A kitchen remodel that excels in these three areas is virtually guaranteed to be a successful remodel. In fact, an older, damaged, or ugly laminate countertop is one of the most common factors that finally convinces homeowners it's time to renovate this pivotal area of the home. To this end, one of the most common materials homeowners turn to for their new kitchen counter is granite. It's hard to argue: granite (and other stone) counters are arguably the best material at both performance and visual appeal, making it a natural choice for those who can afford it. ServiceMagic has helped Newark homeowners find the right contractor for their stone counter installation, other countertop projects, kitchen remodels, and all their home improvement needs.

Newark Granite Counter Installation
The process of installing a granite counter in Newark, or anywhere else for that matter, is involved and explains why it's among the more expensive counters on the market. After all, Mother Nature creates granite so other factors must be at play. Indeed, the cost has nothing to do with price-gouging. First, the granite must be excavated from the ground. Already at this step, the quality of your specific granite counter is being determined. Granite from the top layers of a quarry have frequently not been exposed to sufficient pressure to harden the stone. Likewise, granite from different sections of the quarry will have unique colors, texture, and performance standards. To determine the strength and durability of granite, expensive tests must be run. Thus, a small sample is typically taken from each section of a quarry and is usually a reliable indicator of the granite in that area of the quarry. Next, the granite is shipped to distributors who sell slabs of granite for specific granite countertop installations. Before the slab arrives at your home, however, it must first be sent to a granite fabricator who will fashion the slab into the exact specifications required for your kitchen space. Once this is completed, either the fabricator or a separate installation contractor will apply the sealant and install the counter in your kitchen.

Cost of Newark Granite Countertops
If you're like most homeowners, one of the first things you'll ask about your new countertop is how much it will cost. Well, the average Newark granite countertop installation costs just under $5,000. While this number is a decent starting point, it may not be reflective of your project. Large kitchen countertops will almost surely be more than this, and small bathroom countertops, less. Recently, we've seen one Newark granite counter run as high as $8,000. Overall, projects as low as $1,000 and as high as $12,000 are not unheard of. These extremes may be examples of homeowner who found recycled/reclaimed granite or homeowners who wanted rare or exotic granite from a distant quarry. By looking at the size of intended project, you can begin to see where estimates may come in, but only by talking to our contractors can you get exact estimates.

Other Newark Stone Countertops
Granite is the most popular and well known stone countertop, and deservedly so, but it's far from the only one, and for some homeowners may not be the best choice of stone counter. In fact, quartz is actually a stronger, harder stone than granite. On the other hand, while quartz is even more difficult to scratch than granite, prolonged exposure to extreme heat can fuse the crystals inside the quartz, leaving burn scars. Of course, it's important to realize that neither stone is particularly susceptible to either danger. You'll still be able to use your granite counter as a cutting board, and you can still set a pot of boiling water on quartz for several seconds, without fear of harming your kitchen counter. In fact, nearly all types of stone counters are impervious to the normal array of kitchen use, even if they have slightly lower performance standards than granite or quartz. For this reason, the deciding factor in your Newark stone countertop choice may be the color and grain of a specific stone.

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