|
|
|
|
|
continued
Care and Maintenance
Because granite is a porous material, each slab must be sealed to make it moisture and stain resistant. Once sealed, all that is needed for everyday care is water, a sponge and a dry cloth. Abrasive cleaners and scouring pads should never be used because they can damage the protective finish, explains Antozak.
For difficult stains like oil and grease, first try a mild detergent and water. If that doesn't work, Barb Macgillivary, representative of Great Lakes Granite Works in Comstock Park, Michigan, recommends a rug cleaner by
|
|
|
|
|
the name K2R. {Spray the stain with the cleaner, cover it with a plastic wrap and by morning the stain will be gone, she says.
Cost
In recent years, dealers have dropped prices of common granites to compete with Avonite, Corian, Surell and other solid surfacing choices. Spending upwards to $200 a square foot for granite counters used to be normal. Smith says, but these days, it's possible to outfit and entire kitchen for as little as $65 a square foot.
The price of a granite counter is based primarily on the rarity of the stone. Of course, special edging and extra cutouts for multiple sinks and cooktops add to the price. Using tiles (designed primarily for flooring applications) will bring the price down because a fabricator can get more 12 inch square tiles than slabs out of one piece of granite. Installation will cost more, however, because glazing tile is much more time consuming than installing a slab. To get the very best deal on granite, ask your fabricator about remnants. Smith says remnants can cost 30 to 50 percent less than the normal price. Just remember the final look may not be uniform in color and texture, she says.
Good
($60-$80 per square foot)
Look for a single straight edge, 1 1/4" slab of polished granite. Color choices will be limited mostly to domestic stones in high supply--blacks, white and grays.
Better
($80-$150 per square foot)
You'll have a wider range of 1 1/4" thick stone choices in this price range. Edgings become slightly more embellished and you can choose a polished or honed finish.
|
|
|
|
Best
($150-$250 per square foot)
A more stylized countertop is the reason to choose a stone in this price range. Edging choices run the gamut from standard profiles to more complicated ogees. Finishes can be either polished or honed. Slab thickness is 1 1/4".
Ultra
($250 per square foot)
Expect to find a selection for rare and exotic 1 1/4" thick stones like Blue Behia from Brazil for this price. Also expect a more stylized surface with details like laser cut patterns and inlays. Edge work in this range will be highly ornate and there will most likely b extra cutouts for multiple sinks and cooktops. --John Peterman
Best Bets
Great Lakes Granite Works
Comstock Park, Michigan
800-851-0535
The choice of designers form Chicago to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Great Lakes Granite offers more than 200 kinds of granite from around he world. Barb Macgillivary says for between $77 to $99 a square foot, you can get a standard top with standard edging and installation of about 150 granites.
Fordham Marble Company, Inc.
Stanford, Connecticut
203-248-5088
Family owned and operated since 1905, Fordham Marble provides granite counters to homeowners from Washington, D.C., to Boston. Owner Joyce Sardo says a variety of colors are available at $70 a square foot installed without any cutouts or special edging.
Hilgartner Natural Stone
Baltimore, Maryland
410-752-4832
For more than 137 years, Hilgartner Natural Stone has serviced the Washington, D.C. area. Now stocking more than 400 stones, owner Tom Doyle says about 300 granites can be purchased at about $75 a square foot.
|
| |
|
 |
TOP: The thickness of granite
countertops averages 1 1/4"
ABOVE: Cutouts for cooktops will add to the cost of the countertop.
44 CUSTOM KITCHENS & BATHS
|
|
2000-2004 © Copyright Great Lakes Granite Works
|
|
