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How Can You Tell the Difference Between Real Granite and Fake Granite?

Since the late 1980s, granite has been one of the world’s most popular countertop materials. Natural stones grew in popularity as costs fell and began to be quarried worldwide. Previously, granite was a stone that only wealthy homeowners could buy. Thankfully, granite countertops can now be found in countless kitchens and bathrooms worldwide.

What makes granite so popular?

Granite has various properties, making it the preferred stone in the construction industry. Granite excels all other materials in aesthetics, strength, and durability, providing unrivaled value to residential and commercial users worldwide.

Appearance

Granite comes in a variety of visual features, including spectacular grains, gorgeous veins, and color patches. This property is unique to granite, and no other construction stone offers such a wide range of aesthetic possibilities.

Durability

Granite’s durability is another factor contributing to its popularity. Granite is one of the most potent natural stones. Granite is a good countertop material due to its durability and ability to withstand kitchen demands.

Maintenance

Finally, granite countertops’ popularity stems from the ease with which they can be maintained. Although you must maintain the counters, they require significantly less maintenance than other countertop options.

You only need warm, soapy water and a mop for daily cleaning. Even though you must reseal the surface, you only need to do it once a year. Sealing requirements vary per granite type; however, the stone does not need to be resealed as regularly as many other natural stones.

While granite is a popular stone countertop material, faux granite is another option worth considering. While there is nothing wrong with faux granite, many companies try to sell faux granite countertops as real granite, and this is wrong as it can result in you getting scammed. To avoid getting duped, you should keep your eyes out for the faux granite and be able to tell the difference.

What does “fake granite” mean?

The term “fake granite” refers to countertops that try to replicate the elegance of actual stone. Various countertop materials may be made to seem like granite, including engineered stone, laminate, and painted counters.

The good thing is that if you are keen, you can tell whether the granite you want is real or faux. Some of the things you need to look out for include:

Cost

In general, granite will cost a couple of tens of dollars per square foot. You should be wary if you come across a stone that claims to be granite at a much lower price. If the stone is less expensive than what is available in the market, you are most certainly dealing with faux granite, and if this isn’t what you are looking for, you should stay away from it. If the “granite” is inexpensive and not a forgery, it is almost certainly of inferior quality.

Pay attention to the appearance of the granite.

This could be the most challenging part. Because faux granite countertops are designed to seem like granite, you may not notice the difference at first glance. However, several characteristics of the appearance indicate that the granite is artificial.

If you see that the slab has the same pattern throughout, you are not looking at genuine granite. Granite is a natural stone; thus, there will always be some faults. Furthermore, each slab of granite is distinct due to its natural origin. Even slabs from the same quarry will have variances.

Test for porosity

Testing the porosity of the granite is a simple approach to determine whether it is genuine. Natural granite is porous and will absorb spilled water (unless freshly sealed). However, faux granite would not be permeable. Apply a modest amount of water to a small area of stone. If the water absorbs within a few minutes, you have actual granite that has not been sealed.

However, if the water does not absorb, the granite is likely a fake. This granite will only be genuine if it has already been sealed, which is unlikely given that you must often seal it yourself. In any case, you ought to be suspicious.

Tap the surface

If you lightly tap the rear of the surface with a small hammer, authentic granite should make a ringing noise. Fake granite, on the other hand, produces a slight click sound. If the stone makes the latter of the two sounds, you know it’s not natural stone.

Check the seams

Natural granite countertops will have seams anywhere on their surface. Once you’ve located the seam, examine it closely. If the pattern on the other side of the seam is somewhat different, it is most likely genuine granite. However, if the pattern is identical, you have faux granite. Finally, the surface is most likely faux granite if there is no seam.

Tricks to reduce the chances of buying the wrong stone

To get the ideal results, you must buy the right stone. To increase the chances of buying the right stone, you need to ensure that you are buying the stone from the right store. Before committing to making the purchase, you should do plenty of research beforehand and confirm that the store you are looking to buy the stone from is reputable and has a proven record.

Another thing you should do is to avoid looking for the cheapest deal in the market. As much as you shouldn’t spend all your money on a countertop, you shouldn’t try to buy the countertop stone at an extremely low price. This is because, you are most likely to attract scammers who might try to sell you substandard or fake stones for an ultra-low price.

The right thing to do is to research and find an average amount you should expect to pay for your stone.

Parting shot

Investing in genuine granite countertops for your home is never a waste of effort or money. However, it is critical to shop carefully to avoid purchasing faux granite countertops Ralegh if you don’t want them.

You can reliably identify natural granite countertops by following the abovementioned guidelines and making a wise investment in your house.

How to Paint Countertops to Look Like Granite

It’s often said that you should fake it until you make it. If you love the look of granite countertops but don’t have money to buy real granite, you can always paint your countertops to look like granite. How do you go about it? Here is what to do:

Pick the right paint

You will not get perfect results if you choose the wrong paint. Thankfully, there are plenty of resources you can use to find out the right paint to go for. If you aren’t sure about the one that will give your countertops a look you are after, get the input of a professional.

You should note that you can choose the right paint, but if you choose the wrong primer or sealer, you will most likely have awful results, so also be ultra-cautious when buying the primer and sealer and ensure that you choose the one that goes well with your paint.

Clean and prepare the surfaces

Like any other painting project, you need to clean the surfaces before painting. This calls for you to remove any materials from the countertop surfaces. If possible, also pull the sink.

Using quality household degreasers, scrub any dirt, grease, and debris from the surfaces, then fill any deep cracks or nicks with wood patch or laminate repair filler.

Give the filler time to dry, then sand flush with the countertop surface. If the caulk is loose, cut it away from the sink or backsplash.

Apply the primer coat

Pour a small amount of primer on the surfaces, then cut it with a 2-inch brush. To minimize marks on the surfaces, use a narrow brush.

After cutting, use a roller to apply more primer to the countertops. For the best outcome, work in 3-foot sections, rolling in a single direction with overlapping strokes. When you complete each 3-foot section, roll back over the primer using long, straight rows to reduce air bubbles.

You should repeat this process in 3-foot sections across the rest of the countertops, making sure that you roll out any paint before it dries.

Once you are done, thoroughly clean your roller and brush with warm water, as you will use them to apply the glossy top coat. You should let the primer sit for at least 6 hours before you apply the top coat.

Paint the surfaces

Once your surfaces are ready for painting, go ahead and paint them. The painting kit you buy will come with a sponge with a special texture that significantly impacts the granite style finish that you will achieve.

Cut off a small sponge (1-1/2 inch) of the sponge, then apply it to 2-3 inches of your countertop to see its results.

Before dipping the sponge in the paint, soak it in water, then wring it out. The remaining moisture will prevent the sponge from soaking up too much mineral paint.

Paint your surfaces following the instructions given on the kit. You should note that to achieve the granite look, you must apply the paints in the order indicated on the packaging.

Begin with shaking the paint and pouring a small amount onto a paper plate. Then holding the flat, cut edge of the larger sponge in your hand, blot its un-cut, textured side in the mineral.

You should then dab the sponge on the second paper plate to remove any excess paint, then lightly stamp the coated side of the sponge onto your countertops using quick, up and down movements.

You should then blot the sponge randomly over the countertop surface, taking care not to make sideways swipes. This is because the swipes leave brush-type marks that don’t look like natural granite.

For the best outcome, stick to vertical, up, and down stamping. When doing it, press the sponge firmly, so that sponge’s face makes full contact with the countertop.

Once in a while, turn the sponge to stamp with a different part of the face to mix up the pattern and achieve more uniform results.

Protect the surfaces

You need to protect your faux granite countertops NC from moisture and wear. One of the excellent ways to do it is to seal the surfaces. After sealing, give the surfaces time to cure before using them.

You also should avoid cutting or chopping directly on your surfaces.

5 Things You Should Know About Faux Granite Countertops

If you love the look and feel of real granite but can’t afford it, you should try out faux granite countertops. These countertops are almost identical to the real expensive and elegant stone, but cheaper.

They are made by applying a primer and a few paint coats in multiple layers. Once the paint has completely dried, the manufacturers apply multiple layers of sealant to provide a protective layer.

Are you considering installing the countertops? Here are 5 things you should know about them:

You have a few installation options.

When installing the countertops, you should know that you don’t have plenty of options or transformations to play around with.

One option involves applying a contact paper-like product to a completely smoothed and cleared surface. Here you need to measure, cut, and carefully apply the material of choice to the countertops, then smooth it into place.

You can also use primers, sponges, paintbrushes, acrylic paints, and epoxy. This process involves painting the look of granite onto the countertop. To achieve ideal results, you need to get involved, have a keen eye for detail, and invest a lot of time into the project.

You can do the installation by yourself or hire a professional to help you out. Obviously, you are better off hiring a professional as they tend to do a better job.

Although, you are limited to the installation methods, faux countertop installation is an easy project to execute.

One of the most important things you should do is have a clear idea of how you want the countertops to look like once you are done.

The fake countertops look similar to the real stone.

Many homeowners are cautious about installing fake countertops as they have the impression they will give their kitchen counters a cheap look, but this isn’t the case.

As long as the countertops are carefully and professionally installed, they will look the same, if not better, than the real stone.

To ensure the countertop maintains the look of real granite, have it installed by experts. Remember that some contractors say they are experts while they are not. To avoid making the wrong choice, take time when hiring.

Interview a few contractors while comparing their experiences and expertise.

While you can easily replace the countertops when they get damaged, it’s wise to protect them from damage. This saves you money and, at the same time, keeps your countertops looking spectacular.

When cutting vegetables and other items, always use a chopping board. You should never cut directly on the countertops. You also shouldn’t place hot items directly on the counters. Instead, use a hot pad or placement to protect the surfaces.

When it comes to cleaning, use mild non-abrasive cleaners. Clean the faux granite counters gently with a clean rag and a small amount of water in addition to the cleaner. When spills happen, wipe them away immediately.

Even with the best care, it’s common for scratches to come about. When they show up, buff them out with small baking soda rubbed into the surface with a soft cloth. For deeper scratches, consult your manufacturer on how to handle them.

You need to give tender and caring love to the countertops.

Since the faux granite isn’t as tough as the real stone, you need to give it more tender loving care. Remember, the countertop is more susceptible to cuts, burns, and scrapes, so be cautious when handling it. Use the tips we have given above to keep your counters in good condition.

Faux granite won’t last as long as a real stone.

Although the countertop’s durability depends on the installation and maintenance, there is no way the faux granite will last as long as the real stone. Thankfully, you can extend the countertops’ life to even several years by taking good care of it.

Again, use the above tips to keep your counters in the best shape possible.

You have plenty of colors and designs to choose from

One of the best things about the countertops is you have plenty of varieties to choose from. You get to choose the color and all the secondary colors you want, and feel will give your counters the look you want. As we have been saying, for excellent results, work with expert granite contractors Raleigh.

6 Cheap Kitchen Countertops Alternatives

kitchen countertops

When homeowners hear about updating their countertops, they imagine they have to spend several tens of thousands of dollars.

While some countertop materials will cost this much, there are plenty of other cheaper alternatives. Are you on a budget? Here are six cheap kitchen countertops alternatives you should try out:

Paint

Just as paint transforms a wall, it can also transform your counters. If you don’t like the current look of the countertops, find a paint that will match your cabinets, floor, and cover the damaged areas of the counters.

Regardless of whether you have tile, laminate, cultured marble, or solid surface counters, you will find a paint that will give the surfaces a new look.

If you have the skills, you can paint the surfaces by yourself, but if you have never done it before, let an expert handle it. For perfect results, first prime the counters then paint them. Finish the look by sealing the counters.

Concrete

Concrete countertops are durable, affordable, and cool looking. Ages ago, concrete contractors used to pour the concrete on the site. This often didn’t produce great-looking results.

Fortunately, things have changed. Currently, thanks to advancements in technology, there are plenty of precast concrete countertops that are more attractive.

Concrete counters resemble natural stone slabs. Unless you are too keen, you can pass them for granite or any other natural stone countertops.

Since the precast concrete countertops are cured and finished in the factory, they are easy to install as they come ready to use. The countertops are usually 1.5 inches thick, and when poured and cured, they come out smooth and flat.

They come in lengths of up to 10 feet, so they don’t produce any unsightly seams.

While these countertops are beautiful, unique, and affordable, they easily chip and scratch, so you should be cautious about how you handle them. As a rule of thumb, avoid being rough with them.

Ceramic tiles

Ceramic tiles give you the durability of natural stone, but at a much lower price. The tiles also come in many designs, including the natural-toned designs that give your kitchen or bathroom a natural look.

To make your countertops more attractive, use more expensive tiles with interesting designs at the borders.

While the tiles are tough hence allowing you to place even hot pots on them, you should take care as they tend to crack and chip easily. The grout between the tiles also stains easily, so you have to pay close attention to it to maintain the look.

Laminate

Popularly known as Formica, plastic laminate is highly versatile and affordable. Laminate is also resilient and comes in many colors, textures, and patterns. The material is also easy to install. Even if you are a beginner, you can install the countertops.

They come in sizes of 2 x 4 feet or 4 x 8 feet, but if you have longer counters, visit the company, and they will cut customized sizes.

Although, made from plastic, advanced printing techniques make the countertops resemble natural stone or wood.

When they were coming out, laminate used to scratch easily, but now advanced sealing techniques make these countertops tough and almost scratch proof.

Wood

Wood is significantly cheaper than natural stone making it an ideal choice for people operating on a budget. Two of the popular wood choices are maple and bamboo.

If you opt for these countertops, you should note that they require high levels of maintenance. To prevent them from getting damaged by water, regularly seal them with epoxy. Also, remember to oil them every two to three years.

Faux granite

Every homeowner wants granite countertops, but they don’t come cheap. If you love the look of natural stone but don’t have the money to buy real granite, go for faux granite countertops Raleigh.

All you need to do is to find an experienced contractor who will help you find the right countertops and paint them to give them the look of real granite.

While the countertops will look like real granite, they can’t take the abuse of real granite, so you need to handle them with care.

The Most Common Granite Countertop Questions: Answered!

kitchen counter

Granite is the first name that comes in mind when homeowners think about countertop replacement. Be it bathroom countertop or kitchen countertop, granite is the first choice of homeowners. Granite is popular countertop choice because of obvious reasons. This material has plenty of benefits. Even the availability of plenty of natural stone and manmade countertop materials is not able to decrease the popularity of granite countertops. Still many people have many doubts regarding kitchen countertop replacement.

Is granite a good kitchen and bathroom countertop?

Granite is apt material for kitchen and bathroom countertop. This material is heat and scratch resistant. It means granite can withstand hot pans, knives, flat iron etc. They can be installed above kitchen cabinets as well as on bathroom vanity. Granite countertops are available in plenty of colors and textures, which look good in both kinds of settings.

What are the alternatives to granite countertops?

There are many alternatives available on the market for granite countertops, such as marble, tile, bamboo, silestone and quartz. Each material has its own benefits. You should consider pros and cons of every material before finalizing any material for your kitchen or bathroom countertop.

How granite countertops different?

Granite is a natural stone. Each and every slate of granite is different from other. It means no two granite countertops will have similar designs. This material is heat resistant, germ resistant, scratch resistant, and low maintenance. It is not possible to get all these benefits in one countertop option.

What are faux granite countertops?

Faux granite countertops are not actually the granite countertops. It is the cheap solution to get look and feel of the granite countertop. Actually, you can paint your old countertop with certain solution to make existing countertop look like granite. It can be one of the cheapest countertop replacement techniques, as you neither need to purchase the new countertop nor need to invest time and money on the countertop installation. But at the end you will get the new countertop. So, if your existing countertop looks old or you want to give fresh look to your kitchen, faux granite is the solution.

Is granite an expensive kitchen countertop option?

Yes, granite is an expensive countertop material. Its price is higher than the most of the countertops available on the market. However, this countertop worth every penny you spent. Consider purchasing countertop from reputable and trustworthy countertop company.

Where can I find quality countertop resurfacing?

The Countertop Factory in North Carolina offers the widest range of solid surface countertops in Raleigh, NC. The types of countertops we offer range from laminate countertops and prefabricated granite countertops to quartz countertops, soapstone countertops and marble countertops! Our most popular product is granite countertop because of its versatility. There are a variety of granite countertops colors and styles available to fit your individual needs.

Visit our main website to learn more about Corian countertops, butcher block countertops, concrete countertops, glass countertops and stainless steel countertops. Currently some of our other most popular products are recycled countertops, wood countertops and faux granite countertops. Give us a call today to learn more about our granite countertops prices!