Where does the granite come from?
This rock is extracted by miners from various areas of the world, whose best known sources are Sweden, Norway, Finland, Spain, Portugal, India, Brazil and in many countries in southern Africa. Granite occurs as stocks in so-called batholiths, having actually crystallized from magma.
Various countries have different methods of extraction of granite, and this is one of the first factors that determines the price of a finished piece of granite. Much excavation is required to get into the ground where granite can be found, and because it is essential that this stone be removed in large chunks, blasting could not be employed.
This means that special heavy equipment must be used to properly extract the granite from where it can be found, requiring large cutters and several men to remove a single large piece. It is said that a block can weigh up to 20 cars.
After the extraction process, the blocks are taken to Verona, Italy, for further cutting, refining, sanding, shaping and polishing. These Italian factories have special equipment to process these stones and of course the cost of everything that the process uses is included in the cost of the slab that you will eventually buy.
Then after the granite blocks are processed, the prices are now tagged according to their size, color, hue, pattern, granularity, and other factors. Manufacturers know which ones are rarer or more beautiful than the others and therefore should demand higher prices.
Regular ones cost around $ 50 to $ 150 per square foot, while rare varieties, like White Lanka granite, can cost upwards of several hundred dollars. It can also be said that each piece is a work of art because the granularity of the granite creates fascinating patterns that cannot be duplicated by engineered stones. Even the color of the stones plays a role in determining the cost of granite countertops.
Now that you have read about the many factors that affect the cost of the type of granite kitchen countertop, you will understand why this material costs much more than other materials that are easier to obtain or manufacture. Now you also know why two granite slabs you see in a showroom, which may appear identical, may actually be priced differently.
Despite the relatively high cost of granite kitchen countertops, they are still preferred by both individuals and business owners due to their elegance and durability. If something so beautiful can last a lifetime, wouldn’t you spend the extra dollars to have it?
