I keep seeing granite countertops listed on real-estate listings, home improvement/remodeling project ads, etc. Why is this particular amenity so popular and considered such a plus? What are the alternatives and why are they inferior (at least, inferior enough not to be explicitly mentioned like granite countertops are)?
In: Engineering
Granite has a number of advantages…and a few disadvantages.
Advantages are a smooth surface that doesn’t give off a ton of heat (so even if you put a hot pan on the countertop you’re unlikely to burn yourself) and is resistant to heat and all kinds of abrasion. The disadvantages are that it can crack and it’s porous (so it needs to be resealed every now and then to prevent it from staining or becoming a magnet for bacteria). An additional disadvantage is that if the countertop is a complex shape then it will have to be made from multiple blocks of granite.
That generally makes it superior or equivalent to most other countertop materials (certainly superior to laminate, wood or marble). For pure utilitarianism a concrete mix (you can get a really nice finish on concrete if you mix it with the right materials) can usually match all the advantages of a granite countertop. “Concrete countertop” doesn’t sound very nice when you’re trying to sell the house though.
For commercial kitchens steel is usually the superior choice, since it’s easier to keep hygienic. The disadvantage of steel is of course that it will show any stains or deposites. If your tapwater is somewhat alkaline a steel countertop is basically cleaning hell (which is a pro in a commercial kitchen but not that desirable in your home).
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