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Before I begin, it must be said that I worked for a Home Improvement show in Phoenix for several years after I graduated. I learned a lot about the home from a very wise and knowledgeable man. Many of his thoughts and opinions shaped the way I now feel about my own home.
Granite was always an odd subject. It's extremely popular right now, and no one can argue the beauty it brings to the kitchen. However, it's not 100% wonderful. There are things to know about granite. This natural stone is porous, bowing to the need to be sealed occasionally to prevent staining. Citrus can to damage to the finish (not that I'm in the habit of leaving sliced lemons haphazardly around the house). There is also, like so many other products, superior and inferior granite. So before diving into the world of granite, homework must be done and a dedication to maintenance must be accepted as part of the deal.
Granite is also a huge selling point. I would venture to say that in some markets, it's to be expected. So for us, it was an easy decision to make. We wanted granite countertops in our home.
I am also happy to say the upgrade was much easier that we expected! We did our own demolition to help cut costs, and we went with a reliable local company for the installation. (I will note here that we also got rid of the boring tile backsplash and that turned out to be tedious and exhausting, but that's a whole other post.) The local company was slightly pricier than the "big box store" we originally thought we had to go through, but the turned out to be worth their weight in gold. The entire process only took a week. They installed the countertops and sinks in the kitchen and both bathrooms. At the same time, we began replacing our white appliances with stainless steel and installed an over the range microwave. When everything was said and done, it felt like we had a whole new home! I was excited to invite friends over for a "viewing party." I even took great joy in cleaning the house to keep things looking as polished and fabulous as the countertops.
We were scared at first to take on such a huge project, but it turned out to be much easier and enjoyable than we thought. Who knows, maybe our next house will be a fixer-upper so we can do this again.
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