5 Granite Tile Products That Work Wonders in the Kitchen

The use of granite tile products has gained considerable popularity in home improvement, especially in the kitchen. Granite is a beautiful, natural occurring material that compliments any kitchen when used appropriately.

In the kitchen, granite tiles are mostly used on counter tops and as back splashes, but they can also be used as tile flooring. There are several types of granite tile products, however there are some notable tiles that are extremely popular and worth checking out

Absolute Black Tile

The absolute black granite tile stays true to its name. It comes in the form of a black surface with no patterns or extra colors. Black is a bold color and as such, it works perfectly well on its own. This tile is suitable for large kitchens where it can be used on the counter top, back splash, and even tile flooring. In can also be used in small kitchens but such kitchens should have walls with bright colors, such as white and cream.

Black granite tile for the counter tops and back splashes should preferably be polished in order to make the cleaning process easy. The non-polished version of this tile can be used on the kitchen floor for safety purposes.

Bianco Romana

Bianco romana is a granite tile that has white as the dominant color. This tile falls in the marbled category of granite. This is because it has an easy flow of variations between its colors. These tiles are perfect for white kitchens with warm colors such cream and beige. They can fit in both small and large kitchens since they create an illusion of space. These Peru tile products are fit for counter tops and backsplashes. Their simple pattern allows them to be used on both surfaces.

Seafoam Green Tile

The seafoam green tiles are an uplifting color that charms any kitchen. Theses tile products come in a polished look that is suitable for counter tops and back splashes since they are highly prone to dirt. These tiles have a busy design hence they should be used sparingly. When used in a large kitchen, these tiles can fit on both the counter tops and the back splashes. When used in small kitchens, they should be used minimally on one of the surfaces.

Costa Esmeralda Tile

The costa esmeralda falls in the speckled category of granite tiles. It has a somewhat busy design but its color its subtle enough to be used on counter tops and back splashes. In order for it to be used in a small kitchen, the small kitchen needs to have walls with bright, yet simple colors that won’t suffocate the tile. Only select tile dealers offer this granite tile product. Leeway Tile serving Bloomington, IL is one that we highly recommend.

Typhoon Bordeaux Tile

The typhoon bordeaux tile has one of the busiest designs. It has a busy speckled design with several variations of bold, brown colors. This tile is suitable for large kitchens since the busy design would suffocate a small kitchen. A small kitchen can use this tile sparingly, preferably as a center piece.

For a granite tile to be used on a kitchen floor, it needs to be unpolished. Polished tile fits counter tops and back splashes since they make cleaning easy. These five tiles are some of the best options in tiling kitchen spaces. Explore more fabulous tile products and stay tuned on the Granite n' Grout gurus blog!

8 Tips to Get the Most of Your Granite Countertops

Most homeowners will agree that granite countertops are some of the best that you can get. Not only are they durable, but they are quite aesthetically appealing - making them both functional as well as beautiful. 

Investing in durable granite countertops does not mean that you can neglect to clean and maintain them. For this reason, below we offer some great tips to get the most out of your granite countertops:

 

1.   Avoid droping heavy items the granite countertops. Although this material is quite hard and sturdy, it is prone to chips and can even break if you are not careful. This is especially true if the countertops take a hit on one of their fissure lines. You should be careful when putting down heavy object on the countertops as well as when you are lifting them.

2.   Never stand or sit on granite countertops. Just as heavy object can break or chip them, placing too much weight on them at a time could also cause the countertops to break.

3.   Use cutting boards when cutting vegetable, fruits, met and so on. Most people are quite tempted to simply cut these items directly on the countertops. Remember that the countertops come with a sealer so as to protect the granite. Cutting directly on the granite will damage the sealer and possible crack the granite. In addition to this you will also ruin your kitchen knives.

4.   Never place hot pot or pans on top of granite. Although it is quite difficult to melt or burn the granite, the heat from the pots and pans will definitely ruin the sealer that the granite has been treated with. Place the hot pots and plans on a hot pad.

5.   Clean granite countertops on a daily basis. When using a granite countertop cleaner, use a soft cloth and some warm water or a mild granite cleaner. This will ensure that dirt and dust are kept at bay without interfering with the shine of the granite. If a spill occurs, ensure that it is cleaned up immediately so as to avoid any staining. If extreme staining does occur, you may need to invest in granite cleaning services.

6.   Buff granite countertops from time to time. It is good to take the time and buff granite countertops once in a while so as to get rid of any streaking that may have occurred over time. This can be easily done with an old terry cloth towel that is no longer in use.

7.   Polish the granite, there are stone polishes specifically for granite to ensure that they remain looking shiny and new plus help prevent any staining from occurring. This can also help to restore granite to look like new.

8.   Seal the granite occasionally. When you have the granite installed in your home, it will be sealed at the time of installation however, this granite sealer will disintegrate over time and would be as useful to the granite anymore. As such, you should seal the granite after every few years so as to increase its shelf life.

Due to how beautiful they are as well as durable, granite countertops are considered to be one of the best options one could make for their home. Using the best practices of granite countertops care and maintenance goes a long way to best ensure lasting allure and functionality.