Upgrading Your Patio? How to Get the Most Out of Granite Countertops for Your Outdoor Space
The outdoor patio area is a vital component of your home, and therefore ought to feel like an extension of the interior design of your home. The patio is also a functional area for entertainment on weekends, gathering with friends and family, and relaxing after a long and tiring day. For this reason, it is important to incorporate beautiful and long lasting patio materials and designs to add personality and vibrancy to this important place. If you are revamping your outdoor living space, or perhaps your existing layout requires a special touch, granite countertops can be an excellent addition and transformation to your patio design. To get you started, here is how you ensure that granite countertops bring back life into your exterior living space.
Why Granite?
Granite will work well for your outdoor space because it holds up to a wide range of weather elements and temperatures. This means that if you are looking for something that will offer enough space for preparing and serving food while still holding up to extreme temperatures and harsh weather, granite countertops will do it for you. It is also eco-friendly and has an aesthetic value with a natural pattern of stone that will allow you to identify a perfect piece of functional art for improving your exterior living space.
How Do You Get The Full Benefit From A Granite Countertop?
Maintenance
You need to ensure that your granite countertops look fabulous all the time. You can start by asking your installer whether a seal for the countertops would be necessary. Food stains or spills can be naturally washed away by rain, but if the surface of your countertop is absorbent, you will need a sealer to prevent spills from drinks and food from leaving long-term marks. For general cleaning, hose your countertops and use non-abrasive detergents to remove the surface dirt and dust that accumulates from food spills and outdoor grime.
Controlled Exposure to Heat and Cold
Even if granite holds up well to extreme temperatures, you don't have to leave your granite countertops exposed to the sun. On a hot summer afternoon, your countertops will also be as hot. Therefore, to make it more comfortable for standing or even sitting near the counter, cover as much area of the countertop as possible with an awning, pergola or umbrella.
When it's cold like in winter, minimize exposure to sleet and snow because the constant freezing and thawing cycles can damage your countertops. For instance, if your granite countertop has a sink, the contraction and expansion of the sink metal can lead to stress cracks in the stone.