If you’ve watched ten minutes of any home remodel show on cable television, there’s a good chance you’ve probably witnessed the popularity of granite counter-tops. There’s a good chance you either already have granite countertops in your home or you wish you had them. But why has granite exploded in popularity in the last 15-20 years?
Back When Granite Countertops Were Rare
There’s little chance of seeing a granite countertop in a home that hasn’t been remodeled since the 1990s. It wasn’t until the late 1980s that granite countertops truly came on the scene. Even then, only the most opulent homes could afford the luxurious granite countertops. It was seen as a tremendously expensive add-on for kitchen remodels. The reason why it was once so expensive and is now nearly affordable stems from two changing variables — availability and workability. When granite countertops first came on the scene, they mostly imported from Italy and manually cut. Between finding the granite, mining it, shipping it, and cutting it, granite remained a luxury afforded to few.
What Made Granite More Available
As demand for new housing grew leading up to the Housing Bubble of 2008, so too did the demand for granite countertops. Those buying existing houses during this period were also remodeling the houses they would buy, often opting for granite. At this point, you’re probably wondering how granite suddenly became so much more available. The two obstacles to attaining granite suddenly changed — source and ease of preparation. Whereas granite used to be sourced almost exclusively from Italy, the majority of granite found in American homes these days is either from Brazil or India — places that show no shortage of granite. The required preparation for the granite also simplified with advances in computerized cutting machines. It wasn’t long before granite could be easily mined, shipped, and cut at competitive rates.
The Future of Granite
As of the publish date of this piece, granite is still king of the countertop world. With its strength, allure, and consistent availability, it’s not hard to see why. While there are currently no signs of the allure of granite fading anytime soon, there are a few up-and-coming competitors. Quartz, for example, has been shown to require much less maintenance than granite and is becoming more competitive in price. Marble is also starting to make a comeback from its past popularity. You can learn more about these countertop materials and more with help from the property experts at Perry Hood Properties.