Granite countertops are a great addition to any house décor. They provide a stability and durability that lasts for a long time. One of the most commonly used materials in the kitchen; they make a good material when you want to enhance the look of your space. Most of the time, we take a look at samples and decide or choose the one suitable for us.
There are some colors upon which you can decide by merely looking at the sample, but that’s not always the case. In some cases, a sample may not help you. This is when you have to look at the slab. You have to look at a proper slab to judge if you want to opt for the color or design or not. Experienced people easily know how to make such decisions, but when you are a newbie, it is a little challenging. Here are a few tricks to help you understand how to decide on a countertop based on the slab and not a sample.
The different grading systems
Every lot of Granite slab has their own grading system. Most of the time, this grading depends on the availability of the particular pattern or color. Here are some examples and grading patterns that can help you out.
- Grade A- the slabs that fall under this category are very common. The slabs under the A grade consist of popular colors and tight patterns. Mostly the Granite sample pieces are very similar if not same to the slabs.
- Grade B- E – granite slabs that fall under these categories are not very common. The grade E is used for the ones that are exotic. The one’s that fall under the E-category have a unique design and look. You cannot make a decision with such pieces by looking through a sample. To get the actual feel of the Granite and understand the way it really looks, you have to see the real slab piece.
Lighting plays a vital role
Now that you have understood the grading system, the next thing that you need to know about is the lighting part. Granite slabs look different in broad day light and under artificial light. When you look at a sample, you may get a fine idea of the color, but this also may vary.
Before you decide on a granite slab, look at the color under various lights. This will help you to understand how it appears. Sometimes what appears to be black may actually be a very dark shade of grey or even have a bottle green color tint.
At times, granite slabs have a dual toned look. What may be a very dark brown when you look closely, will come across as black from a distance. This is another way to decide how to make a choice by looking at a slab and not a sample.
The design may differ from the sample to the slab
When a sample is taken out, it is just a small portion of the actual slab. There are variants even in the design as well. The slab consists of the actual design and not just a part of it. You will get a good idea on the real design of the granite and the way it will blend with your house décor. This is a crucial decision because this is what helps you to really make the right choice for your house. You also get to understand the different colors there are within the granite.
The dimension, size and weight
When you look at a sample and look at the slab, you will find a difference in the dimension and size. The dimension and size of the slab lets you know how durable the piece is. Sometimes there is also a variation with the weight. The sample may feel light or heavy and it will be different when you look at the slab.
The reason why this is essential is that these factors decide the durability of the piece you choose. There are different weights of granite slabs that are very specific to its use. For example, for your dining table, you may not require a very heavy granite as you would for the kitchen workstation / countertop. Similarly, if you choose to have a granite slab for your outdoors, it will be very different from what you choose indoors. All these factors play a role in determining which kind of granite you should go for.
