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Knowing something about the origins and makeup of granite countertops can add to your appreciation of their beauty. And there's no doubt that Honed Finish Granite Countertops are look beautiful and add luxury to your house. They're also durable, but they are subject to some problems that are not issues for countertops not made of natural stone. However, understanding the drawbacks can also add to your appreciation because there are relatively simple solutions to many of the problems.

Granite is an igneous rock. Before it became something that could be used for a countertop, it began as magma, which is a molten volcanic material. This is not the lava that you see flowing from a volcano. Magma flows under the ground, and, in the case of the magma that forms granite, it lies deep beneath the ground. This deep magma is call "plutonic." Thus granite is formed deep underground, cools for millions of years, and then might be exposed by erosion. The rock is coarse-grained and contains a lot of feldspar and quartz. Granite is found on all continents, although it might not be visible on the surface.

So what makes this common stone so sought after as a material for countertops? The quick answer is its good looks. It's hard to imagine a more beautiful surface. But there's more. Granite is also highly heat-resistant. You don't have to worry about damaging it by placing a hot pan on it. It also comes in a wide variety of colors.

Granite's drawbacks include its porosity. It seems counter intuitive, but granite is not a solid as its history and look implies. The stone absorbs liquids, and many of them, including cooking oil, alcohol and even water can leave stains. If you have a large area to cover, granite might have to be pieced together to do the job. The size of the slabs is limited. The surface is also subject to marring if you use it without a cutting board.

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