Granite slab is one of the best and most popular countertop materials for the kitchen and bathroom. In Houston, however, shopping for granite slab can be challenging. Many stone suppliers keep their inventory outdoors. Texans expect heat, humidity and wind if they’re riding the range – but our weather can make shopping uncomfortable! It can also be difficult to see the slabs properly in bright sunlight, or on dusty or overcast days. Fortunately, there are some companies that maintain large air-conditioned showrooms. Omni Surfaces, for example, has showrooms in Lafayette, Louisiana and Houston. The Houston warehouse boasts 50,000 square feet of fully air-conditioned, well-lit display space for stone slabs. Homeowners, designers, decorators and fabricators can view granite slabs and other countertop products in comfort. Choosing a granite slab is an important decision, made much easier when you can take your time and see the stone clearly.

Reasons to Choose Granite Slab Countertops

Much of the reason for granite’s popularity is its natural beauty – each slab is unique, like an original work of art by Mother Nature. Granite is an igneous rock that forms when magma cools slowly beneath the earth’s surface, featuring large, crystals of quartz, feldspar and mica. Granite is quarried in almost every country in the world and is available in an incredibly wide range of colors and patterns, from delicately flecked neutral shades to boldly patterned jewel tones. You can select a cream countertop with shiny gold speckles from Norway or an exotic red and black migmatite granite from Brazil. Stone slabs can be honed for a matte finish or polished to a high gloss. The edge you choose can give your countertop additional style: sharply angled mitered edges have a contemporary feel, for example, while ornate ogee edges have a softer, more traditional look. A beautiful granite slab countertop can become a focus for any room and a featured element of your home’s décor.

But granite has practical advantages, too. It is one of the hardest substances on Earth, rating a 7 on the Mohs scale of hardness. Historically, granite has been used to build monuments and some of the most beautiful architecture in the world. It’s commonly used to face commercial and government buildings, and is also used for fireplaces, steps, terraces and to pave plazas and public spaces.

Granite is incredibly durable. It has permanence, enduring color and texture, and, with proper care, remains beautiful. Granite is highly heat-resistant, scratch-resistant and stain-resistant.

Affordable, Safe and Easy to Care For

For many years, granite was available only to the wealthy. Advances in quarrying and processing technology since the 1980s, however, have made natural stone more available and affordable. Granite is non-toxic, non-allergenic and has anti-bacterial properties. Cleaning it is as simple as wiping it down with a damp cloth. Maintaining the beauty and durability of your granite countertop is easy. Slabs from premier stone suppliers have been pre-sealed. Periodic resealing may be necessary, but this is a simple process that usually takes less than an hour.

It’s easy to see why granite slab is a favorite countertop material. And granite slab is also beautiful on floors, walls, fireplaces, and as a design accent. Visit a Houston showroom today and explore the many possible uses for bringing the natural beauty of stone to your home!