Choosing the Perfect Types of Edges for Granite Countertops

Designing your dream bath or kitchen involves endless details.  You’ve chosen cabinet style, door hardware, and the perfect tile backsplash.  Selecting an edge profile seems like a simple decision… until you’re faced with multiple options. How do you choose the perfect edge profile for granite and for countertops in Cumming, GA? Use the following designer tips to help make this subtle, but crucial decision.

What’s Your Style?

  • Contemporary:Typically characterized by simple, clean lines, contemporary design lends itself well to standard edge profiles. The flat, or eased edge, is the most popular countertop edge for good reason. To add a touch of designer flair, and show off the grain in a spectacular granite slab, consider a bevel or bullnose in either standard or laminated thickness.
  • Traditional:Does your house evoke that elegant southern charm from a by-gone era? Stately Victorians are the perfect canvas for the curves and detail in an ogee, waterfall, or Dupont style edge profile.

What’s Your Budget?

Are you designing your forever-home, or getting your house ready for sale? If you plan on staying in your home for several years, feel free to choose the edge profile that speaks to your personal design style. You can feel confident the extra money spent on a waterfall or double-ogee edge will be well-spent. On the other hand, if you plan on selling within the next two years, consider using a simpler edge that appeals to most home buyers.

What is the value of your home? Another cost consideration is the market value of your house. A simple edge profile on a high-end kitchen island may turn buyers off when they’re looking for that substantial visual appeal. Many buyers will dicker over the sale price if they’ll want to resurface their countertops right away.

What’s the Difference?

  • Standard Edges: These are the most common options, and are the same thickness as your countertop. Depending on your slab, it may be 2 cm, 3 cm (most common), or 4 cm. Standard profiles require less machining and polishing, and are either free with the cost of the slab, or inexpensive per linear foot.
  • Laminated Edges:A laminated edge profile has nothing to do with plastic laminate counters. To achieve a more substantial designer look, a second layer of rock is laminated, or glued, to the bottom of a standard countertop edge. Because of the extra material and labor involved, these edges have a higher price point. But, they also have a bigger visual and style impact.
  • Bonus Budget-Friendly Option:Consider using a Standard edge profile on the run of wall cabinets, and a Laminated edge profile on the kitchen island. Gain that designer look and feel at the heart of the kitchen, where it makes the biggest impression.

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