Granite Surrounds & Backsplashes

The cool sleekness of granite surrounds in your home is always appealing. Even in a more rustic environment, the textures in natural stone look terrific.

As an easy-care option in kitchens, bathrooms, living rooms, and other areas of your home, granite is a superior option for surrounds and backsplashes.

Three Uses for Granite Other Than Countertops

If you’re already considering adding granite countertops to your kitchen, the same benefits that apply to their appeal will also enhance other rooms in your home.

Granite Backsplashes

Using granite for full-height backsplashes really has a dramatic style that catches the eye as soon as you walk into the kitchen.

Granite Shower Surrounds

You can use granite for shower surrounds as well. Homeowners typically choose tile or fiberglass tub surrounds, but to add that “wow factor” in your bathroom, using granite will give the space a very luxurious look.

Granite Fireplace Surrounds and Accents

Another unique way to accent your home is to use granite for a fireplace surround or hearth. While brick and wood are rustic and have their own style, granite adds a high-end feel that can’t be recreated with other materials.

The best granite for fireplace surrounds and hearths will depend more on style than functionality. Because these are usually smaller pieces of granite, you may be able to save a lot of money by choosing a remnant slab that’s leftover from another job.

Finding the Right Granite Color

Browsing sites like Pinterest and Houzz for inspiration will give you plenty of ideas. And installing granite surrounds or hearths is usually relatively simple and can be placed right over the original accents.

Granite vs Tile for Backsplashes and Surrounds

Tile is still a very common material for backsplashes and surrounds of all types, but there is an inherent problem - grout. Grout will stain and is more difficult to maintain, especially as it ages.

Eventually you’ll have to re-grout your tiles, which is very time-consuming and difficult to do yourself. And it’s expensive to hire a bathroom remodeler to handle the task.

You might also think granite is more expensive. Granite prices have actually gone down considerably in the last several years, as the equipment and manufacturing processes improve.

Once you weigh the options, you are likely to find that granite is a budget-friendly choice.

Caring for Your Granite Surrounds

Caring for granite is easy - it resists water and stains, wipes down easily, and won’t require painting, staining, and elbow grease like brick, tile or wood.

The polished finish will stay looking great with less scrubbing and maintenance - just reseal the granite regularly and you’ll have a classic look for decades to come.

We use STONETECH® BulletProof® Sealer when our customers ask us to seal their granite. For DIY granite sealing, follow the directions closely and the polished finish on the stone will last for decades.