Granite is one of the most popular countertop materials out there. You really can’t go wrong with granite countertops. However, granite countertops do fade over time if not maintained well enough. Here is how it happens and how you can deal with it.

Why Do Granite Countertops Fade?

Granite countertops usually don’t fade, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t ever get dull and lose their luster. This is why it’s important to know what things can cause granite to get dull. It is an expensive and very high-maintenance material, so you need to take care of it so that it stays pretty and flawless at all times.

Exposure Of Sunlight

Sunlight is one of the biggest culprits that can cause dullness in granite countertops. Sunlight can make the color of granite light and gray and it can look very unappealing to the eyes. Now, granite doesn’t have natural UV protection.

You need to limit the exposure to sun and if your kitchen has a lot of windows or your countertops are directly in front of the window, facing the sunlight at all times, then chances are that your countertops will get faded and dull.

Use Of Harsh Chemicals

Granite is a strong material, but it can’t stand against the harshness of chemical cleaners, acids, and bleach. These are the things that can’t and shouldn’t be used on granite countertops. If you do then you’re setting your countertops up for permanent dullness and that is bad.

If you want to clean your countertops then you can use a good and gentle detergent and water and wipe off any stains and food residue with a microfiber cloth. It will clean the countertops effortlessly and you won’t damage them in the long run either.

Not Cleaning Them

This one is probably a no-brainer, but you can’t expect granite countertops to look spotless and shiny when you don’t clean them every single day. This is something that needs to be done without fail every day if you want your countertops to look beautiful and lustrous for years to come. Make it a habit to clean the countertops after you’re done for the day in the kitchen.

Just a quick wipe down will be enough and you’ll see the difference yourself when you regularly clean the countertops. Dirty countertops not only look bad, but they’re unhygienic as well.

Not Sealing The Countertops

This is also another thing that needs to be addressed. Granite is a natural stone. It means that there are a lot of pores on the surface of granite. This makes granite a virtual solid sponge and it can absorb almost any liquid in itself. This can also lead to stains and the shine and luster of granite will be long gone.

The countertops will turn lifelessly dull and they will be very faded. So, you want to ensure that you’re dealing with the countertops, because that will allow the surface to not suck any liquid and instead, it will bead on the surface so that you can clean it up afterward.

The Countertops Are Old

If your countertops are very old, like 15 to 20 years old and you haven’t changed them then they won’t be the same as they were when you bought them. Granite countertops, if maintained properly, can last for a long time, but there is a limit to it too.

So, if you see that the countertops are losing their shine and getting faded, then the reason could be because they’re very old and you probably need to go ahead and change them. There’s not a lot that you can do at this point. So, find granite countertop installers Potomac who can guide you through the process of buying new granite countertops.

How To Fix Faded Granite Countertops?

Now that you know how granite countertops can get dull, here is everything you need to know to restore the shine and bring life back into the countertops.

Clean Your Granite Countertops Regularly

First things first, you need to clean the countertops every single day. No matter if you’re using the countertops to make food or doing anything on them, the shine will remain if you clean them. You don’t even need fancy cleaners for it.

You can get away with cleaning granite countertops with soap and water. If you want, you can invest in a pH-balanced cleaner and you can use it as per the instructions, but the bottom line is to ensure that the countertops look and stay spotless for years to come.

Use Shine Restoring Products

Another thing you can do, if you want the shine of the granite countertops to be preserved, is to use shine restoring products. There are a lot of powders, products, and cleaners that have shine-restoring qualities in them and they’re specially for granite countertops.

So, if you want, you can use them once every couple of months or so, when you feel like the countertops look a little worse for wear. They will change the way your countertops look and the best part? You don’t need to use them every single day. Once every month or according to the instructions is enough.

Get The Countertops Polished

This is something that can come in the annual maintenance of granite counters and that is polishing your kitchen countertops. Granite countertops are naturally shiny, but you can make the shine last longer if you polish them once a year.

This will not only ensure that your countertops don’t get faded or dull, but you will see that the brightness of the countertops will shine through and they will look brand new. It’s worth a try if you’ve never gotten your countertops polished before. You won’t want to go back and it’s something that will make your countertops look magnificent.

Seal Them

This is also something that you need to do every year or after a couple of months depending on the use of the countertops, but sealing granite countertops will save you from a lot of damage. This is important because you can’t even go one day without having granite countertops sealed.

After all, they will stain like there’s no tomorrow. This is why sealing is important and it’s something that needs to be done frequently. You can’t just seal the countertops once and let it go. They need to be sealed after a couple of months because the sealant can wear down and expose the natural rock underneath.

Consider Professionals

Whenever you’re considering polishing or sealing your countertops, it’s always best that you go for professionals. You can seal and polish the countertops by yourself, but the results are even better if you let professionals handle the work for you. They will not only get the job done quickly, but they will add that perfect touch that will make you go “Wow”.

Yes, the services can be expensive, but they are worth it and you won’t regret the money you spent, because the countertops will look amazing.

Conclusion

Granite countertops can fade, but it’s really easy to prevent it or at least slow it down. Now you know exactly how to do that. For granite kitchen countertop replacement or repair, get in touch with granite contractors Rockville.