In this day and age, you can find just about anything. When buying granite slabs, some sellers will try to stick fake granite just so that they can make some profit out of the situation, but you’ll be left with a whole lot of regrets. So, when it comes to granite countertops, here is everything you need to know about spotting a real one from a fake one.

The Cost Is Telling

The first thing you want to look out for when you’re searching for real granite countertops is the price of the natural stone itself. Now, real granite countertops are going to be expensive. You might not like to hear it, but it is true. It is a natural stone and granite is considered to be one of the most expensive materials out there. So, if you want to get it for yourself, then you have to bite the bullet.

There is no other way you can get your hands on good quality granite countertops without spending some extra moola. So, fake granite countertops will be really reasonable in price, even though they will be labeled as granite. That is not the case at all.

If you see that granite countertops are available somehow and somewhere at a lower price point, then you want to walk in the other direction because that is a fake countertop and you don’t want to spend your money on it, because even a penny or cent spent on fake countertops will be considered a waste.

The Appearance Of Granite

The next thing you want to look at is the appearance of granite and you might think that it will be hard, since you don’t have an eye for detail, but you don’t need to have x-ray eyes to be able to tell the difference between a real and fake granite countertop. When you look at a real granite countertop, it is going to be irregular in pattern.

Almost all natural stones have a very distinct and unique pattern that will differ from any other slab even when that is also quarried from the same place. No two real granite slabs will look the same and that is how you’ll know that you have a real countertop on your hands.

If the countertops have a really identical look and there is not an ounce of irregularity on the surface, then you’re this close to getting duped.

Does It Look Too Shiny?

Granite can have a shiny appearance and that is alright, but sometimes, things can look a little too blinding. If you see a real and fake countertop side by side, you’ll be able to tell the difference by looking at the shine of the countertops.

Real granite is slightly shiny. It has a light sheen to it, which doesn’t make it look matte or glossy per se. But fake granite will look like it’s been through the throes of polishing and waxing. There won’t be a single inch of space that won’t be covered in polish and that is your sign to stay away from this material.

You don’t want to spend your money getting something that will be fake, so when the granite countertops look too shiny, you want to immediately look away.

The Porosity Test

This is something you can try out if you want to figure out whether your granite countertops are real or fake. When it comes to porosity, real granite, which is untreated, will be very porous. Even if you drop a few drops of water onto it, the surface will suck everything up like it’s been thirsty for a very long time. That is the telltale sign of a real granite countertop.

When it comes to fake granite, it will have been polished for that perfect and glossy look, to make it more appealing when customers look at it, so the sealant on top of the man-made granite will make it unable for water to get sucked up by the stone.

That is how you know you’re looking at a fake granite countertop. Real granite countertops can be sealed later on, but when they’re in the store, they’re usually untreated.

Non-porosity is a good quality and man-made materials like quartz slabs have it. So, if you don’t want to seal your counters, you can choose quartz.

The Seams Will Give It Away

All natural stones have seams. Sometimes, granite will be positioned in a way in stores that makes up the general look of the countertops. While that is okay, you want to check the seams to really see what you’re getting yourself into.

If you see the seam, then you want to see the mirroring of the pattern right next to it. If there is a difference between the two patterns, then you’re looking at a real granite slab. However, if the seams show complete and exact mirror images of the pattern, then that is a fake granite slab.

Again, Mother Nature doesn’t care for symmetry or making everything look perfect and aligned, and that is the imperfect beauty of the natural stone that is granite. So, you definitely want to take a look at the seams, because it will tell you exactly what you’re looking at and where your money should be spent.

Seams may appear when you install multiple slabs of granite, however, they don’t look good so hire a granite countertop installer Potomac who ensures that the seams are not noticeable.

The Color Consistency

The granite color will also give away a lot and you want to check the color potency of the material when you are buying countertops for the kitchen. Real granite will have irregularities in the color. Because it is made by forces of nature, and in nature, perfection is overrated. This is the biggest sign.

Some parts of the granite will be irregular in color, while others will be irregular in pattern. This is exactly what you want to see when you’re looking at a real granite countertop. When it comes to fake ones, the color and pattern will be perfect to a fault.

The Hammer Test

This is also another test you can do on a granite sample and don’t worry, you won’t be bashing the countertops in. All you need for this is a hammer and the countertops you’re testing. When you hit the countertops lightly with the back of a hammer, real granite countertops will produce a ringing sound. Whereas fake granite countertops will produce a very generic clicking sound.

That is enough conviction that what you’re getting is real or fake. So, you definitely want to try out this hammer test before you go ahead and spend your money on countertops. It might just save you from making a bad decision.

Granite Is On Sale

You’ve never heard of expensive things being on sale and that is a fact, as much as it can hurt your heart and your wallet. If you ever see granite, a natural stone, at very discounted prices, then instead of getting tempted, you want to get away as far as possible.

Because that is not the real deal. Granite is never on sale and if it is, then it is not real. It is man-made or fake granite. You don’t want to fall in this trap.

Conclusion

Real and fake granite countertops are easy to identify with these tips. However, it’s always the better choose reliable granite contractors Rockville who are truthful about their products and services. So, you get exactly the granite type and quality you want without getting scammed.