What Are the Pros and Cons of a Prefabricated Granite Countertop?

Many people like the look of granite countertops but are hesitant to spend the money on this type of upgrade. Such homeowners may be pleased to find that a prefabricated granite countertop usually offers the same look as granite but for less money. In addition, installation is usually easier, meaning the job can get done quickly and doesn't necessarily require a professional installer. On the other hand, slabs of prefabricated countertops do not come in all sizes, so they may not work for every kitchen. Another drawback is that those who use several small slabs of prefabricated countertop to create one large countertop area may notice that the colors and patterns differ slightly from one piece to the next.

The lower price of a typical prefabricated granite countertop compared to the custom kind is what usually draws homeowners to this option. The slabs are usually mass produced, so manufacturers can afford to sell them for less. Despite their lower prices, this type of countertop usually adds just as much value to a home as the custom kind does, so this can be considered an inexpensive upgrade.

Another way that people can save money with a prefabricated granite countertop is by installing the slabs on their own. Most prefabricated granite countertop kits are meant to make it easy for nearly anyone to install this type of upgrade, and they usually come with clear instructions. An additional bonus of this feature is that homeowners can usually install such countertops within hours, making it possible to see fast results.

Some people find that prefabricated granite countertops are not for them. This may be because they usually only come in certain sizes, so those who have counters with abnormal dimensions may have a hard time finding appropriate slabs. Trying to cut the slabs down to the right size also is difficult without the proper tools and often turns out badly, so this is not advised.

A lot of countertops require more than one slab to cover the entire surface, and this could be considered a drawback. This is because few slabs are exactly the same, so the colors and patterns may be slightly different from one area of a pieced-together counter to another. This is not necessarily noticeable to those outside the granite industry unless pointed out, but homeowners who want their prefabricated granite countertop slabs to be indistinguishable from each other may not appreciate this downside.