There are many different, often overlooked aspects to consider when purchasing stone to install in your home, be it your kitchen, bathroom, living room, or patio. People can get sloppy when dealing with topics like scratch resistance, stain resistance, resistance to water damage, and density (the stone’s ability to resist nicks, chips, and cracks).

All of these things sometimes fade into the background when people are seduced by color, design, and luxury brands. People can still receive quality granite fixtures without the hassle of wear and tear. The density is palpable.

The only material denser than granite is diamond, and you just won’t find a diamond countertop on the market, and trust me, I’ve looked. In addition to being the toughest surface that contractors regularly install in people’s homes, the variety of colors and finishes does not encourage homeowners to simply install a highly repeated look in their home. To combine scratch resistance, heat and cold resistance, with the look and weight-bearing strength, create a home accessory that will last until you choose to uninstall it (but why … would it last the entire life?).

The density of granite is certainly not something that people often think of when choosing what type of material to remodel with. In an ideal world, the choice you make should be practically unscathed for the duration of your life in your home – well that’s the hope anyway.

There are countless types of popular countertops that just don’t provide much resistance against constant wear and tear. Linoleum, wood, and even steel can easily be scratched, stained, and dented. These seemingly meaningless bump and bruise marks can turn out to be unsightly pock marks that last long after you wanted to (aka, forever).

If you are looking for a granite countertop, be sure to remember its density and strength … oh, and of course it is beauty.