Although granite countertops go through trend cycles, many homeowners continue to find them attractive. Granite is sturdy and durable, and each slab, made of natural or manufactured stone, has a distinct appearance.

Granite tiles or granite slabs make up the majority of countertops. There is a third classification, a hybrid kind called modular granite.

When available, modular granite can be an excellent middle ground between heavy, difficult-to-install solid slabs and lightweight granite tiles, which are simple to install but result in countertops with many grout seams. Although you can quickly locate high-quality granite countertops in Oak Creek, read on to learn more about them!

Modular Granite: What It Is

The mini-slabs that make up modular granite are typically 12 inches wide and span the entire countertop depth when offered. The components are prefabricated and presealed, with bullnose round-over front edges and preattached vertical backsplash sections at the back of the pieces.

The parts where sinks or other fixtures will be put have constructed cutouts for ease of installation. This granite style is ideal for do-it-yourself installation because the pieces are often larger than ordinary tiles but significantly smaller and thinner than typical solid slab granite.

The modular pieces are placed side by side to assemble the countertops, which results in a surface with several front-to-back seams but no lengthwise seams like those in tile countertops.

Fabbed modular granite pieces are sent in cartons weighing between 38 and 80 pounds. Even though it's still weighty, this is workable for do-it-yourselfers and far lighter than a solid slab.

Pros and Cons of Modular Granite

Pros

Granite modular units have two main benefits when they are available.

First, it costs about half as much as solid slab granite, a significant saving. Modular granite countertops cost anywhere from $25 to $80 per square foot.

An extra $5 to $10 per square foot is added for professional installation.

Second, installing modular granite is simple for do-it-yourselfers. Modular granite can be placed by anyone familiar with the procedures for laying ceramic or stone tiles, even though it is not as simple as installing granite tiles.

Granite in modular form can be cut using standard wet saws and drilling equipment because its slab is thinner than granite in solid slab form. The same thin-set adhesives used for ceramic tile are used to apply it to a substrate of plywood or cement board.

The countertop won't need to be sealed like a solid piece of granite because modular granite typically comes pre-sealed.

Cons

Modular granite's primary disadvantage is that it is no longer readily available. The following disadvantages would exist if modular granite were available:

Be warned that modular granite countertops are a thinner stone product that may be prone to breaking if you don't handle it carefully. If fitted properly, they will operate equally as well as slab granite. Spaced every 12 inches, the front-to-back seams make a modular granite countertop appear less solid than a solid slab countertop.

With modular granite, your options for style are likewise constrained. The colors and designs that are accessible with modular granite are restricted to those that are packed by manufacturers, in contrast to whole slabs, which can be hand-selected from an extensive array of granite possibilities at a stone yard. Because most modular granite uses a straightforward bullnose front edge, custom edges are not an option.

Additionally, the resale value of a modular granite countertop is lower than that of a solid slab countertop. Modular granite countertops still have seams that need to be grouted and will not provide a kitchen the same sense of luxury that solid granite does, even though they will seem more elegant than tile counters.

DIY Installation

Granite that is modular has the primary benefit of being DIY-friendly. Anyone with knowledge and proficiency in ceramic tile installation ought to be able to install modular granite successfully.

It is essential to have a level, a straightedge, a trowel, a tri-square, a wet saw with a granite-cutting blade, a drill with granite bits, and a jigsaw. Most countertop bases are made of 1/2-inch or 5/8-inch plywood covered in a membrane or cement board for waterproofing.

Conclusion

If you want to spend less on a genuine granite countertop, modular granite is a good choice when it's offered.

Even though modular granite still has some seams, they are less noticeable than those found in granite tile and are relatively simple for a do-it-yourselfer to install. But solid granite slabs continue to reign supreme for an authentic luxury countertop.

If you want high-quality granite countertops in Oak Creek, visit Badger Granite to get the finest quality cabinets at a reasonable price!