When it comes to selecting the perfect granite countertop for your home, you’ve got a lot of options to choose from. Besides picking color, style, finish, and making sure that your new granite countertop matches your cabinets and other fixtures, you also have to choose an edge for your granite. There are several edge options to choose from when selecting granite countertops, including bullnose, bevel, and straight edges. But there’s also another less-common option that can add character to your kitchen when used correctly: the raw edge.
Also known as a “chiseled edge,” raw edges bring a very different look to your granite countertops than bullnose, bevel, or other edges, lending your kitchen a more natural or rustic appearance. This obviously isn’t right for every kitchen, but it can be surprisingly versatile, bringing a more organic feeling to kitchens that might otherwise feel too cold or industrial, or accentuating beautifully more warm, rugged, or rustic décor. Raw edged granite is also perfect for outdoor kitchens, where its rugged and natural appearance make it an ideal fit.
While the raw edge may make granite countertops look like the slabs were just snapped off, if that was what actually happened they would make a much less aesthetically satisfying and much less practical finish. So instead, the raw edge effect is created by chiseling the edges off the granite slab, often with a tool called a “rock biter” that looks a bit like an oversized pair of bolt cutters. This creates a ragged but also sufficiently uniform edge that looks natural but is safe from sharp spurs or other imperfections. The edge is then sanded very lightly with a rotating wire brush to prepare it for home use.
So if you’re looking for a countertop option that can add immediate character to your kitchen, raw edged granite may be the perfect choice for you! But raw doesn’t mean the same thing as unkempt, and no matter how ragged or rugged the edges, you’ll want to keep the rest of your granite countertops looking and performing great. That means keeping them clean, polished, and sealed with the right retail granite cleaning products.
Raw edged granite countertops still require all the same care that keeps other granite countertops looking their best year after year. That means cleaning them as needed, polishing them weekly, and re-sealing them every 12 to 18 months. Not sure whether your countertops need to be re-sealed? Try an easy water test. Just sprinkle some drops of water across your countertop. If the water beads up, then your seal is going strong. If it soaks in and darkens the granite, then it’s time to re-seal.
The good news is, caring for your granite countertops is easy with Rock Doctor’s full line of high-quality retail granite cleaning products, which you can find at fine stores such as Lowe’s Home Improvement, not to mention participating Do it Best, Ace Hardware, and True Value locations.
