How granite countertops became A Thing

[ttt]

Interesting. I know there are a few on here who have strong feelings about these. I like them, but I feel like they're going to look dated pretty soon. 

www.vox.com/2015/9/4/9258233/granite-countertops

Granite countertops have become a stone idol. If you've ever seen an episode of House Hunters, half of those people would rather have granite countertops than a roof.

It hasn't always been that way. In 1986, when legendary graphic designer Deborah Sussman used granite countertops in her kitchen, the New York Times called it a "down-to-earth" choice. The next year, it was singled out as a cutting-edge material in the Los Angeles Times, but still too expensive for most people. Throughout the '80s, granite was still jockeying with marble for favor among California yuppies.

So how did granite go from niche countertop to mass fixation? American imports of granite have increased about tenfold in the past 20 years. It's not only changing consumer tastes that caused the shift — big global market forces have a hand in the granite takeover as well.

Emerson Schwartzkopf has been covering stone for more than a decade and is the editor of the industry publication Stone Update. He used his expertise to guide me through how homebuyers became granite-obsessed maniacs.

1) More countries started getting into granite. Especially Brazil.
 
If you're a bettor, it's generally a safe wager that someone's granite countertops came from Brazil.

Before the mid-'90s and 2000s, Italy had a leading position in granite processing, but things opened up after that. "In the early 2000s," Schwartzkopf says, "you started to have a number of different countries enter." More were both quarrying granite (getting it out of the ground) and processing it into worked granite (refining it to be cut). The United States has granite, but other countries could provide more at a lower price. That led to more countertops, creating a cycle in which supply and demand surged.

For the most part, American imports of finished granite are dominated by Brazil, China, and India, with Brazil providing about half of the worked granite supply. That means your granite probably came from an international market and likely landed somewhere in Brazil or China along the way.

Just what kind of scale are we talking about? It's massive. Based on estimates from the US International Trade Commission, total United States imports of processed granite were about 206,000 metric tons in 1996. Last year, they exceeded 2 million metric tons.


"In the real heights of 2006," Schwarzkopf recalls, "importers from Brazil were going around the United States trying to find excess capacity to take granite." Granite supply isn't a problem — it's about which countries can get it out quickest and cheapest, and right now those countries are Brazil, China, and India.

2) Shipping granite got easier 

In the past, people typically got their domestic granite from local suppliers, and that kept them roughly in sync with local costs. As global granite became more easily shippable, it became more affordable for builders and consumers.

"Containerized shipping is not the newest thing on the block," Schwartzkopf notes, but its rise had an influence in lowering granite prices.

Because granite slabs intended for countertops could be precut on site and then safely packed and shipped, which was largely new to the '90s, it became possible for people to get granite from around the world.

3) Granite became easier to cut
 
When a granite slab arrives at a shop, it gets cut into the appropriate rough size and is then hand-shaved by someone operating an industrial grinder. But today, computer controlled saws can make major cuts, like the hole for where your sink goes, more easily.

"Everything has been influenced by computerized controls," Schwarzkopf says. While granite used to be impractical and niche, computer cutting has made it much easier to work with.

4) The housing boom exaggerated every trend 

The timing of the granite boom is closely tied to that of the housing bubble of the 2000s. That's probably not a coincidence. Trends in home construction during that period probably helped change public opinion on what a "good" countertop looked like.

As builders put granite into their homes, it quickly became a standard. In turn, even older houses needing renovation latched onto that granite mania. One trend — a boom in home construction — took granite along for the ride and perpetuated the impression that granite was the prime material of a "new" building.

"Granite went from being a premium option to a sales come-on," Schwarzkopf says. "You started seeing ads for 'free granite countertops!'"

Post-bust, granite fell, but it's picked up again without the housing boom's artificial highs.

Admittedly, there are some benefits to granite as a material. New varieties have given it more color and range since the '80s, and it has some advantages over competitive materials like marble, which is likely to etch or stain. But a big part of its appeal is an impression of luxury that, thanks to changing globalization, technology, and housing trends, makes it an affordable indulgence for the middle class.

Can anything stop granite mania?

A lot of people like granite well enough. But for anyone who's spent too much time watching HGTV, it's hard not to wonder if our nation's brightest minds will ever break free from their granite addiction.

For now, it's granite ho, Schwarzkopf says, but with a few important caveats. Marble is rallying as white becomes a big color again, and there's a strong trend in recycled surfaces that allow for both flash and environmental consciousness. In a few years, you might see more countertops made from materials like recycled Skyy vodka bottles:

 

Still, for the most part, there's little reason to believe that the granite fervor will disappear. The big trends that helped it become a hit continue to make it a realistic luxury option for the middle class. So be prepared — you'll probably be seeing people screaming, "Oh my god, granite countertops!" for a while.

[sfy]

Already dated, imo.

[bugandbibs]

Not my style. I prefer everything else, especially Quartz.

It's like the Coach handbags of the housing world.

[bimbi284]

I want Skyy countertops!! So pretty!!

[iammalcolmx]

Whatever, have granite and they are beautiful.

[sushi]

Sept 7, 2015 0:31:46 GMT -5 bimbi284 said:

I want Skyy countertops!! So pretty!!

They are expensive! I'm looking into recycled glass, and thankfully there are other potions.

[omgzombies]

We have granite, it's pretty and seems to work well. I'm certainly not spending money to change it, so the granite stays.

[josieposy]

There isn't a material out there that won't be considered dated at some point, so you might as well go with what you love.

[LoveTrains]

Sept 7, 2015 6:39:18 GMT -5 omgzombies said:

We have granite, it's pretty and seems to work well. I'm certainly not spending money to change it, so the granite stays.

Exactly. My house came with granite. The house was built in 1940 and someone put in granite at some point. I'm not going to rip it out.

[msmerymac]

I wouldn't kick it out of bed. I had it in a rental. It's also not a renewable resource, which bothers me, so no way would I rip it out casually.

BUT when I re-do my own kitchen, I'm going with either butcher block or soapstone, both of which I think would be period-appropriate for my 1920s house, in addition to being not granite.

I do also like quartz, recycled materials, and even concrete in the right house.

[jeaniebueller]

I have laminate countertops #loser

[josieposy]

Sept 7, 2015 7:39:44 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

I wouldn't kick it out of bed. I had it in a rental. It's also not a renewable resource, which bothers me, so no way would I rip it out casually.

BUT when I re-do my own kitchen, I'm going with either butcher block or soapstone, both of which I think would be period-appropriate for my 1920s house, in addition to being not granite.

I do also like quartz, recycled materials, and even concrete in the right house.

I adore butcher block. That's in my dream kitchen.

[Velar Fricative]

Sept 7, 2015 7:39:58 GMT -5 jeaniebueller said:

I have laminate countertops #loser

Me too. 1992's finest! So granite would be a welcome improvement. Well, anything would be a welcome improvement. No kitchen renos for at least another few years though so maybe the Next Big Thing will be here by then.

[ttt]

Sept 7, 2015 7:10:24 GMT -5 josieposy said:

There isn't a material out there that won't be considered dated at some point, so you might as well go with what you love.

This is such a good point. I'll just wait it out until granite is retro-trendy again.

[secretlyevil]

Granite is overrated but I wouldn't turn my nose up at it. Lots of other choices.

[iammalcolmx]

Sept 7, 2015 6:27:59 GMT -5 1234FIF! said:

I am not a fan. I have silestone.

Hey! You ain't like my house?

[josieposy]

I have mustard yellow laminate. I cannot wait until the day I get to take a sledgehammer to that kitchen.

[NitaX]

Sept 7, 2015 7:39:58 GMT -5 jeaniebueller said:

I have laminate countertops #loser

I do too. But, they are different because it has texture and a different coloring than your typical laminate. It stays.

[irishbride2]

I like it because it's easy. I have to do nothing to care for it, it doesn't stain, and can take heat and cutting.Plus the color patterns hide dirt


But I'm lazy lol.

[iammalcolmx]

Sept 7, 2015 8:03:43 GMT -5 irishbride2 said:

I like it because it's easy. I have to do nothing to care for it, it doesn't stain, and can take heat and cutting.Plus the color patterns hide dirt


But I'm lazy lol.

mine is a gazillion shades of brown so I can't tell if it's dirty

[cookiemdough]

You got cupcakes?

[KateAggie]

I have granite now. Came with the house. I miss the hell out of my Corian.

[irishbride2]

Sept 7, 2015 8:31:58 GMT -5 KateAggie said:

I have granite now. Came with the house. I miss the hell out of my Corian.

Ugh I hated our corian. Any counter top I can't put hot things on annoys me. Plus I couldn't cut on it without scratches.


Did I mention I'm lazy? Lol.

[miniroller]

Sept 7, 2015 8:05:25 GMT -5 iammalcolmx said:

Sept 7, 2015 8:03:43 GMT -5 irishbride2 said:

I like it because it's easy. I have to do nothing to care for it, it doesn't stain, and can take heat and cutting.Plus the color patterns hide dirt


But I'm lazy lol.

mine is a gazillion shades of brown so I can't tell if it's dirty

I hate that I have to squat down & get eye level with it to make sure all crumbs have been cleared. Or when the sunlight hits at a certain angle, & I see a water spot I never knew existed I know there are worse problems but this gets super annoying.

[heyjude]

This is like saying someday paint will go out of style. No it won't. Certain colors or textures will go out of style but paint is here to stay. Same with granite. Certain shades and patterns will and do look dated but granite, the core material as a surface product, won't. IMO.

[heyjude]

Sept 7, 2015 8:11:35 GMT -5 @koko said:

We have super white quartzite. Love it.

So much kitchen envy right now.

[heyjude]

BTW we have granite but it's ugly and it's also granite tile making it even uglier. I can't wait to rip it all out and put in something new. Possibly granite. Or some other solid surface. I love marble but it needs babying. The worst is butcher block. So gorgeous but so precious. When I'm cooking I don't want to be afraid going to mar my counters the whole time!

[sporky]

I really dislike my granite counter tops and cannot wait to replace them. That's all I have to add.

[decemberwedding07]

It's too modern for my 1919 house. We have tile counters right now. They can be difficult to clean, but we don't have new counters in our budget right now. We had soapstone in our last house (built around the same time) and I really liked them. I want to eventually replace the tile with soapstone (probably several years from now, especially if all of our money continues to go to IVF).

The only countertop material that I just could not live with is marble. I LOVE the way it looks, but it is SO delicate and I am not careful when I'm cooking. If soapstone gets dinged up, it just adds to the old character. Marble stains and etches incredibly easily. I would ruin it. My sister has gorgeous marble counters, and the lengths that she goes to to protect them are beyond my patience. I'm not laying kitchen towels down around my cutting board when I slice lemons, which is actually something that she does.

[pamela]

I loved the look of my butcher block on our entertainment center, but even that showed why I could never have it in my kitchen. I want low maintenance, super long lasting material that I can't hurt easily. Granite is one of those. But there are some ugly colors/patterns out there.