great   article from our friend at Zillow Mary Barnes  

 

 

   granite is great! no one is denying that. Mary has really done her research and talked to the experts take a moment to read her report it may make you more aware about the alternative's to granite and save you  some money

Its use in residential applications has skyrocketed in recent years. A 2012 survey conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of The Marble Institute, found that 75 percent of homeowners who intend to remodel their kitchens in the next two years indicated they want granite counter tops.

Granite’s durability, longevity and good looks make it ideal for kitchen counter tops and other heavily used surfaces, including table tops and floors. Still, it’s expensive (typically $60 to $100 per square foot installed), it’s extraordinarily heavy (requiring reinforcement of base cabinets) and requires     click here for the rest of the story