Should You Use Granite for Your Home Bar?

Wet bars have become a trendy real estate feature among celebrities. In 2019, listings posted by Hollywood actress Kaley Cuoco, NHL star Bobby Clarke, and television producer Robert Kirkman all mentioned wet bars in their MLS descriptions. In North America, the history of home bars dates back to the prosperous days following World War II. At that time, they were mostly installed in a corner of the living room. By the 1960s, the popularity of California ranch-style houses resulted in the conversion of basements into rec rooms, many of them featuring wet bars with their own plumbing lines to avoid having to go upstairs each time glasses and pitchers had to be rinsed. These days, both dry and wet bars can also be found in man caves, by the swimming pool, next to the fireplace, in the living room, or closer to the kitchen. When it comes to choosing the materials to build your home bar, natural stone will probably cross your mind. If this is the case, granite is highly recommended, particularly for wet bars. Here are some reasons granite is a great choice as a countertop for your bar. You Want the Best Look for Your Bar With granite, the concentration and combination of various minerals gives you a nice range of colors and patterns to choose from. The greater amount of feldspar results in off-white slabs with grey veining, while a higher quartz content produces a look similar to marble. Reddish granite is the result of potassium mixing with feldspar, which provides a nice accent to natural wood cabinetry. Check out this informative video explaining the three most important steps in caring for granite and other types of natural stone: You Want a Durable Surface for Your Bar Granite is ideal for bar countertops because it’s a very durable natural stone. If you spill a pint of dark stout on a stone surface, you won’t need to panic with granite as long as it’s been properly sealed with granite sealer and you clean the spill right away. You Want a Bar Surface That’s Easy to Clean With granite cleaner and a paper towel or lint-free cloth, caring for a granite bar surface is a breeze. You’ll also want to apply sealant often, especially in the case of a wet bar that’s used frequently. You Want to Complement Your Kitchen Counters Since granite countertops are often found in the kitchen, it makes sense to choose granite for a bar as well. In fact, a small dry bar can be crafted with stone remnants from a renovation project. If you intend to upgrade your kitchen with a small wine bar, you can shop around for granite remnants to keep your project expenses as low as possible. If you have granite or any other type of natural stone in your home, such as marble, slate, or limestone, it’s important to care for it properly, and your first step is to place your trust in the high-quality stone care products provided by Granite Gold®. If you have any questions, please give us a call today at 1-800-475-STONE (7866). Also, don’t forget to follow us on Twitter for more tips on natural-stone care.