Frequently Asked Questions about Granite Counter Tops

What is the appropriate thickness for a granite countertop?
Standard thickness for a pre-fabricated kitchen countertop is 3/4 of an inch.

Can my granite top be damaged?
Like any solid surface, high impact blows can harm granite. Because of its crystalline structure, it can chip if subjected to sharp hard objects. Unsealed, granite can absorb stains such as oil, which can ultimately cause dark spots or discoloration. Heat from pots and pans or burning liquids will not affect granite under normal circumstances.

My little sample of granite has pits on the surface, will I have these on my kitchen counters?
Granite, which is crystalline in structure, always has tiny pits, spaces between the various mineral crystals. You don’t see them on a larger piece because the overall appearance is polished and mirror-like. Granite sometimes has natural fissures as well, which may look like cracks, but are not structural defects and are a naturally occurring result of the immense heat and pressure, which formed the granite eons ago. These characteristics are part of the natural beauty of stone and will not impair the function or durability of the material. A product of nature cannot be expected to look manmade.

How do I clean my granite tops?
POLISHED GRANITE is a very durable stone, much harder than marble. Granite has been used in the past in the commercial industry. Some of the obvious applications have been panels on the outside of buildings, walls, and floors of "high-traffic" areas. Granite will withstand almost any element it comes up against including heat and cold. Granite itself is approximately 95-98% stain resistant but we use a silicone impregnator on all our natural stone products. This will insure lasting life and beauty. Polished granite should receive the same cleaning care as polished marble, using a mild phosphate-free, biodegradable liquid dish-soap, soap flakes or powder, which contain no aromatics. Followed by a thorough rinsing and drying with cotton-flannel or chamois.

Will my granite look like the online sample?
The samples you see on the computer have been scanned and saved as digital images. The color tones may not be absolutely correct due to variations in computer systems, monitors and compression algorithms. Also, granite is a natural material with naturally occurring variations in color, tone, granularity, pattern, etc. These variations are expected and are the source of its natural beauty.

Does granite stain?
In general it will not. All stone, however, is porous to some extent, but Granite has very little porosity. Most colors will never show any moisture. A few colors may show some moisture if exposed for a period of time. For example, a puddle of water left on the counter for 30 minutes for some colors, may show a dark spot when the water is wiped away. This spot will then dry up and no evidence will show. Only a few colors demonstrate this trait. Our granite has a sealer applied by the fabricator, however some customers prefer to apply a stone sealer (available at tile and granite shops) after the granite is installed.

Can I set hot pot on my granite countertop?
Granite is formed by extreme heat and pressure combined beneath the earths crust. It cannot be affected by heat from a cook top or frying pan. A lit flame placed under the granite will have no melting effect and will not leave any burned or scarred marks.

Can granite chip?
In only cases of severe abuse with a hammer or impact tool. A chip can be filled with a granite dust and epoxy mixture.

Can granite seams show?
Because granite is a natural material and is mined from the quarry in blocks usually no more than 10’ long, you will end up with seams. Also, because granite is sold in rectangular pieces, you may want to use seams to reduce your costs, such as in an “’L” shaped corner. The visibility of seams will depend on the granularity, color and pattern. A small, uniform grain (such as Bain Brook) or dark color will not be as apparent as a lighter / larger varied grain. Most customers have found that the beauty of natural granite outweighs the concern of seams.

Does granite stain or burn?
No. You can’t burn it with ordinary use. Granite does not stain. The only caveat is that a few colors may absorb some moisture with prolonged contact. Usually, no evidence remains when the liquid is removed and the granite dries, but could be a problem with dark pigmented liquids. Although granite has a sealer applied at the fabricator, a stone sealer is recommended for all granite after installation.

Can granite crack?
Not with the ordinary use. Granite is most susceptible to cracks during shipping and installation. Normal use will not overstress this durable material.

What is the difference between granite and marble?
The main difference between granite and marble is that granite is a highly dense material composed deep inside the earth’s core while marble is formed from sediments under the seabed. Both solidify into stone after millions of years but the mineral composition of the two stones makes marble and granite react different to various chemicals and household cleaners

Does granite have any pits or fissures?
Yes, granite has natural pits and fissures that are part of the stones natural structure. Some types of granite have more of such characteristics than other types, and applying sealer to the surface of the counter can minimize pits.

What do I need to consider when buying a granite countertop?
Granite is a natural stone. It is very hard and durable, heat and scratch resistant as well as easy to maintain; in all sense it’s the material of the future. Aside from the practical aspect, granite is very versatile in the design field. It comes in various colors and structural compositions, Granite yards stock more than 800 colors to choose from on site. All stones are not exactly the same. Each lot will have unique characteristics attributed to the specific granite.

How is Granite formed?
Granite is an igneous rock of visible crystalline formation and texture. It is composed primarily of feldspar, quartz, and mica. It starts off as liquid magma deep within the earth’s core where it is cooled and compressed over millions of years under tons of pressure. It is the quarried, cut and polished. After that process it can be applied in various ways like kitchen countertops, vanity tops, fireplace surrounds as well as Jacuzzi surrounds and other custom designs

How do I deal with sink and stove cutouts?
With today's fabrication technology, we have the ability to cut any sink or surface unit cutout with computer aided design files. Under-mounted sinks (sinks that are mounted under that countertop so as not to show any rim) are fully cut out and then the inside of the hole is polished.