FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Granite is a very hard stone and 100% natural. It’s mined from quarries all around the world, cut down to a manageable size, and then polished to a fine finish. Whereas Quartz is slightly different in that it is not 100 percent natural. Instead, countertops are manufactured using 95 percent ground natural quartz and 5 percent polymer resins.

This material has the look and feel of natural stone, but is stronger due to its engineered make-up. This is a man-made material that does not require sealing and virtually no maintenance.

For hard surfaces, Yes. Granite will tolerate temperatures more than 1200 degrees (F.) and engineered stone is higher. You can safely place items from your oven, stove top or grill directly onto the hard surface without a trivet or hot pad. But  for cautionary reason, it is still recommended to use a trivet/hot pad just in case. WARNING: Due to the extreme temperature differences, hot glass dishes may crack when placed on the cool surface of the granite or engineered quartz; this is known as thermal shock. For this reason alone, glass or Pyrex dishes should be placed on a trivet or hot pad. For solid surfaces and plastic laminate, No. These materials are much softer and direct heat is not recommended.

For hard surfaces, Yes. Diamond-tipped tools are needed to cut through granite and engineered stone. Regular steel knives are no match for their hardness; however, you will need to sharpen your knives more frequently. For solid surface, Yes, but not recommended. Cutting directly on the counter top can lead to scratching. However, these scratches can be buffed out but may not look the same in some cases. For plastic laminate, No. Scratches can’t be reversed on this type of material.

To minimize the risk of any damage or breakage during fabrication and installation, the 1 – 1/4″ (3cm) material is standard and recommended. 3/4″ (2cm) material is more common in bathrooms and smaller counter tops.

Most professionals will recommend that granite countertops be sealed at least once a year to keep up with maintenance but over sealing can lead to a hazy look. So here’s a quick tip! If water is no longer beading up on the top, it’s time to reseal. Engineered quartz, solid surface and plastic laminate do not require sealing.

For everyday cleaning, mild dish soap and water is best for natural stones. There are also natural stone cleaners available at your local home improvement stores. To avoid water marks or streaking, wipe counters dry after cleaning.

All natural stones bring a feeling of elegance and beauty to a kitchen environment. Some are a little more maintenance than others. Granite is #1 for a kitchen application due to its durability & low porosity.

Yes. Should anything happen to your stone over time, a repair can be done quickly & painlessly. Granite fabrication companies have the technology and glues to fix virtually anything that may occur but of course there are some unfixable cases as well.

Because stone is a natural material, color variations, and veining are perfectly normal. There may be vast differences between samples viewed and a customer’s  actual material. Because this material is a natural product, consistency cannot be guaranteed, even within a single slab. Some materials are very consistent while other colors may change in color/shading/veining from slab to slab. This is why it is always better to view the whole slab than choose by looking at a small sample that doesn’t show everything.

No, according to the Center of Disease Control, there is no evidence of granite harboring bacteria or of anyone getting sick from bacteria in granite.

Granite is rock. No one has ever come forward with scientific evidence to suggest granite or any other rocks are harmful to your health. Most experts would agree, however, that granite isn’t going to cure you or kill you. Also, there is more radon in the soil outside your house than in granite.

If you are really concerned about this, there are tests you can buy and do to test the radon levels in your home.