1316 Route 73 South, Mount Laurel, NJ 08054 | 856-722-9393 | Fax: 856-722-9306
FAQ About Granite
DOES GRANITE HAVE TO BE SEALED?
Yes, granite does have to be sealed. Granite is a natural stone, and is porous to some degree. Some granite is more porous than others, and it is important to use a penetrating sealer to prevent stains from fluids such as oil and wine. The granite slabs come to us with a sealer in it and we seal it for you during installation, and after that, you should seal your granite approximately every 12-18 months depending on which stone you choose. There are some myths about sealing granite, but it is a very simple process and only a matter of spraying the sealer on the granite, allowing it to absorb into the stone and then wiping it off with a cloth. If all of the sealer gets absorbed, the process may have to be repeated so the stone gets fully sealed. Prior to sealing, please make sure the countertop is completely clean and has been allowed to dry for 12 hours.
WHAT DO I CLEAN MY GRANITE WITH?
You must use cleaning products that are specifically designed for natural stone that will not harm your granite or affect the sealer in the granite. You can also use a phosphate-free, biodegradable, gentle liquid soap. Never use any powdered cleansers or abrasive pads to clean your granite because they may damage the granite. You must also never use acidic products such as ammonia, or other common household cleaners such as Windex or Fantastik.
DOES GRANITE STAIN?
In general, granite will not stain under normal circumstances as long as you periodically seal it and use proper cleaning products. Some colors will show and absorb more moisture than others, and can show a dark spot when water is left on the surface for a long period of time. This spot will dry away and will not stain the granite. Any liquid that gets on your counter should be wiped off and not left to sit on the counter.
CAN GRANITE BURN, AND CAN A HOT POT BE PLACED ON IT?
Granite is not affected by heat and you can place hot objects on it without burning it. Granite is formed by extreme heat and pressure under the Earth's crust and will not be affected or become burned by a hot pot, a frying pan, or a cook top.
CAN GRANITE CHIP OR BREAK?
Granite is a very solid stone and one of the hardest surfaces you can use for your countertops. Only under severe abuse, and high impact blows, can your granite chip or break. If your granite does happen to chip, it is possible to fill it in.
CAN I CUT ON GRANITE?
You can cut on granite, but we recommend that you use a cutting board. Your granite will not scratch if you cut on it, but it is harder than your knife blades and will dull them.
WILL MY KITCHEN HAVE SEAMS IN IT?
We cannot know for sure if there will be seams until after we template. We do everything we can to make your kitchen seamless, or with as few seams as possible, but sometimes they are necessary. We must consider the layout of your cabinets, and also be able to enter the house, go around corners, or up stairs with large pieces of granite. We import the largest slabs possible to reduce seams, but these factors may make it impossible not to have seams.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GRANITE AND MARBLE?
Granite and marble are both natural stones, but the biggest difference is that granite is a highly dense volcanic rock formed under the Earth's crust and marble is a sedimentary rock formed under the seabed composed mainly of calcium carbonate. Marble is a softer material that is more sensitive to acid, staining, and scratching. We recommend only granite for kitchen countertops, and both can be used for vanities, tub surrounds, and fireplace surrounds.
What to Look for When Buying Granite
As when buying other natural stones, such as diamonds, there are factors to consider when purchasing granite. It is important to see full slabs, and you should look at the size of the slab and the luster to determine the quality. Because we import our own slabs directly, we make certain we import only the highest quality and largest slabs possible. In our factory, we use the latest technology to bring out a very high luster in each slab that we fabricate. This will cause the granite to have a mirror-like finish, but since granite is a natural stone, the surface will not always be consistent. Granite, which is crystalline in structure, will have small pits on the surface, and will have fissures in it, which look like small cracks. These are not defects or problems with the granite, but are natural factors resulting from the vast heat and pressure, which formed granite millions of years ago. These add to the beauty and uniqueness of your granite.
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