F.A.Q.sGeneral Stone QuestionsWhat is the best stone for my kitchen counter tops - Granite or Marble? What is the difference between marble and granite? Is it necessary to seal stone? What is the best way to clean marble and other stones? How do I clean my granite countertops? Can I cut on my granite countertop? I have noticed small pits on the surface of stone slabs. Will I have these on my kitchen counters? Installation QuestionsDo I have to call for an appointment to get an estimate for my project? Can you describe the fabrication and installation process? How do you handle sinks and cook tops cut outs? How do you handle removing existing countertops and disconnecting plumping and electrical hook ups? What is Granite? Granite is an igneous rock that is formed by magma (hot liquid rock) that has cooled under pressure deep within the earth. Granite is extremely hard and heat resistant and is therefore the first choice in countertop material. Granite has a glass-like surface and is virtually non-porous which makes it stain resistant. Granite is composed of quartz, feldspars, mica, hornblende, and a small amount of other minerals. Granite can be found in nearly every color and depending on how the stone was cooled within the earth, can have various patterning from a very uniform "static" look, to a random, wavy pattern which we refer to as having "movement". What is Marble? Marble is a metamorphic rock. Metamorphic means that heat and pressure deep in the earth has changed one type of rock (limestone) into a new, stronger stone called marble. Marble is available in many different colors and patterns. It is beautiful and versatile. Some marble, particularly the green and white marbles can even be used as kitchen counter tops as they are extremely hard, and less porous than other marbles making them less likely to stain. What is Lime? Limestone is a sedimentary rock. It is composed mostly of calcium carbonate and is formed in layers of sediment. Most limestone are composed of fossils from millions of years ago. Many of these "fossils" can be seen in the limestone slabs in our showroom. Limestone is generally white, but if it contains some iron oxide it can be brown, yellow, or red. If the limestone contains some carbon, it can be gray, black and even blue. Limestone is an excellent choice for bathrooms because it is "water-friendly". Limestone is a soft stone and is almost always available in a matte finish however there are a few limestone that are available with a polished finish. What is Travertine? Travertine is a type of marble with an extremely “open” surface, this is due to air bubbles being trapped in the stone during the formation process millions of years ago. Iron compounds found in travertine can give this buff colored stone a beautiful striated look. What is Soapstone? Soapstone is a metamorphic rock. It is primarily made of talc, which gives its silky "soapy" feel. It also contains varying amounts of chlorite, magnetite, mica, tremolite, quartz, and iron compounds. Although soapstone is resistant to heat and acids, it is very easily cut with a knife which is a consideration when choosing a kitchen countertop material. Soapstone is gray or green with a smooth matte finish. What is the best stone for my kitchen counter tops - Granite or Marble? Granite is the ideal stone for kitchen counter tops. Granite is formed deep in the earth's mantle at extremely high temperatures, and and it is an exceptionally hard, resistant stone made of crystallized minerals (see stone types). You can actually chop vegetables right on the counter top without damaging the surface, however you may damage your knives as the stone is harder than the knife blades and can dull them. Although typical application of marble is for the bathroom vanity tops, Jacuzzi tops and fireplaces, it is possible to use it in the kitchen. However, due to the fact that it is easy to scratch and is affected by acidic substances, such as vinegars, ketchups etc, we don't usually recommend it. Moreover the high-gloss of the marble countertop can be partially lost as many chemicals etch its surface. Granite in turn is considered the second hardest stone, its polish is not subject to etching by household acids, or scratching by knives and pots and pans under normal use. It is also not affected by typical kitchen heat such as hot pans. What is the difference between marble and granite? Although both are stones and both are quarried from the earth, granite and marble (and marble's relatives ' limestone, onyx and travertine) are very different from each other. Granite is one of the oldest, most durable and most respected of building materials. Traditionally, it is the material chosen by both architects and engineers when permanence, enduring color and texture, and complete freedom from deterioration and maintenance are prime requirements. The marble family ' limestone, travertine, marble, and onyx ' starts out as sediment ' animal skeletons and shells, plant matter, silt ' at the bottom of bodies of water. After millions of years this solidifies (lithifies) into stone. Because its main component is calcium, acids such as vinegar and citrus beverages can affect it. Is it necessary to seal stone? Since mineral surfaces are quite porous they absorb liquids, which may result in discoloring and staining. Although there are many commercial grade products available on the market, which may bring the stone to its original luster, taking simple precautions and regular maintenance can save a lot of trouble and cost. Graniterra's tops are sealed immediately after they are installed. The impregnating substance penetrates the stone clogging most of its pores making its quite impervious to alcohol, juices, soft drinks, cosmetics, cleaners, coffee, food and even oil. With course of time, depending on how heavily the tops are used, the sealer gets washed out. The clear indication of this happening would be the fact that the liquids are easily absorbed into the stone leaving temporary (if promptly wiped off) stains. What is the best way to clean marble and other stones? The old rule of thumb is never to use anything you wouldn't use on your hands. Never use powdered cleansers or abrasive pads to clean your stone. Even "soft scrub" type cleaners contain pumice, which is powdered volcanic stone, and might damage your stone countertops or floors. Never use any product which is acidic; this includes substances like ammonia or many common liquid cleaners such as Windex. You should always use sealers and cleaning products designed specifically for natural stone. How do I clean my granite countertops? 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 through rinsing and drying with cotton-flannel or chamois. Can I cut on my Granite countertop? Only if you want to ruin your good knives. Granite is harder than your knife blades and will dull them very quickly, if you use the countertop as a cutting surface. Always cut and chop on a wooden or plastic cutting board. Does granite burn or stain? In general, no. You can't burn it with ordinary use. Heat from pots and pans or burning liquids will not affect granite under normal circumstances. As far as staining, all stone is porous to some extent, but Granite has very little porosity. Most colors will never show any moisture. A few colors may absorb some moisture with prolonged contact. 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. 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. Can granite cantilever? You can cantilever granite up to 14" with sufficient support on the fixed end and with a large enough piece. Never cantilever unsupported granite where it might receive excessive stress like someone sitting on a counter or stepping on a counter to change a light bulb. You must have support underneath for these situations. Can granite chip? In only cases of severe abuse with a hammer or impact tool. Like any solid surface, high impact blows can harm granite. Because of its crystalline structure, it can chip if subjected to sharp hard objects. Graniterra's service team can repair chips in the field. A chip can be filled with a granite dust and color-matched epoxy mixture. I have noticed small pits on the surface of stone slabs. Will I have these on my kitchen counters? Natural stones, like granite, travertine, marble, limestone, etc. are not uniformly manmade - they are created naturally in the earth over hundreds and thousands of years. These pits are not imperfections or flaws in the stone; they are simply a result of the natural process of stone formation. These pits are sometimes more noticeable in granite which is composed of quartz and mica. Some stones are more pitted than others usually depending on the coarseness or 'tightness' of the grain. Most pits on the polished surface of a slab are filled with a clear resin at the time the slabs are polished at the quarry. If a pit is visible on the surface of your stone, it can be filled with a color matched epoxy. 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. Do I have to call for an appointment to get an estimate for my project? No appointment is necessary; Graniterra is open to the public Monday-Friday from 8:00AM to 5:30PM and Saturday from 10:00AM to 2:00PM. Our sales associates will provide a free estimate when you bring in, or fax us your project blueprints, designer's sketch, or even your own hand rendered drawing with measurements. You can also fill out the contact form via our website and an associate will call you within 24hours. Can you describe the fabrication and installation process? Stone Selection - The first step in the process of completing your project is selecting a stone material. Graniterra has hundreds of on-hand stones in our inventory. We recommend that our clients visit our INDOOR WAREHOUSE and personally hand-select his or her own slabs. Templating / Field Measure - Templating will only be scheduled once all cabinetry receiving natural stone is properly installed. We then visit your home or jobsite to conduct an expert field measure of the project. We recommend your presence on site at time of Templating to approve and sign the final copies of template pieces. Precise measurements are taken of your prepared surface and are used to cut and fabricate your stone to an exact fit. Additionally, a copy of Template Field Report will be provided at the time of Templating. Fabrication - A sketch of the project with the exact measurements is then given to our saw lead, who will cut the stone slabs to size on the diamond bladed table saw. The rough-cut pieces are now ready for fabrication. Every job is unique and customization such as special angle/radius cuts, sinkholes, and other details are cut out and polished using various tooling and/or by hand. All special details from the field measure are transferred to the fabrication crew and finished accordingly. Edges are laminated, shaped, sanded, and polished by our team of experienced fabricators. Delivery and Installation (15 business days from Templating) - When you select from our IN-STOCK inventory of colors we guarantee completion of your home or office countertop project from Templating date to installation within 15 business days. The job is loaded onto our truck and delivered to your home or jobsite where our experienced installation crew installs your tops. All our field installers (no sub-contractors) are experts in their field ensuring correct fit of your stone and guarantying 100% satisfaction with the finished product. How are seams made? Seams are done where the granite joins with a smooth, straight cut during installation; a small bead of silicone is placed along the seam to seal it. Occasionally, in areas of stress or without sufficient support, the seams will be joined with epoxy, which must be supported temporarily until the epoxy cures. 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 will not be as apparent as a larger varied grain. A dark color will be less apparent than a light color. A dramatic pattern with swaths of color will show more seams than a uniform pattern. Most customers have found that the beauty of natural granite outweighs the concern of seams. How do you handle sinks and cook tops cut outs? For Under mount Sinks ' A hole will be cut in the slab based on the shape of the sink provided by the client. Anchors will be built in bottom of stone to allow attaching of the sink to the stone. Our installer will mount the sink using our anchors upon installation. In certain circumstances, the sink cabinet may be too small to accommodate the specified sink. Upon client's request, we may reschedule sink mounting to allow time to have the necessary carpentry work performed. Or our installer may undertake additional work to trim the cabinet to permit sink mounting. This additional work will be billed based on time and material. For Drop-In Sinks ' The cut out for drop-in-sinks may be done in our shop or on site. If done on site, a Dry Shop Vacuum will be used to minimize the dust generated from dry cutting but some amount of residual dust is to be expected. For Cook Top Cutouts' In almost all cases, cook top cutouts will be performed in the field. Our installer will perform the cutout and dry fit the cook top to ensure a proper fit. As with the drop-in-sinks, a Dry Shop Vacuum will be used. How do you handle removing existing countertops and disconnecting plumping and electrical hook ups? Graniterra is a highly trained contractor to install granite countertops, but we are not licensed electricians or plumbers. Therefore, disconnecting any plumbing fixtures, appliances, or removing existing countertops is the responsibility of the Customer. We can, in most instances however, recommend reputable and licensed companies to complete these tasks for you. |
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