Frequent Questions

Can I cut on my granite countertops?
Always cut and chop on a wooden or plastic cutting board. Granite is actually harder than your knife blades. Cutting on granite countertops will damage your knives, not your countertops.

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. If left 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 small sample of granite has pits on the surface. Will I have these on my kitchen counters?
Granite, which is crystalline in its structure, always has tiny pits 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 many, many years 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 man-made.

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.

Can I set a hot pot on my granite countertop?
Granite is formed by extreme heat and pressure combined beneath the earth’s crust. It can not 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?
Granite can chip only in cases of severe abuse with a hammer or impact tool. A chip can be filled with a granite dust and epoxy mixture. If a chip occurs on your countertop, do not throw out the chipped pieces. We can use them to fix the countertop, so that no one will be able to tell it was ever chipped.

Can granite crack?
Granite cannot crack with regular 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 10″ 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.

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 sea bed. Both solidify into stone after millions of years but the mineral composition of the two stones makes marble and
react differently to various chemicals and household cleaners.

What is the appropriate thickness for a granite countertop?
A kitchen countertop should be an inch-and-a-quarter (3 cm) thick for structural reasons. Bathroom vanity tops can be thinner.

Does granite have any pits of 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 pits can be minimized by applying sealer to the surface of the counter.

Can granite be repaired?
It is very hard to damage granite. If any damage occurs it can be sealed with a mixture of epoxy and ground up chips of 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 then 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 our investment in state-of-the-art CNC technology, we have the ability to precision-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, then the inside of the hole is polished. The countertop is then flipped over and reinforced with metal rods for extra support. Self rimming cutouts are cut 6″ into each corner leaving some of the straight section to be cut in the field to facilitate safe shipping.

Do granite seams show?
Seams are forrmed where the two pieces of stone are joined together. The seams are joined with epoxy that is mixed with the color that matches the stone. Then the joined area is smoothened, leaving only a very thin line visible .Because granite is a natural material and is mined from the quarry in blocks, usually no more than 10′ long, you will most likely 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 seam.