Frequently Asked Questions
Granite is one of the most common rocks in the crust of continents, and is formed by the slow, underground cooling of magma.
Usually 10 to 50 percent of the light-colored minerals in granite are made up by quartz, and the darker minerals are made up by biotite and hornblende.
Due to its toughness, durability and natural beauty granite is much sought after for use in large scale architectural and urban construction projects, consumer products such as garden accents and memorials.
It is a popular choice for kitchen countertops and bath vanity tops.
Granite is one of the hardest natural materials on earth.
Granite countertops won’t be scratched by normal use of kitchen knives and other cookwares.
Granite is a high heat-resistance material. Its surface won’t be damaged by hot pots, pans and boiling liquids.
Granite countertops are easy to clean and almost maintenance free. In addition to all of the practical benefits, granite countertops bring the natural beauty into your home and adds resale value to your house.
Even though granite has very high toughness and endurance, like any solid surface it can be damaged by high impact blows.
Because of its crystalline structure, it can chip if subjected to sharp, and hard objects.
Normal use of kitchen knives and cookwares leave no scratches on granite countertop surfaces.
However it scratches if tungsten or diamond blades are applied to it. Unsealed, granite can be stained by absorbing oil or other colored liquids.
Fabricated granite countertops that are sealed and polished generally have high resistance to stains.
As granite is crystalline in structure, it always has tiny pits – spaces between the various crystals.
These defects do not shown 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.
No, granite countertops are highly stain-proof but certainly not 100% stain-proof.
Granite is a dense material and is very stain resistant due to its sealing and polishing process.
Your granite countertops have been treated with a high-density impregnator so that water will bead on the surface and not soak in.
This impregnator lasts for years and is simple to reapply. You should always wipe out oil and grease immediately and not let it sit for hours on end.
Most problems can be prevented by not leaving “leaking” items on countertops for long time.
If subjected to sharp, and hard objects, it is possible to chip the edge of your countertops.
Chips can be repaired by a service call, usually by filling the gap with granite dust and clear epoxy.
This method gives a smoother and less visible repair than attempting to glue the chip back in.
Your countertops require daily maintenance so as not to leave water spots on the shiny surfaces (similar to cleaning a mirror).
Common soap can be used for cleaning but bleach is not recommended as it will break down the impregnator.
We highly recommend our 3 in 1 Cleaner Polisher Protector spray, available in our showroom.
This product will help to remove any hard water buildup and restore lustre, as well as reinforcing the impregnator.
Quartz countertops are a form of engineered stone, made from ground-up particles of stone bound together with plastic resins.