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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. 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.
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My little sample of granite has pits on the surface
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I have these on my kitchen counters?
Granite, which is crystalline in structure, always has
tiny pits – spaces 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 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 |
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How do I clean my granite tops?
POLISHED GRANITE is a very durable
stone. It’s 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 contains no aromatics, followed by a thorough
rinsing and drying with cotton-flannel or chamois. |
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Will my granite look like the sample?
Granite is a product of nature therefore
each piece is unique. 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. |
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Does granite stain?
In general, no. All stone, however, is
porous to some extent, but Granite has very little
porosity. Most colors will never show any moisture. A few
colors may show some moisture if exposed for a period of
time. 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. Our granite has a sealer applied at the fabricator,
however some customers prefer to apply a stone sealer
(available at tile and granite shops) after the granite is
installed. |
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Can I set hot pot on my granite
countertop?
Granite is formed by extreme heat and
pressure combined beneath the earths 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. |
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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. |
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Can granite chip?
In only cases of sever abuse with a hammer
or impact tool. A chip can be filled with a granite dust
and epoxy mixture. |
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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 (such as Regal Grey) will not be as apparent as a larger
varied grain (such as Deer Island). A dark color (Spring
Green) will be less apparent than a light color (Pine
Green). A dramatic pattern with swaths of color (Kinawa,
Paradiso) will show more seams than a uniform pattern
(Dakota Mahogany). Most customers have found that the
beauty of natural granite outweighs the concern of seams. |
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How are seams made?
Seams are done where the granite joins with
a smooth, straight cut. During installation, a small bead
of epoxy is placed along the seam to seal it.
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Does granite stain or burn?
No, you can't burn it with ordinary use.
Granite does not stain. The only caveat is that a few
colors may absorb some moisture with prolonged contact.
Usually, no evidence remains when the liquid is removed
and the granite dries, but could be a problem with dark
pigmented liquids. Although granite has a sealer applied
at the fabricator, a stone sealer is recommended for all
granite after installation. |
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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. |
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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.
You must have support underneath for these situations. |
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