Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between granite and marble?
What does the grade on marble mean?
Should I use granite or marble for my countertops?
How heavy is granite and will my cabinets support it?
What are seams and why do you need them?
Do I need to seal my stone countertops?
What are the advantages and disadvantages to using granite for my countertops?
How easy is it to scratch the stone?
Do I need to use a cutting board?
What special care does stone require?
Can stone countertops be repaired?
Does granite contribute to a radon problem?
How resistant to bacterial contamination is granite?
How much unsupported overhang can my countertops have?
How do I attach my dishwasher to the stone countertop?
What is the difference between granite and marble?
Granite is one of the hardest materials on earth. Granite is composed primarily of quartz, feldspar and mica. Other minerals may be present in the stone creating its unique colors, textures and patterns. Used as a countertop material, it is resistant to scratches, acids, stains and heat. It is long-lasting, durable and available in a wide variety of colors, textures and unique crystal patterns that create a warm and inviting environment for you kitchen or bath.
Marble works beautifully especially in the bath where the veining patterns and colors that appear can be used to create exquisite designs. Marbles are made up of mostly of calcite. Marble is sensitive to acidic foods such as vinegar, lemon, tomatoes, wine, as well as some tile cleaners, mildew removers and other materials commonly found in the kitchen or bath and will dull a polished finish.
What does the grade on marble mean?
For the sake of convenience, marbles are divided into four groups. These arbitrary groupings are as follows:
GROUP A
Any marble or stone sold to the trade in fair sized slabs or blocks of commercial size, rectangular shape and guaranteed by the seller to be sound, free from natural defects, that can be finished at a minimum cost, and sold to the consumer as sound marble.
GROUP B
Any marble or stone sold to the trade in slabs or blocks of fair or medium size, generally rectangular shape, guaranteed to be sound and free from natural defects, the finishing of which because of texture, the size of slabs, the shape and size of blocks is somewhat more expensive than those in group A.
GROUP C
Any marble or stone that cannot be sold as sound but contains a minimum amount of natural defects, such as dry seams, old fractures, partially or completely healed surface voids, etc., to be treated by the manufacturer in the most approved manner, reinforced where necessary by liners on back or metal inlays and sold to the consumer a semi-sound marble.
GROUP D
All marble, stone and so-called serpentine marbles, and Onyx, which by their peculiar formation are known to be fragile, such as Breccias and nearly all highly colored marbles and serpentines, and that are sold to the trade in irregular shaped blocks or slabs without a guarantee as to their soundness, treated by the manufacturer in the most approved manner, reinforced where necessary by liners on back or metal inlays and sold to the consumer as unsound marble.
Should I use granite or marble for my countertops?
Granite is the most versatile stone to work with. Granite can be used anywhere indoors or outdoors. Marble can be used almost anywhere, but it has limitations. Marble weathers outdoors and it is more susceptible to dulling, scratching and staining.
How heavy is granite and will my cabinets support it?
The actual density of granite will vary from material to material. On average, a piece of granite that is one square foot by 1/16 of an inch thick (12"x12"x1/16") weighs approximately 1 lb. In other words, Granite that is 1 1/4" thick weighs approximately 16 to 22 lbs. per square foot. Granite that is 3/4" thick weighs approximately 12 to 15 lbs. per square foot.
As long as you have ordinary cabinets with frames that are securely fastened to the wall and/or floor, you're cabinets will support granite countertops. The force of an average person weighing 150 lbs. standing on a cabinet creates more stress on the cabinets than the granite countertops. The weight of the person (150 lbs.) is applied to less than 1 square foot of area. Whereas the granite only applies about 20 lbs. per square foot.
What are seams and why do you need them?
Seams are the joints where two pieces of stone meet. Seams are one of the few disadvantages of stone countertops compared to manmade materials. We do everything we can to avoid or reduce the number of seams in a job. Then, we do everything we can to make the seams less noticeable. We use an epoxy to glue and seal the seam. We color the epoxy to make it blend with the stone. We also try to match the coloring and patterns of adjacent pieces to detract from the seams. Here are some examples of seams.
Do I need to seal my stone countertops?
You can always seal your stone countertops. You can't go wrong by sealing the stone. Sometimes, it just isn't necessary to seal the stone. Granites that are generally dark with variations just wouldn't show a stain if it got one. All marbles and lighter colored granites should be sealed. Marbles should be sealed once or twice a year. Granites should be sealed once a year.
Using a sealer does not make the stone un-stainable. It simply fills the pores in the stone and make the staining process slower, thus giving you more time to clean a spill before a stain sets in.
What are the advantages and disadvantages to using granite for my countertops?
Advantages:
- Beautiful - Extraordinary range of colors and patterns
- Bacteria Resistant
- Scratch Resistant
- Heat Resistant
- Easy to clean
Disadvantages:
- Seams
How easy is it to scratch the stone?
Marble is very easy to scratch. There are few things that will scratch granite: diamonds, another piece of granite, hardened steel. If you wanted to scratch the granite you could, but under normal use you will not scratch it.
Do I need to use a cutting board?
Marble - yes. Granite - no, not to protect the granite. You may consider one to protect your kitchen knifes.
What special care does stone require?
Applying sealer if needed. Otherwise, the usual clean regularly, don't use acidic or abrasive cleaners that will dull the finish over time. Don't hit the countertops with a hammer.
Can stone countertops be repaired?
Reasonable damage can be repaired: small cracks or chips. If the stone is chipped, always try to save the piece that chipped off.
Does Granite contribute to a radon problem?
No. View an article done by the Marble Institute of America regarding this issue.
How resistant to bacterial contamination is granite?
If you're concerned about bacterial contamination of your kitchen countertop, it looks like stainless steel and granite are the way to go. That's what a recent study by the Hospitality Institute of Technology and Management, a St. Paul, Minnesota-based organization that develops educational materials and research for the retail food industry, shows.
The study measured the bacteria-resistance capacity of six common countertop materials. Each surface was contaminated with E. coli (nearly 2 billion of the microorganisms), washed and rinsed with soap and water and then sanitized with a vinegar-and-water solution. The results are shown in the table below.
Surface Microorganisms Eliminated by Cleaning Stainless Steel 85,113,804 Granite 79,432,823 Plastic Laminate 498,884 Tile 293,765 Concrete 32,810 Wood 2,080 Dr. O. Peter Snyder Jr., who conducted the study, says, "We hope our research will help consumers make healthy decisions when selecting a countertop surface for their kitchens."
Here
is the report from the Hospitality Institute of Technology and
Management
How much unsupported overhang can my countertops have?
Overhangs should not exceed 6" beyond the supported area. An unsupported span of 24" and up to a maximum of 36" is acceptable as long as the stone is supported on both sides of the span.
How do I attach my dishwasher to the stone countertop?
It is recommended that you do not attach the dishwasher directly to the stone countertop. Most dishwasher manufacturers have either side-mount or floor-mount brackets available. The side-mount brackets attach the dishwasher to the adjacent cabinets. Please, contact your dishwasher manufacturer for these brackets. Drilling into the bottom of the stone can cause stress cracks and discolorations in the surface of the stone.
