FAQs

What is the difference between granite and marble?

Both granite and marble are natural stones but granite is much harder and more durable than marble. Marble is much more porous and therefore is more prone to stain, scratch or chip. Marble should be avoided in high traffic areas such as a kitchen but is great for bathrooms and fireplace surrounds.

What should I clean my granite with?

Warm soap and water or a multi-purpose cleaner that is labeled as being safe for sealed granite or natural stone. Most cleaning brands now have these multi-surface cleaners that you can purchase at any supermarket, hardware or home improvement store.

Do not use ammonia based cleaners on your granite as it could wear down the sealer.

Do I need to reseal my granite?

Yes. Granite needs to be resealed every 2-3 years. It is a very easy and simple process you can do yourself. You can purchase sealer from us, online or Lowe’s or Home Depot. We seal the granite upon install.

Does granite have pits or fissures?

Granite is a crystalline structure and can have tiny pits and spaces between the various mineral crystals and are part of the stones natural structure. Some granites have more of these than others. Pits can be minimized by applying sealer to the surface. Granite will occasionally have fissures which look like cracks but they are not defects and naturally occur as a result of intense heat and pressure while formed eons ago. These characteristics are part of the natural beauty of stone and do not affect the stones durability.

Can you cut on granite countertops?

You can cut on granite countertops; however it is not recommended and will quickly dull your knives.

Can you set hot pots and pans on granite?

Yes.  Granite is formed through extreme heat and pressure deep beneath the earth’s crust.  It will not be affected by cook tops, hot pots or flames.

How thick will my granite countertops be?

3cm is standard for all granite which is 1-1/4”.

Will my granite look just like samples or pictures online?

Not necessarily. Natural stone can vary from lot to lot and slab to slab. Part of the beauty of natural stone is that no two pieces are identical.

You can select your stone based on a sample and we will match up the slabs as closely as possible, but most of the time clients hand pick their slabs.

Do I need corbels or supports for a bar cap or overhang?

You do not need supports for an overhang 12” or less. Anything beyond 12” requires some kind of supports.

Will there be a seam in my stone countertops?

Typically no. We try to avoid seams at all cost, and when a seam is absolutely necessary we make it as discrete as possible. Stone slab sizes vary and are rarely over 10 feet long.  If you have an extremely large kitchen island over 10 ft. long there would have to be a seam. In this type of scenario we discuss exactly where the seam will be.

What is the difference between quartz and granite?

Granite and quartz are two of the most durable hard surfaces. Quartz is a man-made manufactured stone made from natural quartz and resins and does not need to be resealed. Quartz typically has a more consistent and manufactured look whereas granite has more intricate and varying characteristics such as colors, patterns and movements. Both are excellent choices for countertops.