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Debunking 5 Negative Myths About Granite

Many people would enjoy granite countertops in their new or remodeled kitchen, but worry about the negative things they’ve heard about this beautiful natural material.

In an effort to put their minds at ease, we’re going to debunk 5 of the negative myths about granite.

Granite will lose its shine

Marble may lose its sheen over time, but granite is much denser and resistant to normal household activities that would abrade softer stones like marble. In fact, granite is so hard that it’s polished with diamond-impregnated pads!

Hot pans will crack granite countertops

Granite is a very dense and hard natural material that is heat-resistant. You probably shouldn’t repeatedly set hot pans in the same place, but under normal use you don’t have to worry about your granite countertops cracking. You can always just use a trivet or hot pad like you would for any other countertop if you want an extra layer of protection.

Granite harbors bacteria

Because some granites are porous and require the use of sealers, there is a myth that granite harbors dangerous bacteria. However, according to this study by the Hospitality Institute of Technology and Management, granite harbored fewer bacteria than any other surface tested when cleaned with soap and water. When vinegar was used as a sanitizing rinse after cleaning, stainless steel edged past granite into the top spot. However, both granite and stainless steel were head and shoulders above the other surfaces, particularly after the vinegar rinse.

Additionally, the Center for Disease Control and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health both give granite a clean bill of health. Neither have any records of illness traced back to properly cleaned granite countertops.

All granite is high maintenance & must be sealed

Not all granite needs to be sealed. Sealers work by soaking into the surface and filling in the pores and voids so stains won’t. If the pores of the stone are small enough, there is no way for liquids to penetrate – whether stains or sealers! In that case, the sealer will just sit on the surface instead of being absorbed.

In order to tell if your granite needs a sealer or not, do the water test. If your granite countertops do need a sealer, choose a quality sealer that only requires reapplication every 5 – 10 years. That’s hardly high maintenance!

Routine maintenance consists of wiping it down with soap and water just like you would any other countertop.

Granite is the costliest countertop material

People often perceive granite as being extremely expensive. That may have been true years ago, but with its continued popularity the price of granite has come down dramatically. Today, granite is often priced lower than comparable engineered stone or man-made alternatives.

With proper care, granite countertops will last more than a lifetime. That’s because it’s one of the hardest and most durable of all natural materials. It also increases your home’s value and resell potential.

When you are ready for the kitchen of your dreams, complete with granite countertops, contact us. We can turn your dreams into reality.

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How to Choose the Right Granite for Your New Kitchen

You’ve weighed all of the different options and decided you definitely want granite countertops in your new kitchen. Now you just need to decide which is the right granite for your new countertops.

The surface appearance of granite slabs can vary dramatically. Speckled, mottled, streaked, or striped – there are endless variations to this product of nature. There are even varieties that look like the pebbles in the bottom of a streambed! Consider the cabinetry and flooring in your kitchen when choosing a granite. You’ll want the granite to complement the rest of your kitchen rather than clash with it.

The first step is to choose the dominant color you want in your kitchen; then choose a granite that highlights that color. The highlight can be either a whisper or a shout – it’s up to you. If you want a classic white kitchen with black highlights, you might choose a white granite with black speckles or marble-like veins. Alternatively, you might choose a solid black granite.

A granite with complex color patterns looks best in a sunlit kitchen where the natural sunlight highlights the patterns and brings out the colors. If your flooring has a red undertone, a granite with brick-red veining can really bring out the red in the floor. A granite with shades of green and brown can lend an earthy feel to a kitchen. If you choose the granite that looks like a streambed full of pebbles, you’ll probably want to make less busy choices for the rest of your kitchen; perhaps sleek, contemporary hardware and simple flooring without a lot of detail.

Natural stone varies in strength and granite is no exception. It can also vary in its porosity and number of pits, pores, and imperfections.

  • Commercial-grade granite is usually thinner (3/8″ versus 3/4 to 1- 1/4″) and often needs a plywood backing for support. It’s only available in the most common colors.
  • Middle-grade granite is sometimes the hardest and most durable granite, although it might have surface pitting. It’s considered mid-grade because it only comes in the more common colors and patterns rather than those that are more unusual or rare.
  • High-grade is good quality granite that includes the rarest colors, patterns, and veining.
  • Designer-grade granite is the rarest and most expensive kind. These slabs are handpicked by designers and pattern-matched between cuts.

Bear in mind that there are no standardized grades of granite and one company’s commercial-grade could be the same as another company’s high-grade. Always clarify a particular company’s grading standards before buying!

Talk to an experienced kitchen design expert to make sure you’re getting the right granite for your kitchen. Because of the price and durability of granite, it’s a good idea to spend a little more to get the color, look, and quality you really want. After all, you might be living with it for decades to come! When you’re ready for your new kitchen, contact us. We have the experience and expertise to give you the kitchen of your dreams.

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Choosing Your New Stone Countertops: Marble vs. Granite vs. Quartz

You may know that you want stone countertops in your new kitchen but have you decided which stone is the right fit for your kitchen and your lifestyle?

We have some comparisons that may help you find the perfect stone for you.

Marble vs. Granite vs. Quartz:

1. Hardness

The Mohs Scale is used to measure the hardness of stone. Diamonds are rated at the top of the scale (10) because they can scratch all other stones but other stones can’t scratch them. Quartz is rated at a fairly hard 7 on the scale, granite (mainly because of its high quartz content) is rated at 6-7, and marble is rated at a soft 3. A piece of sand rubbed across a marble countertop will probably scratch it, as might a heavy glass.

2. Porousness

Because marble contains a good deal of calcite (similar to teeth), it’s highly porous and can be easily stained.
Granite comes in different degrees of porosity; the more porous varieties should usually be sealed yearly to prevent them from absorbing spilled liquids which might stain and could also promote the growth of bacteria.
Because quartz is made up of about 93% natural quartz aggregate bound together with colored polymer resins, it’s non-porous and impervious to stains.

3. Durability

Marble is soft enough to be easily scratched by a knife. It’s also susceptible to etching by acidic liquids such as wine or fruit juice. The veins and inclusions in marble are its weakest spots so, generally, the fewer there are, the stronger the marble.

Granite won’t usually be scratched by a knife but it might crack or chip if it’s hit hard enough. Both granite and quartz can withstand an occasional hot pot. Repeatedly setting hot pots on the same area might cause eventual damage to both surfaces, however.

Quartz is also tough enough to be cut on and is resistant to chips and cracks. However, if it does chip, it’s usually harder to repair than granite. It may also fade from exposure to UV rays so that may be a consideration where different areas of the same countertop receive varying amounts of direct sunlight.

Whatever stone you choose, it’s important to choose an edge that is resistant to chipping. Sharp edges are more likely to chip while rounded edges like bullnose and roundover are less likely to. They’re also usually less expensive.

Everyone has their own concept of beauty: are you looking for the timeless elegance of marble, the shimmery movement of granite, or the quiet uniform beauty of quartz? Whichever look you prefer, taking into consideration how that particular stone fits into your lifestyle and how willing you are to maintain it will ensure that you’ll love your new countertops for years to come.
Contact us when you’re ready for your new kitchen and we’ll help you choose cabinetry that will perfectly complement your new stone countertops.

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