Since no two slabs are alike, we encourage customers to come to our warehouse to pick out their own slab.  Mineral streaking, veining, and coloring are all very common in marble and granite.  Turnaround time is usually within 1-2 weeks after the measure and template, depending on the size of the job.

             Granite is becoming more and more popular and a lot of people are choosing it instead of marble, silestone, formica, corian, and cultured marble, mainly because of its durability and sophisticated style. 

             Granite is composed primarily of three minerals: feldspare which is mostly white, quartz, which is usually light gray, and biotite or black mica, which is mostly black.  Granite gets its strength from being molten rock whereas marble is limestone.  On the M.O.H (measure of hardness) scale, granite has a rating of “7-8”, diamonds being “10”, making granite the second hardest natural material on earth!

M.O.H Scale:

 Diamond – “10”

Granite – “7-8”

Steel – “6”

Glass – “5”

Oak Wood – “2”

             Granite can stand heat up to 1800 degrees and does not scratch very easily.  The only things that will scratch granite are diamonds or another piece of granite.  Using a cutting board is recommended because you will most likely dull your knives before you put a scratch on your countertop.

             Some granite is more porous than others. A general rule-of-thumb is, when water doesn’t bead-up on the surface, it’s time to re-seal.  Sealant lasts up to 1-5 years depending on usage.  Sealant consists of microscopic balls of silicone that attach themselves to the crevices and surface.  Sealant helps protect the surface and helps the appearance by adding a high gloss or sheen.

        Stain removal consists of three steps.  First, identify the stain.  Second, loosen or dissolve the stain, and third, lift the stain.  Try to clean the spill as soon as possible by blotting, NOT wiping.  Use cold water and a mild detergent or a special stone soap.  Household cleaners such as Windex are not recommended unless you have a sealer that protects against strong chemicals or acids.  Some acids will do more damage to polished stone then to honed or a matte finish.  Simple lemon juice will immediately start to dissolve marble on contact.

Other products such as silestone, formica, corian, and cultured marble just do not compare to the strength and durability of granite.  Silestone is not 100% natural and is an engineered product made mostly of quartz and other man-made materials like binders and pigments.  Formica is basically just plastic made from composite materials.  Corian is also a man made material like formica with two main ingredients which are a filler and a resin.  Lastly, cultured marble is nice for looks and is perfect for areas that do not receive a lot of traffic.  It does not withstand heat or acids very well and also chips easily since it is made from crushed marble and stone.  The mixture is then poured into a mold and then has a protective polyester gel coat for protection.