Granite Facts & Myths

Top 13 Myths About Granite

MYTH #1 - GRANITE IS EXPENSIVE.
Granite facts. It can be. But not all granite is expensive. The rarer the stone (limited availability) and the more difficult it is to transport (no roads, tough terrains such as mountainous regions, and distance) the more it costs.

Today, there are thousands of granites readily available. Common stones in good supply such as Santa Cecilia, Baltic Brown, New Venetian Gold, Verde Labrador and Uba Tuba for example, are very affordable.

These granites are often priced lower than many synthetic countertop surfaces such as Corian®, SileStone® and other brands of engineered stone.

You may be surprised when you compare the price of granite to other countertop surfaces.

MYTH #2 - GRANITE IS DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN.
Granite facts. We have had granite in our home(s) for the past 18 years and it is not difficult or tedious to maintain. Luna Pearl which we did not seal, Madura Gold - sealed and sealed again ;-), Shivikasky - really porous, Black Galaxy - no sealer needed, Verde Maritaka & Volga Blue - no sealer here either.

Maintenance of a granite countertop:

• Routine cleaning as you would do with any countertop surface.
• Seal if your stone needs to be sealed.

MYTH #3 - ALL GRANITE NEEDS TO BE SEALED
Granite facts. No, not all. Some are so dense that nothing including a sealer will absorb in.

When a sealer is applied, it soaks into the stone and fills in any open pores or voids so that a staining agent cannot. If there are no openings, there are no places for the sealer to go.

How do you know if your stone should be sealed? The water test.

MYTH #4 - GRANITE MUST BE SEALED EVERY YEAR
Granite fact. You can seal your stone every year if you want to but it's unnecessary. Purchase a quality sealer and seal every five to ten years.

The basic difference between sealers is the amount of resin used, the type of resin and the carrying agent used. Inexpensive sealers use cheaper resins, less resin and more of the carrying agent.

MYTH # 5 - GRANITE WILL STAIN. SOLID SURFACES WILL NOT.
Granite facts. Granite is resistant to stains. In fact, some stones are so dense that nothing will absorb in - not even a sealer!

Solid surfaces are also stain resistant but they are not stain proof either. The lighter the color, the more apt to stain.

In fact, you can stain just about any material if you try hard enough.

MYTH #6 - STAINS IN GRANITE ARE PERMANENT.
Granite fact. Stains in granite can usually be removed by you. Most can be removed by using a mild soap, a commercial degreaser or a poultice.

The method of removal depends on the staining agent and how long the stain has been there.

Something to think about... granite has been used as external cladding surface on commercial buildings for hundreds of years. Granite withstands outdoor elements and retains its original beauty. For example, the largest granite building in the world is El Escorial. It's been around since 1563. That granite has been there for over 400 years!

MYTH #7 - HEAT WILL CRACK GRANITE. SOLID SURFACE IS NOT AFFECTED BY HEAT.
Granite facts. Granite is tough. It can withstand exceptionally high levels of heat. The heat from pots and pans won't cause damage to a granite countertop.

MYTH #8 - GRANITE CONTAINS HARMFUL BACTERIA.
Will granite make you sick?

• Dr. O. Peter Snyder conducted a study using E. coli bacteria as its contaminating agent. The findings of the report show significant cleanability advantages of granite countertops over almost all other commonly found countertop surface materials. Granite Ranked #1.


• A study of the reduction of E. coli on various countertop surfaces. The material used, procedures implemented and results obtained. This experiment has shown that every countertop surface will have a different cleanability.

MYTH #9 - GRANITE IS RADIOACTIVE.
Is granite deadly?

According to scientific facts, radon gas emissions are more harmful from the soils surrounding our homes, the outdoor air we breathe, well water and other building material such as concrete, cement and gypsum.

Many studies have been done which conclusively show that granite countertops pose no health risk. For more in depth information and links to the studies, Granite and Radon.

MYTH #10 - ALL GRANITE TOPS HAVE SEAMS.
Granite facts. Not all. Granite countertops can be seamless. The dimensions of granite slabs vary as do the dimensions and the lay outs of our kitchens.

Some stone slabs (depending on the type of granite) come in lengths as long as 150 inches!

To go seamless:

• Find a slab long enough and wide enough to accommodate your dimensions.
• You might have to buy EXTRA stone.
• You might have to change your lay out.
• Work closely with your fabricator when laying out your design.

Seams aren't the end of the world! A good fabricator can blend a seam in to make it hardly noticeable.

MYTH #11 - GRANITE CAN'T BE REPAIRED.
Granite facts. Granite does not 'break' easily or often and it can usually be repaired. If it chips, a colored epoxy is used. If it gets scratched, the scratch is polished out.

MYTH #12 - GRANITE WILL LOSE ITS SHINE.
Granite fact. Granite is extremely hard. One of the few materials harder than granite is diamonds. That is why diamond pads are used to polish it. Normal household activities are not abrasive enough to dull the surface of granite.

MYTH #13 - GRANITE AND MARBLE ARE THE SAME.
Granite facts. No, they're not. They are both rocks that can be polished and they are both used as an ornamental and construction stone. But the minerals that make up these rocks are entirely different.

Granite usually contains the mineral quartz which makes it much harder (doesn't scratch as easy) than marble. Marble contains calcite which makes it susceptible to etching. Granite rarely has any calcite in it.

These rocks are also formed different.

• Granite is an igneous rock.
• Marble is a metamorphic rock.

The next time you hear one of these myths, think about it. Natural stone has been used for thousands of years in cathedrals, palaces, castles, pyramids, homes, commercial buildings, for cookware, stairways, ornamentals and heating. It's been used on interiors and exteriors. Stone withstands the test of time.

ADD Shine

ERASE Scratches

Get Rid of Mold & Mildew

REPAIR Etch Marks

Here's MORE Granite STUFF:

• What are some of the benefits of granite countertops? We can think of OVER 30 benefits you reap by using granite countertops!
• The hardness of your granite countertop is largely dependent upon the hardness of the minerals that make up the stone. Moh's Scale of Relative Hardness was developed to measure the hardness of minerals.
• Radon. Is this a scare tactic to persuade you to buy a different countertop surface?
  You decide.

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