Posts in category: Stone

When it comes to natural stone options, marble stands out as a timeless and elegant choice. However, it’s essential to understand how marble differs from other popular natural stones. In this blog post, we will explore the unique characteristics of marble and compare them to other stones, providing valuable insights for customers seeking the perfect natural stone for their projects.

1. The Beauty of Marble: Marble boasts a luxurious appearance, with its distinctive veining patterns and a wide range of captivating colors. Its elegant aesthetic has been showcased in renowned architectural wonders around the world.
2. Durability and Strength: While marble is known for its beauty, it’s important to consider its durability and strength. Compared to other natural stones, such as granite and quartzite, marble may be softer and more prone to scratches and etching. Understanding these differences helps customers select the stone that best suits their intended application.
3. Maintenance and Care: Proper maintenance is essential to preserve the beauty of marble. It is more susceptible to staining and etching compared to some other stones. However, with regular sealing and appropriate cleaning techniques, customers can keep their marble surfaces looking impeccable.
4. Versatility in Design: Marble’s unique characteristics make it an excellent choice for a variety of design applications. From kitchen countertops and bathroom surfaces to stunning flooring, marble offers versatility and sophistication that few other stones can match.
5. Cost Considerations: When considering natural stone options, cost is an important factor. Marble can vary in price, and it’s essential to weigh the long-term value and investment potential against other stones, considering factors such as durability, aesthetics, and maintenance requirements.
6. Climate and Environmental Factors: Marble’s response to different climates and environmental conditions is worth considering. While it performs well in indoor applications, it may require additional care and maintenance in high-moisture or outdoor settings. Customers can also evaluate the environmental impact of marble production compared to other stone options.

Marble’s timeless beauty and unique characteristics make it a sought-after natural stone for various applications. By understanding the qualities that set marble apart from other natural stones, customers can make informed decisions based on durability, maintenance requirements, versatility, cost, and environmental factors. Whether it’s for a luxurious kitchen countertop or an exquisite flooring project, marble offers elegance and sophistication that leaves a lasting impression.

Granite countertops are a popular choice for homeowners looking to add value to their homes. Granite is a natural stone that comes in a variety of colors and patterns, making it easy to find a style that matches your home’s decor. In this blog post, we will discuss how granite adds value to your home and why it’s a worthwhile investment for any homeowner.

1. Durability and Longevity

Granite is one of the hardest and most durable natural stones available. It’s resistant to scratches, stains, and heat, making it an excellent choice for high-traffic areas like kitchens and bathrooms. Granite is also a long-lasting material that will stand the test of time, making it a smart investment for any homeowner looking to increase their property value.

2. Timeless Beauty

Granite has a timeless beauty that never goes out of style. It’s a natural stone that’s been around for millions of years and has been used in construction for centuries. Its unique veining and patterns give it a one-of-a-kind look that adds elegance and sophistication to any home. Whether you choose a classic or modern design, granite will always be a sought-after material.

3. Increased Home Value

Granite is a premium material that adds significant value to any home. According to a study by the National Association of Home Builders, 94% of homebuyers are willing to pay more for a home with granite countertops. This means that investing in granite can increase your home’s resale value and attract potential buyers.

4. Low Maintenance

Granite is a low-maintenance material that’s easy to care for. It’s resistant to bacteria and other harmful substances, making it an excellent choice for households with children and pets. To keep your granite countertops looking their best, all you need is a mild detergent and a soft cloth.

5. Versatility

Granite comes in a variety of colors and patterns, making it a versatile material that can match any home’s style. Whether you’re looking for a sleek and modern design or a classic and traditional look, there’s a granite color and pattern that will fit your vision.

In conclusion, investing in granite countertops is a smart way to add value to your home. Not only is it a durable and long-lasting material, but it also adds timeless beauty and sophistication to any home. With its low maintenance and versatility, granite is a worthwhile investment that will pay off in the long run. Contact a reputable granite company today to get started on your home improvement project!

When it comes to natural stone, few materials are as versatile, durable, and beautiful as granite. This igneous rock, formed deep beneath the earth’s surface over millions of years, has been prized by humans for centuries for its strength and aesthetic appeal. Here are just a few reasons why granite is the ultimate natural stone for your home.

1. Durability

Granite is one of the hardest natural materials on earth, making it an ideal choice for high-traffic areas such as kitchen countertops and flooring. It is resistant to scratches, chips, and heat, and is also non-porous, which means it won’t stain or absorb liquids. With proper care and maintenance, granite can last a lifetime.

2. Aesthetics

Granite is available in a wide range of colors and patterns, from classic black and white to bold blues, greens, and reds. It also has a unique and distinctive appearance due to its natural mineral patterns and variations. Each slab of granite is one-of-a-kind, making it a beautiful and unique addition to any home.

3. Sustainability

Unlike synthetic materials, granite is a natural material that does not emit harmful chemicals or require significant energy to produce. It is also incredibly long-lasting, meaning that it will not need to be replaced as frequently as other materials. Additionally, granite can be recycled and repurposed, making it an eco-friendly choice for your home.

4. Value

Granite is a premium material that can add significant value to your home. It is a highly sought-after material for homebuyers, and can also increase the resale value of your property. Additionally, since granite is so durable and long-lasting, it can be a more cost-effective choice in the long run than other materials that may need to be replaced more frequently.

If you are considering natural stone for your home, granite is the ultimate choice. With its durability, aesthetics, sustainability, and value, it is a material that can provide a lifetime of beauty and function in your home.

granite, coarse- or medium-grained intrusive igneous rock that is rich in quartz and feldspar; it is the most common plutonic rock of the Earth’s crust, forming by the cooling of magma (silicate melt) at depth.

Learn about the use of gamma-ray spectroscopy to identify the quarry that was the source of granite found in ancient Roman ruins

Because of its use as paving block and as a building stone, the quarrying of granite was, at one time, a major industrial activity. Except for tombstones, however, for which there is a continuing demand, the present production of granite is geared to the fluctuating market for curbing in highway construction and veneer used in the facing of large industrial and commercial buildings.

Granite may occur in dikes or sills (tabular bodies injected in fissures and inserted between other rocks), but more characteristically it forms irregular masses of extremely variable size, ranging from less than eight kilometres (five miles) in maximum dimension to larger masses (batholiths) that are often hundreds or thousands of square kilometres in area.

The principal constituent of granite is feldspar. Both plagioclase feldspar and alkali feldspar are usually abundant in it, and their relative abundance has provided the basis for granite classifications. In most granite, the ratio of the dominant to the subdominant feldspar is less than two. This includes most granites from the eastern, central, and southwestern United States, southwestern England, the Fennoscandian (Baltic Shield) area, western and central France, Spain, and many other areas. Granites in which plagioclase greatly exceeds alkali feldspar are common in large regions of the western United States and are thought to be characteristic of the great series of batholiths stretching from Alaska and British Columbia southward through Idaho and California into Mexico. Granites with a great excess of alkali feldspar over plagioclase are known from New England; they occur in smaller bodies at numerous sites in British Paleogene and Neogene rocks and in the Oslo region of Norway, but their most extensive development is in northern Nigeria.

Rocks containing less than 20 percent quartz are almost never named granite, and rocks containing more than 20 percent (by volume) of dark, or ferromagnesian, minerals are also seldom called granite. The minor essential minerals of granite may include muscovite, biotite, amphibole, or pyroxene. Biotite may occur in granite of any type and is usually present, though sometimes in very small amounts. The sodic-amphiboles and pyroxenes (riebeckite, arfvedsonite, aegirine) are characteristic of the alkali granites. If neither feldspar is in great excess, neither amphibole nor pyroxene is likely to be an essential constituent; the other minerals will then ordinarily be either biotite or muscovite, or both.

 

There are two major source regions for producing molten granite: igneous and sedimentary protoliths (source rocks). These result in I-type granitoids, derived from igneous protoliths and containing moderate amounts of Al₂O₃ and high amounts of Na₂O, and S-type granitoids, derived from sedimentary protoliths and containing high amounts of Al₂O₃ and relatively low amounts of Na₂O. Amphibole and pyroxene are more common in I-type granitoids, while S-type granitoids may have garnet, cordierite, and sillimanite. Both types of granitoids may also contain biotite and muscovite.

Most granite is very stain resistant and does not “require” sealing. However, sealing is an added precaution, and many fabricators and installers do recommend it. Quality Granite & Marble typically makes this determination, and applies sealer when needed.

A general rule used when manufacturing is, if water darkens the stone, it needs a sealer.

It’s important to know a little about the granite slab fabrication process before sealing. Resin coating applies an epoxy over the stone slabs. This resin fills the voids, veins, and fissures. This process was developed to make unstable stone sellable. The more the process was used, the more common it became. Many fabricators simply apply resin coating to all slabs to keep things simple. When you mix a sealer with an unknown resin, it may turn the resin cloudy. This is one reason you may not want to blindly apply a sealer. Check with your installer first.

For stones that do require, or would benefit from, sealing, there are a few variables to considers when determining how often new sealer is needed.

• How much abuse the countertop gets
• How often the granite is cleaned
• How absorbent (porous) the natural stone is
• The type and quality of the previous sealer used

Many sealers applied at the factory last 10-15 years, while store bought (DIY) sealers may only be good for 6-12 months. So it’s important to know if you had a sealer before, and what type.

A simple water test will help you determine if sealer is needed. Pour about a quarter cup of water on a few areas of the counter. See how long it takes for the water to absorb. If the water absorbs into the stone in less than five minutes, the stone does need to be sealed. If the water is still standing after 30 minutes, no sealer is needed. Anywhere in between five and 30 minutes, the stone may benefit a sealer.

Sealing granite is a relatively simple process and can be done by a professional or by homeowners. Before sealing, it is important to know the makeup of your stone, so check with your fabricator and/or installation documentation to make sure you select the correct product and sealing process.

Without a doubt, beautiful countertops are one of the most eye-catching features of a kitchen or bathroom. However, choosing the right countertop material for your home or office can be as daunting as it is exciting – especially when common myths get in the way of the truth.

Common granite countertop myths range from harmless to simply flat out wrong. And if you accept them at face value, you might end up choosing a material that doesn’t suit your space’s unique needs.

In this blog, we’ll address some of the most common myths surrounding granite countertops to help you separate fact from fiction.

MYTH #1: GRANITE IS OUT, QUARTZ IS IN

Once upon a time, granite countertops were the ultimate luxury statement in a kitchen or bathroom, and it’s easy to see why: granite adds to the overall value of the home because it’s extremely durable and has a distinctive, high-quality look.

As granite became more accessible over the years, however, its “luxurious” characteristic began to change, as did design trends. The rise of manmade products that can mimic the natural patterns found in granite, like quartz, also seemingly took away from the novelty of granite since they addressed more of the consumer demands for certain patterns or colors.

Does this mean granite is on its way out the door?

Not at all. Mother Nature is always in style.

Both granite and quartz offer their own unique advantages. For example, granite is formed in intense heat and is naturally impervious to high temperatures, so hot pots and pans won’t scar its surface (though they may damage any sealant).

Quartz countertops are easy to maintain (their nonporous nature means they never require sealant) and come in a wide variety of solid and patterned colors, but they do not boast the same level of heat resistance as granite. The resins used to give quartz countertops their flexibility and shape can potentially be damaged by repeated exposure to high levels of heat. Therefore, quartz manufacturers recommend using a hot pad or trivet and not taking things from the stovetop or oven and placing them directly on the countertop.

Bottom line? Both quartz and granite have their own advantages and unique aesthetics and can beautifully complement your home or office. Just be sure to assess the particular needs of the room your countertops will occupy in order to make the best-fitting choice.

MYTH #2: GRANITE AND MARBLE ARE PRACTICALLY THE SAME

Since they are both natural stone, you might have heard that granite and marble are almost interchangeable. But the two materials are actually very different.

Marble is a hard-crystalline metamorphic form of limestone that appears naturally in a wide range of colors and features elegant veining. On the other hand, granite is an igneous rock consisting mainly of quartz, mica and feldspar that typically bears a granular or flecked appearance. One of the biggest differences between granite and marble is their porosity. Basically, marble is softer and more porous than granite.

Since marble is a softer material than granite, it requires more care to maintain its original luster and surface quality and can acquire a worn look or patina over time in heavy use areas.

MYTH #3: GRANITE COUNTERTOPS ARE HIGH MAINTENANCE

Because they are natural stone, there’s a misconception that granite countertops are high maintenance.

In reality, granite is stain, scratch, heat and chemical resistant. It’s among the hardest countertop materials available and therefore not easily damaged. Sealants are applied to natural stone like granite to provide additional protection against staining.

To maintain granite’s showroom look, sealing is an important step. Contrary to what this common myth would have you expect, however, granite may not need to be sealed very often. It depends on your color. Lighter colors are typically more porous, therefore they generally require more frequent sealing than a darker, more dense color. Sealing is a simple, wipe on/wipe off process that you can do yourself probably in a few minutes. But if you don’t want to worry about that at all, there are sealants on the market that give a lifetime warranty against staining with just one single application at an additional cost. Ask your granite fabricator for more information.

On a daily basis, dusting, promptly wiping up spills and using potholders or trivets are the extent of maintenance for granite. These methods of care are common to most countertop materials.

MYTH #4: GRANITE IS UNSAFE FOR FOOD PREP

Although it’s generally considered best practice to use a cutting board when preparing food, you’ll wear out the edge of your knife before damaging your granite countertop. This has led to granite countertops becoming an ideal choice for areas with food-related work.

However, there is an alarming myth that granite harbors harmful bacteria and is therefore unsafe for food.

It is a myth.

Because granite countertops are generally less porous than other types of natural stone (and usually sealed), they are resistant to bacterial growth and easy to keep clean.

Keep in mind, however, that constant application of disinfectants may affect your granite countertops’ sealant. A granite countertop without sealant is more susceptible to staining, so the use of a cutting board when preparing or cutting food is recommended. In most cases, warm and soapy water is all that granite countertops require for cleaning.

MYTH #5: GRANITE COUNTERTOPS EMIT RADON

Another more troubling myth out there is that granite countertops emit unhealthy levels of radon, a naturally-occurring radioactive gas that can cause lung cancer.

Like many myths, this one took a small grain of truth and blew it out of proportion – way out. It’s true that granite may contain naturally occurring radioactive elements like radium, uranium and thorium … but so do other rocks. These are just the resulting byproducts of the natural breakdown of stone and rock. Granite is naturally made in the earth and may contain more or less of some of these elements than others.

Still feeling alarmed? Don’t worry. Since granite isn’t very porous and is typically used in well-ventilated areas like kitchens or bathrooms, any radon it contains isn’t likely to escape in quantities large enough to cause problems. In fact, well water and the soil underneath a building’s foundation pose much greater risks of radon exposure.

The final verdict? Robert Emery, DrPH, vice president of safety, health, environment, and risk management at the University of Texas, says, “From published scientific literature, it seems that the amount of radon from granite countertops is minuscule. The decision whether to use it or rip it out if it’s already in a house you buy really becomes a personal decision about what products you bring into your home — similar to whether to use traditional paints or those with only no or low-VOC compounds.”

WHAT’S THE TAKE-AWAY?

Despite what any myths might say, granite countertops make elegant, timeless and durable additions to any home or office. Now that we’ve addressed some of the most common granite countertop myths, we hope you feel more informed in your countertop decisions.

Granite is a natural stone countertop material that is very popular in kitchens due to its aesthetic, 100-year lifespan, and it’s ability to withstand the heat of hot pots and pans. Granite countertops are easy to maintain and can be found in many different colors, styles, and finishes.

Granite kitchen countertops are popular for a reason!

As a quarried natural stone, granite is a type of igneous rock that occurs naturally within the Earth. In other words, different regions have different granite colors and patterns occurring naturally as opposed to something like quartz, which is manmade.

Here our stone experts take a look at the most popular granite countertop colors for 2021.

Let’s go!

Kitchen Granite Trends 2020/2021

Before we get into the most popular granite colors for 2021, it’s good to take a look at popular granite trends that are taking hold across the kitchen design space.

Here are the latest kitchen countertop trends you might want to consider for your granite in 2021:

Neutral Tones

Neutral toned granite colors are very big at the moment, with numerous countertop specialist designers recommending neutral whites, creams, light grays, soft blues, beiges, and many other natural mid-tone colors.

The great thing about neutral toned granite countertops is that they go with basically everything so long as they fit into the color scheme. There are multiple color options for neutral-toned granite slabs, so you’re spoilt for choice.

If you don’t want your countertops to be the focal point, neutral is a great choice.

Popular countertop colors that can be classed as neutral-toned include butterfly beige granite. This granite countertop is beige in color, featuring flecks of black, cream, and white throughout. Colonial white granite is another popular neutral this year – a white granite with black/gray details.

Leathered Finish

Leathered finish is not a granite countertop finish for everyone, but it’s certainly making a name for itself as a bold piece of kitchen design in 2021. Leathered granite has a textured, rough surface and no sheen or light-reflecting qualities at all, so it’s usually found in open spaces and darker colors.

While a textured granite countertop might not sound all too appealing, this unique granite is great at hiding stains, etches, and signs of everyday wear and tear. This makes leathered granite great for chaotic kitchen environments, especially in darker colors that hide dirt even more.

If you’ve got a larger kitchen space with lots of natural light, this finish could be an excellent choice!

You’ll usually find this unique finish in black granite countertops, as it’s the best material for helping the rough texture blend into a seamless kitchen design. Though leathered black granite is the most common granite color in this finish, you can find shades of gray, coffee brown, and even white too.

Unique Veining & Patterns

Distinctive veining and patterns are back for 2021, with many homeowners opting for granite countertop materials that attract attention and draw the eye, serving as the impressive focal point of the kitchen design. Look for mineral deposits, veins, color flecks, and other distinctive patterns of natural stone.

Busy designs with multiple color variations or a number of criss-crossing veins and patterns are very popular with homeowners and designers recently – the more complex the appearance of the surface, the better. Just make sure the rest of the kitchen design is toned-down enough to handle it!

Popular granite countertops in this style include:

• River White Granite – Popular granite slab from India which is white with linear gray veins that resemble interconnecting rivers
• Blue Granite – Made from deep blues and mid-tone blues, this dramatic granite slab has interconnecting veins of various blues that resemble waves crashing through the ocean
• Picasso Granite – Grey granite filled with chunks of greys, blacks, and white that create a visually striking Picasso-esque art style
• Blue Pearl Granite – In similar deep blues to Blue Granite, Blue Pearl is a variation featuring a dazzling array of color flecks in various blue hues for a more chaotic feel

There are many popular granite colors that fall into this category, but these are just some popular examples.

Honed/Matte Finish

Looking for a granite slab that is toned down, calm, and natural-looking? Granite counters in honed finishes (aka “matte finishes”) are very popular in 2021 so far, boasting a classy low-sheen finish that reflects a small amount of light, giving a low-matte sheen similar to eggshell finish paint.

In a well-designed modern kitchen, this granite style can look effortlessly chic.

Praised for its ability to disguise dirt, stains, and etches in the slab, honed finish granite is an excellent practical choice too. It’s usually found in simple shades of black and gray, though you can also find complex granite designs that have been honed, helping to hide dirt even better.

 

Most Popular Granite Countertop Colors 2021

While popular granite colors are always going to be changing, there are several specific shades that homeowners and people in the kitchen design space are gravitating toward in 2021.

Make sure to check out these 14 popular granite countertop colors before buying anything for your home:

Alaska White Granite

Light white with darker flecks of color, Alaska White Granite is perfect for pairing with dark kitchen cabinetry to produce a striking black and white design. This unique style of white kitchen countertop is actually reminiscent of snow, so it’s perfect for a space with a cool-toned color story and stainless steel appliances.

Black Galaxy Granite

Black Galaxy Granite is as cool as it sounds. Deep black with specs of white, gray, and jet black make for a space-esque granite slab that goes perfectly with white cabinets, again creating that classic modern high-contrast black and white aesthetic in reverse.

Namibian Gold Granite

Gold with medium brown and khaki hues too, this speckled stone comes with flecks of black and deep greyish veins, making it perfect as a focal point of your kitchen. Depending on what exact granite color you get from the slab, it could also work as a neutral granite countertop too.

Picasso Granite

Inspired by the unusual painting style of Pablo Picasso, Picasso Granite is a greyish granite filled with busy patterns and chunks of color. Usually found in variations of grey, black, and white, this is quite possibly the best type of granite finish for that impressive focal point appearance.

Black Pearl Leather Granite

Black Pearl Leather Granite is very dark – mostly black with subtle flecks of blue and gray tones spread throughout. The leather finish creates a textured surface that makes Black Pearl practical and very unique. Paired with white cabinets, Black Pearl is great in both modern and transitional kitchens.

Azurite Granite

Similar to the Picasso Granite, Azurite Granite boasts huge veins, specks, and chunks of color that almost feel chaotic. Veins and color chunks are a mix of browns, blues, creams, and golds, though the overall appearance of the granite slab is a type of gold-tinged grey that feels very opulent and expensive without trying.

Typhoon Green Granite

This type of granite can vary slightly in color from olive green to deep brown depending on where the granite slabs were cut from. While the green granite is more popular than the brown granite, both varieties are very rare and sought after due to their impressive natural highlights.

White Ice Granite

White Ice Granite is white with flecks of blue and gray tones, making this stone ideal for cool-toned kitchen spaces. This white granite countertop is often paired with black kitchen cabinets and stainless steel hardware for an ultra-modern appearance.

Almond Gold Granite

Pure gold hue with speckled highlights of brown and beige, Almond Gold originally comes from Brazil. Like most of the best granite from Brazil, this stone can fit into a variety of home designs, though it’s often used as a neutral-toned countertop.

Blue Pearl Granite

Blue Pearl Granite is a speckled design featuring a variety of deep and medium blue tones, giving the granite a sleek, cool, modern feel. Often paired with white cabinets, you’ll see this granite style make an appearance in many kitchens – both traditional and modern.

Nordic Black Granite

Made in Canada despite the name implying it’s from Scandinavia, this granite is naturally very dark and the stone is finished with a suede-like texture. White and silver veins almost make this stone look liked cracked marble, so it’s perfect for an opulent, high-end design.

Costa Esmerelda Granite

Boasting greenish hues that certainly attract attention, this granite style is best paired with wood cabinetry in a complementary color, fitting into a kitchen color story. This speckled green-hued stone works well with brass or gold kitchen hardware to help the unique hues pop against each other.

Andromeda White Granite

Andromeda White is a white slab speckled with white and beige color flecks. This granite counter also comes with silver and green-tinged color deposits throughout, creating an even more impressive tiger-stripe aesthetic. Pair with dark cabinetry for an excellent modern aesthetic.

African Ivory Granite

Said to resemble a Google Maps view of the desert, this cream-colored granite is adorned with hues of cream, gold, blue, and gray. Great as a neutral granite counter, the natural earthy colors of this stone make it ideal for many people’s kitchen color schemes.

Even though you can hire a professional to fix a granite chip, it’s relatively easy to fill the gap yourself if you feel confident. You can follow these steps for how to repair chipped granite:

1. Clean the Area

Before you start your granite chip repair project, make sure the area around the blemish is clean and dry so you don’t trap dirt or debris. Taking these preventative steps can ensure a smooth finish for filling in the small dent:

• Clear the clutter: Put any dishes, appliances and papers in another location so they don’t get sticky from the gel epoxy.
• Use the appropriate cleaner: You can clean the chipped area with nail polish remover or acetone, but you may also want to use a countertop cleaner with a sealer to preserve the countertops from future chipping. If you don’t have these items in your house, you can also use mild detergent and water to get rid of sticky residue. Make sure the surface is dry after you’ve cleaned it.
• Darken the surrounding area: If the chip caused the surrounding surface to lighten in color, you might be able to restore its appearance with a dark permanent marker. This writing utensil dries quickly, and the mark can last on your countertops for a long time. If your stone is a light color, you probably won’t need to change its look.

2. Fill the Chip With a Color-Matched Gel Epoxy

Use masking tape around the chipped area to guide how much gel epoxy to use. You may want to leave a little margin to blend the epoxy with the stone surface easily. Then, you can apply enough gel epoxy to fill in the chip by following these tips:

• Find a gel with the right color: If it’s not the same color as the granite, you can mix in color additives in a disposable plastic cup, using multiple mixes if your granite has a speckled design. You can also use a translucent epoxy if you don’t have access to these additives.
• Fill the chip with the epoxy: You’ll know if you put in a sufficient amount if it rises slightly above the stone’s surface but is flush with the masking tape.
• Apply a hardening spray: Once you’ve applied the epoxy into the granite’s chip, spray a hardening product onto the damaged area. Then, you can wipe away any excess spray from the surface around the tape.

3. Let the Epoxy Dry According to the Manufacturer’s Instructions

Wait and let the glue cure before you cut it with the razor. The drying process can take a few hours, depending on the chip’s depth and your home’s humidity. If you want to reduce how long it takes, you can:

• Add a Cyanoacrylate glue (CA) accelerator: This product only costs a few dollars and can rapidly harden the epoxy you used to fill in the chip. If you’re fixing a light-colored stone, be careful using it because it can make the repair take on a green stain that’s challenging to remove.
• Use a hardener spray: A hardener specifically for granite countertops can help set the epoxy and strengthen the area around the chip repair.

4. Remove the Excess Epoxy and Polish the Area

After the epoxy has completely dried, you can remove the tape you applied to the surrounding area and clean it up with these steps:

• Cut out the extra epoxy with a razor blade: To level the blemish with the rest of the countertop, you’ll need to get rid of the excess epoxy. Use the countertop’s surface to help you determine how to angle the razor blade. Shave the glue with a quick back-and-forth motion to conform to the stone’s surface. This process should only take a minute or two and will result in a smooth repair that looks almost like new.
• Buff the area with sandpaper or steel wool: If the filled-in chip’s sheen doesn’t match your stone, you can use finishing sandpaper or a buffing compound. A piece of steel wool can help provide a beautifully smooth finish for this part of your granite countertop.
• Apply a granite polisher: As the finishing touch, you can also use a granite polisher or sealer over the blemish to add shine to the area. The sealer can also prevent chipping in the future.

What Do You Do With a Crack or Fissure?

A crack is a line on the surface of your granite countertop that hasn’t broken the slab into separate parts. However, a fissure is a natural crack in the stone, and the manufacturer should recognize this blemish before installing it in your kitchen or bathroom.

For Large Cracks or Chips, Call a Professional

Whoever coined the phrase “hard as a rock” might very well have been thinking of granite. Formed ov­er millions of years from compressed molten rock under the Earth’s surface, granite is extremely hard and durable.

With its heat-resistant qualities, granite doesn’t blister; it’s also unlikely to scratch or chip. When used for kitchen countertops, it’s far superior to marble, synthetic and laminate. It’s also better-looking and has a luminous, dimensional quality when polished.

Granite is made up of interlocking mineral crystals, the most common being feldspar and quartz. But an array of other minerals can be included, and these make each piece of granite unique. Feldspar is the white mineral you see in granite; the light gray veins are quartz; and the black is typically mica [source: Keidel].

­Granite is drilled, chiseled and blasted out of quarries in large blocks, and special milling machines then cut it into workable slabs. Typically, a slab of granite is around 4 to 5 feet (1.2 to 1.5 meters) wide and between 7 to 9 feet (2.1 to 2.7 meters) long. Other machines polish the material into a uniform thickness, usually about three-quarters of an inch to 1 1/4 inches (2 to 3 centimeters) [source: Walton].

Turning raw granite into countertops requires special tools. Granite can be custom-made and professionally installed, but it’s also available in precut and edged countertops. The kitchen’s design, the shapes and sizes of the available precut material and the location of the seams will help determine if you can use precut and edged granite or if you need a custom installation.

Are you convinced that granite is the best choice for your kitchen or bathroom remodeling project? Read on to learn how to cut granite countertops.

Cutting Granite Countertops

It’s really easy to correctly budget for your Granite Countertops. More often than not what remains of your existing budget might not cover the cost of your first choice in countertops. This is purely because Granite Countertops are usually only bought when the entire building project is about 85% complete.

Lots of overspending on other products within the project such as those Italian Tiles your Wife “so badly need” and the contractor that made a few mistakes on some of the cost calculations that he had to “cut somewhere” could lead to your choice of Granite Countertops to be severely affected.

Keep in mind that one of the most influential rooms in any house upon sale is a beautiful, well-designed kitchen with STUNNING GRANITE COUNTERTOPS!! Granite countertops are in any shape and form an investment.

On many occasions after visiting and completing Quality Control Inspections with clients a month or two after their projects have been completed these consumers would share their disappointed with their own choice of countertops with me.

Clients regularly give feedback and say “I should have done this, I should have done that……”

By following these easy guidelines you would be able to budget correctly and be happy and satisfied with your choice of Granite countertops for a very very long time.

1. Allow enough time to make the right decision.

• Taking your time on a once in a lifetime Granite Countertop that will elevate and beautify your home to the maximum is extremely important. Make sure you have enough time to go and visit slab suppliers in order to select your own material.
• There are so many beautiful different colours and materials available and by only seeing the odd sample or two you might miss out on that absolute breath taking material!! This would also allow the slab suppliers to order more stock should they not have enough.
• At Granite Projects we prefer to accompany our clients when they carry out these visits in order to steer the client into the correct direction especially when choosing materials like Marble and Sandstone. These materials have to be properly inspected for flaws like natural fissures (cracks) and defects which could cause serious budget crumbling in the future.

1. Choose the correct stone for the correct application

• This is the money saver solution. Many a time clients purely react on the colour of a material but rarely inspect the actual applicable value of the material.
• As an example you do not have to use 20 mm or 30 mm material on a staircase with treads and risers. 10 mm material would be more than sufficient and much more affordable.
• Choose materials from well-established Slab Suppliers which have the Warrantees and backups in place to assist you in future with any concerns and problems that may occur.
• Remember that Engineered Stone is an internal product only and not suitable for outdoors applications.
• If your budget does not allow for Granite Countertops in your scullery area PLEASE RECONSIDER!!!!! This area is a “wet” area and formica tops get damaged quite quickly when it gets in touch with even the smallest bit of water. Replacing these afterwards would be very costly therefore installing even just normal Rustenburg Granite Countertops will not only look great but also serve a great purpose with water damage control.

1. Trust the professionals

• First and foremost if you are in a position to have an Architect involved within your project, consult him/her. They are the pinnacle of decision making and their advice should be taken seriously. However from a Granite Countertop processing point of view Granite Projects chooses to be part of these meetings because we are specialists and leaders in our field. Therefore we could offer specific advice and direction into making the perfect budget decision.
• Consult your Cupboard Company. They are the closest connection between your site and the Granite Countertop Processor. Together they can figure out and plan probably the MOST INFLUENCIAL POINT IN COUNTERTOP BUDGET PLANNING: wastage.
  • Most slab sizes of natural stone differs in size. With Engineered Quartz the consistency with slab sizes are a great advantage and careful planning could eliminate the usage of a small piece into a 2nd or even 3^rd slab which would mean the worlds’ difference on your budget.
  • Sometimes by decreasing a small dimension on your design by as little as 20 mm the wastage factor could be reduced by half.
  • Try to limit your design to only 1 or maximum 2 x colours. Perhaps the kitchen and scullery Granite Countertops in one colour and the vanities in another.

1. Choose the correct Granite Countertop Fabricator

• Make sure your fabricator knows the industry and the influence of the rest of the trades for example plumbing, lightning, tiling, ceiling, skimming and plastering as well as flooring. All of these craftsmen have to work in close proximity with each other, including the Granite Countertop Processor of course, in order to deliver a complete project, within budget, in the most efficient and timeous way.
• Check your fabricators credentials. Make sure they are a well-established company and if you could, visit their factory and inspect their machines and tools.
• Ask for references of previous jobs and try to go and visit one of these sites so that you can clearly inspect the quality and craftsmanship of the processor
• Request all relevant accreditation certificates such as:
  • Building Industry Bargaining Council (BIBC) Accreditation
  • Tax Clearance Certificate (You could be held accountable for off-tax payers’ outstanding SARS back logs)
  • Letter of Good Standing
  • Kitchen Specialists Association (KSA Membership)

These documents are essential as your product of choice might not carry any warrantees without these accreditations.

At Granite Projects we firmly believe that a beautiful kitchen is the centre of a well-designed home and adding the Granite Countertops of your choice will prevent you from future disappointment and allow you to take pride in the look and feel of your entire house. Choose wisely and make sure your decisions are spot on and consult as many people as possible.

Enjoy it! This could be a great experience and surely the most interesting part of your entire project.