Natural Stone Facts & Care Tips

Unlike laminates and solid surface materials, a hot frying pan has no effect on granite countertops. Granite's diamond-like hardness makes it virtually impervious to abrasions, stains and extreme heat. It is also the most resistent to scratches of all solid surface materials.

Question: Will heat cause granite to chip and crack? Answer: No. Granite is heat resistent and can withstand the heat of hot pots without damage. Impact from a heavy object may chip granite but heat from anything, short of a blowtorch, will not affect your countertop.

Question: Does granite stain easily? Answer: No. Granite is resistant to stains. Generally, any liquid spilled on a granite top, if wiped up within a few minutes, will not stain. However, even water can soak into a granite countertop and leave a dark colored spot but this will evaporate in minutes. Liquids that do not evaporate, such as oils, will cause stains if left to soak into stone. With marble, use caution with liquids that have a high acid content, such as lemon juice, as this will etch your marble top.

Question: Will granite lose its polish over the years? Answer: No. While this may be true of marble, granite will shine years from now just as if it was brand new. Granite is highly scratch resistent and will not show wear from daily use. Marble on the other hand is a much softer material and can scratch. Use caution when cleaning with products other than what is recommended.

Question: Does granite require a lot of maintenance? Answer: No. Granite is very easy to clean. The best way to care for your granite is to use soapy water, or Murphy's Oil. Never use cleaners such as Fantastic, 409, Windex, Kaboom etc.; especially on marble or travertine, as these products will etch your marble or travertine top. These cleaners will not harm your granite, but they will break down the sealer that was used on your granite or marble. The sealer Affordable Granite uses was proven to last 20 years. However, we do recommend that you have your granite kitchen tops re-sealed every 5-7 years and your granite vanity tops every 7-10 years. Marble vanity tops should be re-sealed every 3-5 years. There is a simple test you can do to check your sealer. Place a handful of water in one area of your counter and let it sit for 30-45 minutes. If water is still on the surface of your natural stone counter, your sealer is good. However, if the water is gone, it has seeped into your granite and your tops should be re-sealed. Just call us to schedule an appointment.

Question: Is granite and marble essentially the same? Answer: No. Besides the fact that they are both natural stones and can be polished, they are otherwise very different. Marble is generally a calcious stone, formed from oceanic deposits and then compressed under pressure (metamorphosed). Granite, however, is an igneous rock, essentially molten magma, which is cooled and then hardened below the earth's surface. Natural stone countertops not only give your kitchen timeless performance and beauty, it is also an added bonus when selling your home, as well as increasing the value of your home.

Question: Do granite's tiny pores and fissures harbor bacteria? Answer: Bacteria are found everywear. If it is on a granite's top, then it can also be found on a laminate or solid surface top. Using an anti-bacterial soap to wash your countertop will eliminate bacteria.

A recent study by Hospitality of Technology and Management proved that granite is more resistant to bacterial contamination then any other solid surface, except stainless steel. The study measured the bacteria resistance capacity of six common countertop materials. Each surface was contaminated with nearly 2 billion E coli micro organisms. Then each was washed with soap and water, then, sanitized with a vinegar solution. Here are those results:

Surface Micro Organisms ELIMINATED by cleaning.

*Stainless Steel 85,113,804

*Granite 79,432,823

*Plastic Laminate 498,884

*Tile 293,765

*Concentrate 32,810

*Wood 2,080