FAQs

WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR PLACING AN ORDER?
First you should contact a sales representative who will advise you in selecting a color that is right for your project. We will supply you with an estimate based on the information available to the sales rep. The order will be placed and we will schedule a template to be made. Please contact us at least 2 weeks before the cabinets are to be installed as our template schedule is usually filled two weeks out. We will install within 3 weeks from the time your template is made provided that all the information is given such as color, sink, faucet, and cook-tops. Your job is not scheduled for production until all information is supplied. Try to send the template man back with all the information for maximum efficiency.

WHAT IS THE STANDARD THICKNESS FOR MY COUNTERTOP?
Standard thickness for a kitchen countertop is approx. 1 1/4". 3/4" and laminated thickness are also available.

DO I HAVE TO BUY THE WHOLE SLAB?
On most countertop jobs you pay a square foot price only for the amount used. There are some very expensive stones where you have to buy the slabs and then pay a fabrication charge. When laying out the stone, the layout man will always try to minimize the amount of waste and match veins as close as possible.

ARE GRANITE COUNTERTOPS SANITARY?
There are a lot of rumors that granite countertops are unsafe, harbor harmful bacteria, etc. This accusation is 100% absolutely false. The CDC and the NIOSH have no reports of any natural stone countertop being unsanitary. These rumors are circulated by the solid surface industry in an attempt to compete against the stone industry since granite countertops have no disadvantages.

DOES GRANITE BURN?
No. With ordinary use you cannot burn granite. It is OK to set hot pots or pans directly from the stove or oven onto the granite.

DOES GRANITE STAIN?
In general terms, no. You must do something out of the ordinary to stain most granite. A few colors may absorb some moisture after prolonged contact. Usually after it is wiped up, you will see no evidence of the moisture. On light colors if for example, you were to leave a spilled glass of red wine over night, there is a possibility for staining. Some stones are more porous than others, but most are very stain resistant in their natural state. We recommend you apply an impregnator which closes the microscopic pores making your countertops even more durable.

CAN YOU SCRATCH GRANITE?
Granite is one of the hardest stones known to man. In order to scratch granite you would have to do something out of the ordinary. Slicing things on top of the granite will not scratch the granite, however it will dull your knives. We suggest that you use a cutting board when using electric knives.

CAN MY GRANITE BE DAMAGED?
Again, you must do something very out of the ordinary to damage your granite. Like any solid surface a very high impact hit with something very hard could harm the surface or edge. We have never had anyone damage the surface of their stone.

WILL MY GRANITE HAVE PITTS AND CRACKS?
Granite is crystalline in structure and always has tiny pits or spaces between the various mineral crystals. You do not see them on large pieces because of the mirror like finish. Granite also has natural fissures. These fissures are not structural defects but are naturally occuring as a result of the immense heat and pressure by which it was formed. These characteristics are part of the natural beauty of stone and will not affect the functionality or durability. All natural stones are a product of nature and would look manmade if they did not have the natural characteristic.

WILL MY GRANITE LOOK JUST LIKE THE SAMPLE ON THE WEBSITE, OR MY PHYSICAL SAMPLE?
No. The samples on the website have been scanned in or taken from a digital camera. It is impossible to show perfect color in this manner. Granite and marble are a product of nature and have natural color and vein variations. The same color will change from one bundle of slabs to the next. Samples only give you a general idea of the color and vein pattern. We can email you a picture of the slab we will use or you may select your slab at our warehouse or one of our slab providers.

WILL MY GRANITE HAVE SEAMS?
Due to size limitations of the slab, seams are necessary and sometimes unavoidable. Our seams will all be joined using an epoxy. We do not want to have more seams than needed, as we spend a lot more time in the fabrication process cleaning up the seams. The layout person decides where to put the seams. If you want to specify where seams go then this must be specified at the time of the order. Specifying a placement for a seam could result in an up-charge.

WILL MY GRANITE SEAMS SHOW?
Yes seams are always somewhat visible. However we spend a lot of time on our seams and feel we have the best in the insdustry. Seams are subject to minor fleakage and lippage. The visiblity of the seams depends a lot on the granularity, color and pattern of the stone.

HOW DO I CLEAN MY GRANITE AND CARE FOR IT?
The best way to clean granite is to use a natural stone cleaner which we can provide for you. Granite can be cleaned with glass cleaners that do not contain ammonia. Strong cleaners will not hurt the granite but may break down the impregnator which will result in less durability against staining. Clean granite the same as you would glass since it has a glossy finish. You should be more careful using anything other than soapy water or stone cleaners on natural stones other than granite. It is recommended to impregnate your granite when you notice absorption. This is only a recommendation not a requirement. On darker colors such as Ubatuba, Absolute, Black Galaxy, etc., most people do not experience any need for re-sealing.

CAN GRANITE BE REPAIRED?
It is very hard to damage granite. If it is damaged it can be repaired with a mixture of epoxy and ground up chips.

CAN GRANITE CRACK?
Not under ordinary circumstances. Granite is most susceptible to cracks during shipping, fabrication, and installation. After installation the granite is supported by shims and caulk which hardens and supplies a sold base to set. The only reason you would develop crack is if the cabinet or structure beneath moved due to settling or improper installation. This very rarely happens. Cook-top and sink areas are the weakest places and should not be stood on to change light bulbs, etc. It is best not to stand on your granite at all.

HOW DOES GRANITE COMPARE TO MARBLE, ONYX, LIMESTONE, TRAVERTINE?
Granite is the most durable countertop product on the market. All other natural stones are more susceptible to scratching and staining. When comparing these to something other than granite, which is so characteristically durable, they are not so bad. If you keep the impregnators on them, they are also very stain resistant.

WHAT IS ETCHING?
Etching happens when acid in some form, comes in contact with a polished marble or limestone surface. A chemical reaction which removes the polish or roughens the surface occurs. Most types of green marble are resistant to etching. Granite will not be affected by the acids found in a home.

WHAT IS HONED STONE?
Natural stone that is honed has a matte or satin finish instead of a glossy polish. We are capable of honing most any stone for you. Honed material has the same characteristics as most matte finishes such as finger prints, or more noticeable glass rings. Honed material still has a closed finish but is one step below a polished finish.

CAN I USE LIMESTONE, TRAVERTINE, ONXY, MARBLE IN MY KITCHEN?
Some people do use these materials in their kitchen. However, we do not recommend this as it is susceptible to surface changes from kitchen acids. Unsealed, some of the more porous stones can be subject to stains. Durabililty against scratching is not as good as granite.

WHAT IS GRANITE?
Granite is an igneous rock composed primarily of feldspar, quartz and mica.