Use
Granite is the most durable, long lasting, natural material suitable for kitchen countertops due to its hardness, heat and scratch resistances, and minimal absorption which will provide you with many years of use with very little aging in the appearance and feel of your countertops.
Under normal use such as general cutting in food preparation, granite resists scratching better than any other surface. You may also place hot dishes directly out of the oven onto the countertops without the fear of damaging your granite countertops.
Sealing
Granite, which is naturally porous, should be sealed in order to minimize staining. At the time of installation, Granite Works will seal your countertops with an impregnating sealer. Resealing your countertops is a quick and simple process and should be done annually.
Cleaning
In addition to dusting, you should clean natural stone on a regular basis with warm water and a mild cleanser.
Abrasive cleaners should not be used under any circumstances.
Avoid using cleaners with ammonia, bleach, acids, or other all-purpose cleaners. Any cleaning solution made specifically for natural stone should be used. These cleansers are mild and do not contain harsh chemicals which can be damaging to natural stone over time.
The build-up of dust, dirt, and sand are abrasive to natural stone. Regularly dusting and/or mopping your natural stone areas will help prevent scratching from dirt. Placing mats at entryways will also help trap dirt and sand in high traffic areas.
It is important to clean all spills and avoid leaving unwrapped foods on granite surfaces. Using coasters under glasses, especially if they contain citrus juices or alcohol, will also help with the prevention of staining. Use a paper towel to blot up spills as quickly as possible, and avoid wiping a spill since it will spread the spill. Use a soft cloth to dry the area completely.
Stains
If a stain remains, it is important to determine the type of stain since different types of stains have various removal processes. The most common types of stains are organic (coffee, tea, food, cosmetics), biological (mold, fungus, mildew), metal (rust), ink (pens, magic markers), and oil (grease, cooking oil). Poultice powders can be used for the safe removal of specific stains. Poultice powders are designed to re-absorb a stain out of a stone that cannot be removed with a liquid cleaner. Follow the directions on the labels of the products you purchase for the correct usage of these cleaners. You can find these cleaning products at most home improvement stores.
Q: Can hot pots be put directly on the granite surface?
A: Yes, granite is extremely heat resistant and cookware can be put directly on the surface without damage. You can't burn granite with ordinary use. Granite conducts heat and is widely used for open flame baking and barbecuing.
Q: Can I cut on granite?
A: Granite is one of the hardest stones available . It cannot be scratched in ordinary use. A knife blade will not scratch it. It can only be scratched with specially sharpened tools designed to work with this rock like tungsten and diamond tools.
Q: How should granite be cleaned and cared for?
A: Stone soap, which is specially formulated for marble and granite is recommended for cleaning on a regular basis. Household cleaners such as Windex, Fantastic and 409 do not rinse and will leave a build up or film so the surface appears streaked. Granite countertops have a sealer applied at the time of fabrication which offers deep penetrating protection against stains (oils, wine, etc). We recommend that you re-seal it one to two times a year.
Q: Can granite chip or crack?
A: Only in cases of severe abuse with a hammer or impact tool will granite chip. If this does happen, the chip can be filled with granite dust and epoxy mixture. Normal use will not cause stress to this durable material.
Q: Where are granite countertops seamed?
A: Seams are avoided as much as possible, but occasionally are necessary. The visibility of seams depends on the granularity, color and pattern in the granite. Where possible, Granite Works will place seams in the least visible manner.
Q: How are sinks installed?
A: Sinks are either drop-in or under mount. A cutout needs to be made in the granite to accommodate the sink. The sink hole must be precisely templated and cut out to ensure a perfect fit.
Q: How are granite countertops priced?
A: Countertop prices are based on granite type, choice of face profile, sink & cook top variables and quantity of linear footage to be profiled.
