Granite is generally considered the most exclusive of natural stone countertop materials. It shrugs off most stains, especially if the granite is sealed when necessary. It is a material that is extremely hard, durable and very resistant to both heat and scratching. It is unaffected by wine, tea, citric acid, coffee or most other elements used in the kitchen or bath. Composed primarily of quartz, mica and feldspar, it also may contain Orthoclase, which is a form of feldspar which can form in plate-like layers, short prismatic crystals and tabular inclusions. This texture forms by slow cooling of magma deep underground in the plutonic environment.

Granites can be pink to gray in color, depending on their chemistry and mineralogy. Generally speaking granite colors vary in price as a result of their rarity in the earth rather than any physical quality differentiation. In other words, generally absolute black is more expensive than a grey, white and black speckled granite due to its purity and rarity in the mountain. Both stones have similar characteristics of heat, scratch and stain resistance.

By definition, granite is an igneous rock with at least 20% quartz by volume. Granite is usually found in the continental plates of the Earth’s crust. Granite is nearly always massive (lacking internal structures), hard and tough, and therefore it has gained widespread use as a construction stone. The average density of granite is between 2.65 and 2.75 g/cm3. Granite Repair Granite is an extremely durable product that can chip when struck with a severe impact, especially on an edge. It can be repaired with epoxy resins that are colored in a similar fashion as the stone color. Sealing Stone Tops Granite care is relatively easy provided it has been factory sealed to prevent stains when necessary. Sealers for stone (also known as impregnators) are below-surface penetrating sealers, not topical hard shell sealers like those, for instance, that are applied onto wood floors or furniture. They are delivered inside the stone by natural absorption. Transolid tops are pre-sealed at the factory and do not require a sealer reapplication for many years.

Some stones absorb more than others. Granite sealer consists of a solid part, or resin, and a solvent or water carrier. The solid stays in the stone and clogs the pores of the stone to keep liquid stains out. The carrier brings the solid into the stone and then evaporates. The sealer resin is absorbed into the stones natural pores, however the impregnator cannot, and does not, offer any protection whatsoever to the surface of the stone - physical or chemical damage such as scratches or etching by acids.

You can test your stone to see if it needs sealer by putting a few drops of lemon juice (a mild acid) in an inconspicuous place. If the lemon juice doesn’t absorb at all, the stone does not need to be sealed. Soap Film on Stone Tops As part of our fabrication process we always degrease countertops and give them their final cleaning with denatured alcohol. Denatured alcohol, it turns out, it does wonders for cleaning granite and cutting through film buildup on your vanity tops. The result is the original shiny surface.