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Countertop FAQ:
Granite is an igneous rock that is formed deep within the mantle of the earth from molten lava. It is composed of elements of quartz, mica and feldspar in varying amounts. It is naturally hard, stain resistant and scorch resistant. The material is quarried in large blocks then sliced into slabs. The slabs are then polished and some of the slabs surfaces are filled with a resin to smooth out the natural pits and fissures that occur. Slabs come in two varieties referred to as either speckled or flow patterns. These refer to the look of the material. Speckled materials have a more uniform look in terms of color and pattern while flow materials have a more varied appearance in terms of color and pattern. Marble and its cousins, onyx, travertine, limestone and Jerusalem stone, is a sedimentary rock. This is formed under pressure by a combination of materials such as silt, plant deterius, animal skeletons and sea shells that accumulate and solidify under bodies of water over millions and millions of years. Its main component is calcium which is much softer than the materials found in granite. It is quarried and cut in much the same way as granite. It is graded on a scale from A to D which does not refer to its rarity, but rather to its content or lack of content of natural fissures and veining. The group A has the least amount of fissures while group D has the most. Group C and D marbles will generally be reinforced on the back of the slab with a fiberglass mesh screen embedded in a coat of resin. This give the slab greater structural integrity than it would otherwise possess. During the fabrication process, many marble pieces are further reinforced with metal rods to give them added strength. Silestone® and Zodiaq are natural quartz products. Quartz is the hardest non gem mineral in the world. Quartz is 3 times harder than granite and has four times the flexural strength. It is made by combining quartz crystals, dyes and resins to achieve a material that exhibits pure brilliance. The material has the highest degree of stain, heat and scratch resistance available in any countertop in the world. The surface is never sealed so it never needs re sealing. Back To Top Which one is right for my countertop, granite, marble, Zodiaq or Silestone®? All three have a variety of features that lead to their appearance, functionality and maintenance characteristics. Depending on the balance that you wish to achieve between these three elements will lead to the answer to this question. Appearance: both granite, Zodiaq and Silestone® have highly polished surfaces which exhibit natural beauty. Some marbles have highly polished surfaces while some have a more natural appearance. Granite and marble generally have a more unique look to each stone while Silestone© and Zodiaq has a more uniform appearance. Veining in some granite and marbles will make the seamed joints stand out more than the seamed joints of Silestone® and Zodiaq. Granite and marble surfaces have naturally occurring pits and fissures which appeal to some consumers while these same characteristics are viewed as flaws by other consumers. Due to its high calcium content, marble is particularly susceptible to etching from common kitchen items such as lemon juice, ketchup, vinegar, etc. and therefore we do not recommend its use in the kitchen. Granite and marble may need periodic re sealing to help maintain their stain resistance. Back To Top What's all this discussion about sealing the granite or marble? Both granite and marble are somewhat porous by nature meaning they have the propensity to absorb liquids which may lead to staining or discoloration if not properly sealed and maintained. Silestone® is completely non porous meaning that it will not absorb liquids and therefore is naturally resistant to staining and discoloration. When we install your granite or marble countertop, the last step we take is to install a liquid sealant that is absorbed into your countertop and provides a barrier against liquid absorption much as a coat of wax applied to your cars finish does. Depending on how heavily your countertops are used and which products are used to maintain them, this sealant can either be washed out or enhanced. Frequent use of common household cleaners will tend to wash out the sealant while use of our 3 in 1 cleaner, polisher and protector will enhance the stain barrier. If you notice that liquids are being easily absorbed into your countertop, wipe them off immediately and call us to schedule a service call to apply a new coat of sealant. Back To Top Is it OK to cut on my countertops? We always recommend that you use a cutting board when using your countertop as a cutting surface. While cutting directly on your Silestone® or granite countertop probably won't leave scratches, it probably will dull your good cutlery blades. Since marble is much softer, the risk of leaving surface scratches is much greater. Back To Top Can I place hot pots and pans directly on my countertops from the stove or oven? Placing a very hot object directly on top of a cold surface results in a condition referred to as thermal shock. Imagine what happens to a glass of ice cubes when you pour boiling water into it. Under most conditions found in the kitchen, your countertops will be fine if you take a hot pan off the stove or a casserole out of the oven and place it on them. However there have been instances of countertops cracking when the conditions are just right. For this reason we always recommend the usage of a trivet or thermal pad between the pot and countertop. Furthermore there have been instances of cracking when counters are exposed to prolonged periods of low heat such as when cooking with a crock pot. We recommend placing a trivet or thermal pad between your crock pot and countertop. Back To Top Will my countertops ever crack on their own? Under normal household conditions this is not a concern. There have been instances of houses shifting and settling where countertops have cracked. Back To Top Will I see the seams on my countertops? In short, yes! It is necessary to put seams in your countertops for a variety of reasons such as the layout of your project relative to the size of the slab, the access to the jobsite and the work area, the ability to physically carry the material due to its weight, and the necessity to minimize waste in the fabrication process in order to deliver the product to you at a reasonable price. The fabricator always reserves the right to determine the placement of the seams based on the above considerations. Also in certain materials seams will be more visible than in other materials. Variations in color and pattern in certain granites and marbles will make seams appear more obvious. Back To Top How thick are my countertops? Granite and Silestone® are produced in various thicknesses of 2cm and 3cm. These correspond roughly to ¾" and 1 ¼". In the Colorado market 3cm material is the accepted standard. Other thicknesses are available by special order. Back To Top How large of an overhang can I have on my countertop? Silestone® weighs about 15 lbs per sf and may have an unsupported overhang of up to 12 inches. Granite and marble weigh about 18 lbs per sf and may have an unsupported overhang of 10 inches. No unsupported overhangs should ever be placed in such a way that they would be susceptible to tipping if excessive weight were applied to them such as sitting or standing on the edge of a countertop. Care must be taken to insure that the mounting surface is firmly secured to support the weight of the overhang. Back To Top What happens if I chip, scratch or break my countertop? Repairs can be made using a variety of techniques involving ground up chips, resin or polymer fillers, wet sanding with various grit polishers, and bonding with two stage adhesives. In most cases you will be able to find the repaired area however it will be a marked improvement over the original damage. |
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