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Aren't Granite counters expensive?
If you compare granite to other hard surface materials it is not expensive
and the beauty will last forever. Also resale value will grow with time. |
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Can I really do this myself?
You don't need to be an expert, but you should have some good experience with general carpentry, renovation, etc. Read the Templating and Installation sections to get a handle on what's involved. In most instances, the job can go smoothly, but sometimes you may find some difficulty when an expert or some experience is necessary. (For instance, you may have to adjust a seam with a diamond saw if your walls aren't square and your template didn't reflect the angle)
You can always hire an expert to do the templating and installation - a countertop person, tile person or kitchen person can usually handle this assignment.
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Does Granite stain?
In general, no. All stone, however, is porous to some extent, but Granite has very little porosity. Most colors will never show any moisture. A few colors may show some moisture if exposed for a period of time. For example, a puddle of water left on the counter for 30 minutes for some colors, may show a dark spot when the water is wiped away. This spot will then dry up and no evidence will show. Only a few colors demonstrate this trait.
Our granite has a sealer applied at the factory, however some customers
prefer to apply a stone sealer (available at tile and granite shops) after
the granite is installed.
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Will my granite look like the sample?
The samples you see on the computer have been scanned and saved with digital
software. The color tones may not be absolutely correct due to variations
in comptuer systems, monitors and software compression. Also, granite is
a natural material with naturally occuring variations in color, tone, granularity,
pattern, etc. These variations are expected and are the source of it's natural
beauty.
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Can you scratch granite?
Granite is one of the hardest stones available. It cannot be scratched in
ordinary use. We still recommend the use of a cutting board. |
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Can it chip?
Under normal use granite does not chip. |
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Will seams show?
Because granite is a natural material and is mined from the quarry in blocks usually no more than 10' long, you will end up with seams. Also, because granite is sold in rectangular pieces, you may want to use seams to reduce your costs, such as in a 'L' shaped corner.
The visibility of seams will depend on the granularity, color and pattern.
A small, uniform grain (such as Barry Grey) will not be as apparent as a
larger varied grain (such as Deer Island). A dark color (Emerald Pearl)
will be less apparent than a light color (Pine Green). A dramatic pattern
with swaths of color (Kinawa, Giallo Veneziano) will show more seams than
a uniform pattern (Dakota Mahogany).
Most customers have found that the beauty of natural granite outweighs the concern of seams.
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How are seams made?
Seams are done where the granite joins with a smooth, straight cut, a small
bead of silicone is placed along the seam to seal it. Occasionally, in areas
of stress or without sufficient support, the seams will be joined with epoxy,
which must be supported temporarily until the epoxy cures.
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How do you take care of Granite?
Occasionally clean with ordinary window cleaner. There is a variety of products
to clean granite. Call us so we can advise on which. |
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Does granite stain or burn?
No. You can't burn it with ordinary use. Granite does not stain. The only
caveat is that a few colors may absorb some moisture with prolonged contact.
Usually, no evidence remains when the liquid is removed and the granite
dries, but could be a problem with dark pigmented liquids. Although granite
has a sealer applied at the factory, a stone sealer is recommended for all
granite after installation.
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How are sinks done?
Sinks are either drop-in mount or under mount. Sinks come in a variety of materials, including stainless steel, ceramic and enameled cast iron as well as some synthetics. A cutout needs to be made in the granite to accommodate the sink. The sink will have directions and a template for the cutout. If you are doing your own templates, the sink must be precisely located and the cutout indicated exactly. You must also send the sink template with your plastic templates.
You must have a minimum of 3" and preferably 3 1/2" of granite between the sink and edge for structural integrity.
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Do Granite counters overhang the cabinets?
Most counters overhang by 1" which is standard. This may be changed for whatever reason due to cabinet configuration or personal tastes.
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Can granite cantilever?
You can cantilever granite up to 14" with sufficient support on the fixed end and with a large enough piece. Never cantilever unsupported granite where it might receive excessive stress like someone sitting on a counter or stepping on a counter to change a light bulb. You must have support underneath for these situations.
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Can granite crack?
Not with ordinary use. Granite is most susceptible to cracks during shipping and installation. Normal use will not overstress this durable material.
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Can I use the granite that remains from a cutout for a sink or cooktop?
There is usually no granite left over from a cutout. The granite for the cutouts is generally destroyed in the process of creating the cutout. Large diameter drills are used together with diagonal saw cuts to remove the cutout.
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