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. Liquids that do not evaporate such as oil, if left on the granite top, will seep into through and cause a staining mark. Most stains (including oil stains) can be removed. This will draw out the oil from the stone.  Our granite has a sealer applied at our factory, however customers should apply a stone sealer after the granite is installed.

Will my granite look like the sample?
Since granite is a natural product, with naturally occurring variations in color, tone, granularity, pattern, etc. it will not match most samples perfectly.  These variations are expected and are the source of its natural beauty. The samples you see will not be the same when compared to the slabs you receive. A sample is piece from the slab, and since granite is a product of nature they ought to differ. Granites such as Absolute Black, Black Galaxy, and a few more are similar through out having no or very little variation. It is always wise to see the slab and not judge it by the sample.

Can you scratch granite?
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 granite like tungsten and diamond tools.

Can it chip?
In only cases of sever abuse with a hammer or impact tool. A chip can be filled with a granite dust and epoxy mixture.

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 Ubatuba) will not be as apparent as a larger varied grain (such as Crema Bordeaux). A dark color (Black Absolute) will be less apparent than a light color (New Venetian Gold). A dramatic pattern with swaths of color (Bordeaux) will show more seams than a uniform pattern (Cafe Imperial). Most customers have found that the beauty of natural granite outweighs the concern of seams.

How are seams made?
We precisly mill all of our seams on our CNC machines to provide the smoothest, straightest seam possible.  The seam is joined during installation with special epoxies for this application.  Seams are made where the granite joins with a smooth straight cut. 

Does granite burn?
No. You can't burn it with ordinary use. 

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. You must have a minimum of 3" and preferably 4" of granite between the sink and edge for structural integrity.

Do Granite counters overhang the cabinets?
Most counters overhang by 1 1/2" which is standard. This may be changed for whatever reason due to cabinet configuration or personal tastes.

Can granite cantilever?
You can cantilever granite up to 10" 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.

Can granite crack?
Not with ordinary use. Granite is most susceptible to cracks during fabrication, shipping, and installation. Normal use after installation will not overstress this durable material.

Can I use the granite that remains from a cutout for a sink or cook-top?
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.  Our sinks are cut and polished on CNC machines.  Large diameter drills and routers are used to remove the cutout.

How absorbent is granite?
Granite is impervious to water and is in fact less absorbent than most solid surfaces. It is commonly used as building material for high-rise buildings due to its ability to withstand gale force winds and rain. It is the primary product for kitchen counter tops because of its ability to repel water, stay hygienic and clean.

Does granite lose its shine/polished look?
Over the years, without adequate care and maintenance, your granite may lose its polish and shine. Generally, it does not require intense maintenance. Softer stones such as marble will "patina" with normal use and slowly be expected.

Is granite easy to maintain?
Routine cleaning using the right products is generally all that is required to maintain the beauty of your stone. Maintenance will assist to maintain original shine. This involves a re-application of a penetrating sealer and revitalizer.

Color?
Granite is composed of a variety of minerals each of which has specific performance properties. The hardest mineral commonly found in granite is quartz. This is a somewhat translucent white/gray colored mineral that is responsible for the hardness of granite. In addition, each granite stone varies in color, shading, texture and veining. No two are the same.

How clean of a surface is granite?
Bacteria is found everywhere in our environment including all solid kitchen surfaces. Regular cleaning of your granite, like any other top is recommended using an anti-bacterial soap or other recommended cleaning products.

What is the difference between granite and marble?
These are natural stones formed in very much the same way. However, the two stones are very different. Marble is a calcious material formed from oceanic deposits and then compressed under pressure (metamorphosed). Granite, on the other hand, is an igneous rock. This is essentially a molten magma which is cooled and then hardened through the natural process below the Earth's surface.

Is granite expensive?
Granite is usually competitively priced compared to other solid surfaces. It offers an unmatched value with its natural beauty, elegance, longevity and style. Besides, it allows you to express your individual taste and style since no two granite colors are the same. When compared to other solid surfaces, granite offers a value that is unmatched.