Some Common Myths and Realities about Granite Countertops You Must Know

If you are planning to purchase stone counter tops, it is good to know common myths and misconceptions about granite countertops. These myths are spread either by people who try to sell granite or who try to sell the competing products by disapproving granite. Myths also originated when people simplified the complex matters of granite and generalizations came up that are sometimes true but not all the time.

The following are most common myths about granite stone:

Granite is heat resistant, so it is perfect to place hot pot on granite counter tops

Granite is quite resistant to high temperatures but excessive heat can discolor or damage the granite sealers. Rapid heating can generate internal stress and causes cracks at the weak spot. A natural fissure or flaw may occur because of the excess heat of the pot. This can be eliminated by using a trivet with feet.

Granite counter tops needed to be sealed once or twice in a year

This is a generalized statement about granite counter tops. Many stones are sold commercially in the name of granite. Some stones are inherently resistant to stain without applying sealers. Actually on applying sealers theses stones can cause problems. Some stones sold as granite are very porous that their shortcomings cannot be set right by even using the best sealers.  So the answer is sealing frequency depends on the type of stone. Only a specialist stone restoration service provider like The Marble Man can decide on the sealing requirements.

Granite is second to diamond in hardness- Nothing but diamond can scratch granite

Granite is a scratch resistant material. But it is not scratch proof. Many substances are harder than granite. The hardness of the minerals is rated by Mohs scale. Soft minerals like talc are rated 1 and diamond is rated at 10 in Mohs scale. Most of the commercial granites are rated at 7 because of their high quartz content.  On misusing, the abrasive substances in some cleaning products can cause tiny scratches or dull spots on the granite surface. Natural stone should be cleaned with neutral pH solutions and non abrasive products. See The Marble Man’s guidance on stone cleaning products.

Absolute Black granite is the best counter top

Better quality stones are sold as Absolute Black Granite and they are outstanding performers. But be alert that some stones sold as Absolute Black granite are not genuine. Originally the Absolute Black granites were quarried in Sweden and South Africa. Some companies sell natural stones with low quality that may be dyed to black or they may have excessive flaws or they have not been polished to a glossy finish. A stone cannot be considered as Absolute Black granite just by its market name. To test black granites, pour some acetone on the stone and wipe the surface with a rag. If the rag shows grey or Black discoloration then the stone is treated with dye or wax and cannot be used for kitchen countertops.    

The Marble Man is a leading Australian stone polishing and sealing specialist Company who can provide you professional and effective stone care solutions. They are specialised in large and small marble and all natural stone restoration jobs. For more information, visit The Marble Man website or call their stone restoration team on 1300 627 626.   

Worrying about Damaged or Dull Granite Countertops? There are Better Options than Replacing!

Granite countertops add a beautiful look and finish to your home. Granite is highly durable and does not easily get inclined to burn or scratch. However, like any other material, granite also gets wear and tear after long usage. The daily usance of the counter tops in the kitchen can cause stains, cracks, chips and loss of lustre. You may be worrying that one day you'll have to incur huge expenses in replacing these countertops or may be wondering if any other alternative exists than replacing!

No matter the intensity of the damages, it is always much cheaper and possible to repair, restore and polish the granite counter tops instead of replacing them with a new one. How to proceed with granite counter tops repairing? Re-sealing of the countertops should be done once in every 2 to 4 years. According to the quality of maintenance and the level of use, the granite countertops can undergo restoration process from 5 to 15 years.

If you use home cleaners for maintenance, the countertops will become extremely dull after few years. To restore the beautiful lustre, you should not attempt to clean or buff on your own and it is highly advisable to hire professionals to carry out the restoration process. Professional people dedicated to stone restoration work such as ‘The Marble Man’ can provide ultimate solutions at an affordable cost.

In general, commonly used acids and household cleaners will not etch granite like they react with marble, but granite countertops can get etched by getting contact with strong acids or by the repeated use of harsh cleaners. Most common brand name cleaners are too strong for marble or granite countertop maintenance. It is advisable to use safe products for cleaning granite.

Restoring the granite countertops is not a simple matter of cleaning and buffing. The corroded and damaged surface of the granite has to be restored with good finishing. There are number of options to pursue depending on the condition of your granite countertops, viz. grinding and restoration, chip filling and honing or polishing. Restoration and Refinishing remove the scratches, stains and etch marks while the polishing work helps in restoring the lustre and shine of the extremely dulled granite countertops.

The refinishing and restoration work involve sanding the damaged granite, filling the cracks with epoxy and well ground granite chips and sealing with impregnators made of silicon. The process of Polishing involves with good quality professional polishing material and buffing pad yielding the restoration to a beautiful finish. The most important aspect to be dealt with the porous nature of the granite is sealing properly with silicon based impregnators that prevents frequent countertop repair and restoration.

Hiring a stone restoration professional is the best solution and only viable option to have beautiful, long lasting stone surfaces. The professionals have the expertise to remove the gunk stuck on the granite surface because of the hard water build up and they have specialized diamond abrasive tools to re-polish the surface. The knowledge, skills and the experience of the professionals in working with these stones can actually deliver an even, mirror-like, levelled shiny finish on your granite counter tops. The shiny finishing of the countertops is created by precise and large appropriate machines which you cannot get with DIY.

Bring excellent finishing to your granite countertops by handing it over to expertise genuine craftsman dedicated to stone like ‘The Marble man’. The Marble Man is the leading marble, granite, travertine Stone Bench tops and Tile Restoration Specialist in Australia who can provide professional 5 star service and effective solutions for all your stone care needs. The expert team of The Marble man can provide excellent service in Marble floor restoration, Stone repair, Stone Maintenance and all natural store restoration. Contact for a free stone restoration quote: 1300 627 626.