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Q: How do I take care of my natural stone countertops?
There are two steps that we recommend to take care of your countertops: Clean and Seal your countertops regularly. If you do these two items (repeatedly) you should enjoy your granite the rest of your life (or as long as you own that home). Cleaning: There are tons of products that say, OK for granite, but actually are not. It appears as though companies are using this phrase on their merchandising to capture a larger market share. These products will clean your granite but will also deteriorate the sealer and affect the longevity of the sealer applied. We recommend to clean your granite with warm water and a mild liquid dish soap! There are products like 3 in 1 that claim to Clean, Polish and Protector that accentuate the sealer rather than stripping it away.
Sealing: We typically recommend resealing your natural stone every 6-12 months depending on the usage. The best way to know if it is needed is to do the water test. If you notice that water is being absorbed by the stone rather than sitting in a puddle on top of the stone it is time to reseal. It’s that easy!
Q: What are the major differences between granite and quartz countertops?
Granite is a natural stone with pigment, directionality and natural porosity. There are over 400 different colors of granite and the material color can change from bundle to bundle, even slab to slab depending on what elements are in the quarry. Quartz is an engineered stone using 93% quartzite materials, it is non-porous and stain resistant. For the most part quartz is still slightly higher than most standard granites but over the life time can be well worth the investment. The granite requires maintenance to prevent staining but offers the best surface material for outdoor applications. Quartz offers consistency in color and patterns but it limited to indoor applications.
| Granite |
Cost |
Pros | Cons |
| One of the most durable & oldest materials used. It's an igneous rock & is composed primarily of quartz & feldspar | $$ | • extremely durable & scratch resistant • unlimited color & pattern choice |
• high maintenance, requires periodic sealing • porous material, absorbs stains • visible seams • very difficult to repair • may contain pits & fissures |
| Engineered Stone / Quartz | Cost | Pros | Cons |
| A mixture of 93% quartz with resin binders & pigments. | $$$ | • non porous, highly stain resistant • material warranty • vibrant colors not found in nature • visible seams • prolonged exposure to high heat can damage • limited colors & patterns |
• visible seams • prolonged exposure to high heat can damage • limited colors & patterns |
Q: What are some emerging trends in solid surfaces?
We have noticed a trend toward white countertops and solid surface offers the most brilliant white colors. Most of our clients have already looked at kitchen and bath magazines and have an "look" they trying to achieve. We have been seeing the desire for white more and more used with darker cabinetry. The clean look is what most consumers are looking for in a countertop to compliment the warm tones of the cabinets and surrounding walls. For bathrooms we are seeing a trend toward solid surface for shower walls and tub surrounds. Clients are taking advantage of the lack of grout and lower maintenance the solid surface provides and with some of the surfaces having colors that mimic marble the combinations and overall looks that can be achieved are endless. Solid surface may have lost market share to granite over the years but certainly has not lost its versatility or validity.
Oldcastle Surfaces, Inc.
1400 West Marietta St
Atlanta GA 30318
(800) 355-3108
www.oldcastlesurfaces.com
Follow us on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OldcastleSurfaces
Twitter: @OldcastleSurfcs
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