For everyday cleaning there are a number of products available on the market specifically designed for natural stone (such as Black Diamond brand stone cleaners), or a solution of 2 parts water to 1 part Simple Green works well. A very simple method is to use warm soapy water and wipe the entire counter surface on a daily basis. You do want to avoid common household cleaners that have a bleach or ammonia base. These cleaners can damage your sealer and leave your counters more susceptible to stains.
As with any natural stone, certain exposure to heat may cause cracks due to thermal shock. We do recommend that you always place them on a trivet or cutting board to protect your countertop. (Review your electric appliance manual as a reference.)
Make sure you purchase a Non-Toxic sealer. The sealer should say on the bottle that it is safe for food preparation areas. If it doesn’t, investigate further and please give us a call.
Yes! It is important to understand that while regular sealing is important, too much sealer can become a problem. Once a week or even once a month sealing can begin to build up in your granite material and begin to make the granite surface appear cloudy and dull. If this build up occurs we do recommend that you contact a stone restoration specialist to come out and clean and reseal your granite professionally.
We recommend that you seal your stone countertops anywhere from every 6 months to once a year. The frequency of sealing is typically based on the type of stone you have selected and the amount of traffic in the kitchen.
We have about 90% of all solid surface and quartz samples. We encourage you to stop by our showroom for FREE samples. Each product page has links to our manufacturers’ websites were you can view their color selections.
All samples are FREE, just stop by our showroom.
No, all warranties are not the same and we encourage you to read the manufacturer’s warranty before you make your decision. Granite does not come with any warranty past the initial one year Premier Countertops craftsmanship warranty.
Slabs are almost always sold intact. Buying random slabs would be analogous to buying fabric remnants. Like a tailor, your fabricator buys the raw material and bases his price on the complete fabrication and installation of your job. The number of slabs and the amount of resulting waste is determined by the size and configuration of your countertop. The fabricator will lay out your job in a way that minimizes waste and maximizes the natural beauty of the material you selected.
All types of stone are porous to varying degrees and will absorb stains. It is important to use a penetrating sealer to prevent stains from oil, wine, or other liquids soaking into the surface.
While both stones are quarried from the earth, granite and marble (and marble’s cousins: limestone, onyx and travertine) are very different. Granite is made of crystallized minerals formed deep in the earth’s mantle at extremely high temperatures. It is characteristically very hard and highly stain and heat resistant.
Marble starts out as sediment, animal skeletons, shells, plant matter, and silt at the bottom of bodies of water. After millions of years, this solidifies into stone. Since its main component is calcium, marble is softer and less resistant than granite to acids such as vinegar and citrus beverages.
