What is the best stone for my kitchen counter tops -- Granite or Marble?   Granite is the ideal stone for kitchen counter tops.  Granite adds elegance and style to kitchens with a richness that cannot be duplicated in synthetic materials.  Because of the way granite is formed deep in the earth's mantle at extremely high temperatures, it is a very hard, resistant stone made of crystallized minerals.  Impervious to heat; daily kitchen activities pose no problem and it can take a hot pot without the use of a trivet.  Since granite is highly resistant to scratching, cracking, and staining, you can chop vegetables right on the counter top without damaging the surface.  Thus, making granite an ideal choice for counter tops.   Marble however, is not as hard as granite.  The marble family -- limestone, travertine, marble and onyx -- starts out as a sediment -- animal skeletons and shells, plant matter, silt -- at the bottom of bodies of water.  After a millions of years this solidifies into stone. It's main component is calcium and over time the polished surface will dull in areas where pans get pushed around or vegetables get chopped, or just from water standing on the counter top.  Also, because of the calcium carbonate make-up of marble, it is very susceptable to acid staining and etching from acids such as vinegar and citrus beverages.   The exception would be green marble.  Green marbles such as Hulian Jade from Taiwan, Verde San Remo from Italy, or Verde Antique from Vermont, are all excellent choices for the kitchen.  These stones are not actually marble, but a different stone called Serpentine and are extremely hard and resistant to staining and etching.

What should I use to clean my stone surfaces?   To clean stone surfaces, use a mild soap and water solution and dry completely after washing.  You can also clean the stone with a warm wet washcloth and a small amount of Ivory dish soap. Ivory dish soap does not contain animal fats and is free from dyes that leave a film on the stone. Micro fiber cloths are fast becoming a great tool to help clean natural stone.  They are made to 'trap' dirt in the cloth's design and leave no smudging or smearing of any kind compared to a typical dishcloth that can leave streaking. For stone floors, dust mop often. Dirt from shoes can be abrasive and dull the finish of the floors.  You should never use any abrasive scrubs or cleansers on the surface of your stone -- these will remove the finish.  Also, do not use acidic, citrus or vinegar cleaners as these will etch the finish of the stone.   In the shower, use a squeegee daily to avoid soap scum build up.  Use a non-acidic soap scum remover to clean any residue or build up.  On a marble vanity top, clean with soap and water.  An important thing to remember is to avoid using window or ammonia-based cleaners.

How often should I seal my stone surfaces?   Make sure your stone is always properly sealed.  We recommend sealing all stone surfaces with our exclusive sealer called Granite Guard® .  Granite Guard®  provides an impregnating, invisible, breathable barrier which protects granite, marble, limestone, porous tile, pavers and grout from damage caused by salts, graffiti and oil-based stains.   Unlike other surface sealers, Granite Guard®  works without changing surface colors or textures.  Granite Guard®  reduces water take-up and chloride ion ingress by up to 98%.   Affordable Granite & Stone offers a transferable Lifetime warranty when Granite Guard®  is applied by an accredited applicator according to written instructions and maintained according to our recommended maintainence system.  Call us today for more information!

I've noticed some small pits or fissures in the surface of the stone I've selected for my project...do all stones have these?   Yes. Natural stones like granite, limestone, marble, travertine, are not uniformly manmade -- they are created naturally in the earth over hundreds and thousands of years.  These pits are not imperfections or flaws in the stone, they are simply the result of the natural process of stone formation.  These pits are sometimes more noticeable in granite which is composed of quartz and mica.  Some stones are more pitted than others, usually depending on the coarseness or "tightness" of the grain.  Most pits on the polished surface of the slab are filled with a clear resin at the time the slabs are polished at the quarry.  If a pit is visible on the surface of your stone, it can be filled with a color matched epoxy.

I would like to have a small table top made...do I have to buy an entire slab of stone?   No.  Affordable Granite & Stone sells stone material from our inventory by the square foot so you only pay for what your project requires.  Affordable Granite & Stone has a wide range of stones to choose from for your project.  However, if you do choose to buy your stone from another local distributor for us to fabricate and install for you, we will then purchase the number of slabs needed for your project

Can you scratch granite?   No, granite is one of the hardest stones in the world.  A knife blade will not scratch granite, only another piece of granite or specially sharpened tools designed to cut granite like tungsten or diamond blades will scratch it.

Does granite burn?   No. You cannot burn granite.  Granite is formed by extreme heat and pressure combined beneath the earths crust. It is completely safe to set hot pots or pans directly from the stove or oven onto your granite.  A lit flame placed under the granite will have no melting effect and will not leave any burned or scarred marks.

Will my kitchen have seams?   Due to the limitation of slab size, seams on a granite countertop are necessary and sometimes unavaoidable.  We use a pnuematic seamer called the Gorilla Grip to obtain a premium quality seam.  These seams are much less noticable and more pleasing to the eye than other conventional means.  The visibility of seams will depend on the granularity, color, and pattern.  But relax!  Our sales associates will help explain the seam process in further detail to you.  Also, for clarification, take a look at the kitchen displays we have in our showroom.

Does granite stain?   In general, no.  It can in some instances though. Typically, the darker the granite, the more stain resistant it is.  All stone, however, is porous to some extent, but granite has very little porosity.  Some granite can stain if the granite has not been sealed and the substance is left on the granite to soak in. A stone sealer is highly recommended for all granite.  We offer an exclusive sealer called Granite Guard® .  Granite Guard®  provides an impregnating, invisible, and breathable barrier which guards against surface staining.  It comes with a Lifetime warranty which is transferable if you ever decide to sell your home.

Does Granite Harbor Bacteria or emit Radon?   Granite ranked #1 in cleanabiltiy when compared to six other countertop surfaces including stainless steel (based on a study by the hospitality Institute Technology and Management) Granite continues to be used and approved in food and medical applications.  The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) has no records of granite harboring bacteria, and has no reports of people becoming ill from bacteria in granite.  With regular cleaning, granite is far less likely to support bacteria than butcher block or even laminated materials.   Granite does not emit dangerous levels of radon , based on a Colorado School for Mines, which confirms that consumers do not have to worry about radon exposure stemming from natural stones in their home. It is alarming that manufacturers of a competing product feel they can only compete by groundlessly creating fear about natural stones, which are safe, beautiful and superior.