What is granite?
Granite is a very hard, resistant stone made of crystallized minerals that are formed at extremely high temperatures.

Why is granite good for kitchen counters?
Granite adds elegance and style to kitchens, baths and other areas of the home with richness that cannot be duplicated with synthetic or man-made materials.  Granite is highly resistant to scratching, cracking and staining.  Impervious to heat, granite can take a hot pot without the use of a trivet.

How much granite will be used for my job?
The amount of material needed for a project is determined by the layout of the counters, the stone pattern and the amount of waste required to minimize the need for seams and the natural beauty of the patterns.  Measurements are based on mitered corners and angles.

Will bacteria grow on granite?
Bacteria, like any other living organism, needs something to eat in order to live.  Bacteria cannot eat granite.  Unclean, unkempt counter tops can harbor bacteria regardless of what counter top material is used.  Granite has performed extremely well in testing; performing second only to stainless steel in its ability to resist bacterial growth.

Can granite be cracked or damaged?
Damage with ordinary use is rare.  However, like any solid surface, high impact blows with sharp, hard objects can cause damage.  Chips can be repaired with a granite dust and epoxy moisture.  Granite is most susceptible to cracks during shipment and installation.  As a preventative step, Granite Products, Inc. inserts and adheres metal rods into the underside of the stone at narrow areas such as in front of and behind a cook-top or sink.  Not all fabricators take this extra step toward quality.

How is the sink attached?
Virtually all fabricators attach sinks with a silicone adhesive.  In addition to the silicone, we go the extra step and use metal brackets that bolt into the underside of the stone.  This is another step toward quality that sets us apart from the rest.

Can granite be scratched?
Granite is one of the hardest stones in the world.  It is highly resistant to scratching in ordinary use.  An ordinary knife blade will not scratch granite.  It can only be scratched by another piece of granite or with specially sharpened tools of tungsten and diamond blades designed to work with granite.

Does granite stain?
All stone is porous to some extent, but granite has very little porosity.  A few colors may absorb some moisture with prolonged contact.  For example, a puddle of water left on the counter may show a dark spot when the water is wiped away.  Usually, no evidence remains once the granite dries.  A penetrating stone sealer offers added resistance to oil and water products.  Every piece of granite we fabricate is sealed with an impregnating sealant prior to installation.

Is it necessary to seal granite?
All stone, even granite is porous to some degree and will absorb moisture over time.  Granite has very little porosity; 80-90% of which needs no sealer.  However, as a precaution, a penetrating sealer is applied to the granite at our fabrication facility prior to installation.  The Marble Institute of America recommends reapplying a sealer every 5-10 years, depending on the stone and its use.  A simple water test can help determine when and if a sealer is necessary.  Again, a penetrating sealer is recommended.

How do I take care of granite?
Warm water with a mild detergent is all that is required.

Does granite burn or scorch?
You cannot burn granite with ordinary use.  It is perfectly okay to set hot pots or pans directly from the stove or oven onto granite.  No trivets are required.  In fact, granite is often used as trivet material.

Will my counters have seams?
The need for seams is sometimes unavoidable.  The layout of your kitchen, the size of the stone slabs you choose and the pattern determine if, and where, seams will be placed.  As professionals, our goal is to minimize the need for and the visibility of seams.

What are surface pits and fissures?
Granite is a crystalline material which has tiny spaces between various mineral crystals that can be visible on its surface.  These spaces are referred to as pits.  Granite can also have natural fissures which look like tiny cracks but are actually not structural defects.  Fissures and pits are the naturally occurring results of the immense heat and pressure that formed the stone eons ago. These, along with pattern and color variations combine to create the character of the stone.

Are engineered quartz surfaces natural products?
Marketers contend that quartz surfaces contain 93% natural quartz.  However, this number is calculated by weight, not by volume.  Therefore, the true ratio is approximately 67-73% crushed quartz material; the remainder is a filler compound.  It is important to note that "quartz" refers not only to natural quartz, but to glass and mirror particles as well.

Will my granite look like the sample?
Granite is a natural stone created by forces of nature, composed of various minerals and are susceptible to wide variations in color, veining, spotting, texture and cracking.  These variations are expected and not considered flaws but the source of its natural beauty.  It is advisable to view and select the actual stone that will be installed in your home.  We have over 60 different bundles on our lot for your viewing convenience.

Why should we choose Granite Products, Inc.?
Because we offer the best value for natural stone products in our area.  We go beyond the minimum requirements recommended by Marble Institute of America and other natural stone organizations to provide the absolute best quality product to our clients at a fair price.  And we believe in the "old style" of customer service where our clients and their experiences with us are important.