Will Ceramic tile chip or break?

Is ceramic tile cold?

How does ceramic compare to other flooring options in terms of price?

How do I care for grout?

Should ceramic tile be waxed?

No

What is Silestone®?

Although both are stones and both are quarried from the earth, granite and marble (and marble's relatives - limestone, onyx and travertine) are very different from each other. Granite is formed deep in the earth's mantle at extremely high temperatures, and is a very hard, resistant stone made of crystallized minerals.

The marble family - limestone, travertine, marble, onyx - starts out as sediment - animal skeletons and shells, plant matter, silt - at the bottom of bodies of water. After millions of years this solidifies (lithifies) into stone. Because its main component is calcium, it can be affected by acids such as vinegar and citrus beverages.

What is granite?

The term "granite" is used to cover a group of related stones, all of which have their origin deep in the earth's molten mantle. As this extremely hot liquid material rises and cools, it forms a crystalline, granular structure, hence the term granite. Granite and other granite-like stones are formed of hard minerals such as quarts, feldspar and mica, which are fused together into a very hard stone ideal for kitchen counters because its polish is resistant to household acids such as citrus and vinegar and is hard enough to resist scratching from knives and pots and pans.
 
Why is granite good for kitchen counters?
Because granite is very hard stone that's formed at very high temperatures deep in the earth, its polish is not subject to etching by household acids, or scratching by knives and pots and pans. It's unaffected by typical kitchen heat such as hot pans, or spilled liquid.

What is marble?
True geological marble is limestone that has been subjected to great pressure and heat, which has changed its structure to a crystalline, sugary texture. It is generally white or whitish, sometimes translucent, with some veining or color provided by other minerals present at its formation.
 
Can I place hot pans on granite?
Yes, up to 1200 degrees Fahrenheit.

Can I cut on granite?
Absolutely, but over time you will dull your knives.

How do you get the shine on granite? Should I be concerned about pits and fissures?
Slabs are laid on huge mill beds and are naturally polished by wheels with finer and finer diamonds and abrasives. The final glossy finish is a process, not a product, which is achieved by buffing with a very fine powder-like aluminum oxide under very high pressure. Some granite during the polishing process will have fissures and pits exposed. Tiny fissures and pits are very common in granite and are due to the way igneous stone is formed. Granite is a composition of colored feldspar, white quartz and black ferromagnesian minerals. “Pitting” in the granite is simply where perhaps a small crystalline quartz void occurs; it is not a sign that the granite is deteriorating and seldom gets worse.

How do I care for my granite?
Most day-to-day care is as simple as cleaning with soap and water and drying with a cloth or paper towel to prevent water spots. We offer special formulated cleaners that dry streak and spot free, but you are not required to buy or use them.

Will my granite look like the sample?
The samples you see on the computer have been scanned and saved as digital images. The color tones may not be absolutely correct due to variations in computer systems, monitors and compression algorithms. Also, granite is a natural material with naturally occurring variations in color, tone, granularity, pattern, etc. These variations are expected and are the source of its natural beauty.

Does granite stain?
In general, no. All stone, however, is porous to some extent, but Granite has very little porosity. Most colors will never show any moisture. A few colors may show some moisture if exposed for a period of time. For example, a puddle of water left on the counter for 30 minutes for some colors, may show a dark spot when the water is wiped away. This spot will then dry up and no evidence will show. Only a few colors demonstrate this trait. Our granite has a sealer applied at the fabricator, however some customers prefer to apply a stone sealer (available at tile and granite shops) after the granite is installed.

Can I set hot pots on my granite countertop?
Granite is formed by extreme heat and pressure combined beneath the earths crust. It can not be affected by heat from a cook top or frying pan. A lit flame placed under the granite will have no melting effect and will not leave any burned or scarred marks.

Will I see the seams on my countertops?
In short, yes! It is necessary to put seams in your countertops for a variety of reasons such as the layout of your project relative to the size of the slab, the access to the jobsite and the work area, the ability to physically carry the material due to its weight, and the necessity to minimize waste in the fabrication process in order to deliver the product to you at a reasonable price. The fabricator always reserves the right to determine the placement of the seams based on the above considerations. When we come out to make a template of your project we will discuss seam placement with you. Also in certain materials seams will be more visible than in other materials. Variations in color and pattern in certain granites and marbles will make seams appear more obvious than other materials such as Silestone®.