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 Granite is the finest, most attractive countertop material
available. As an owner, you will have many questions about
care and limitations. Below are the most Frequently
Asked Questions. Of course, feel free to contact
us for additional
information.
 What
should I use to clean my countertops on a daily basis?
 For
daily cleaning, there are several options: plain soap and
water, any of the many glass cleaners or a specialized
stone cleaner. When picking a cleaner, try and stay away
from those with harsh chemicals, such as ammonia. Ammonia
and other chemicals will act to eat away the sealer used
on your countertop. This will not ruin the stone, but will
require more frequent sealing.
I have been cleaning my countertop with just soap and
water, but it looks like the granite is now dull.
Many cleaners as well as soap, may eventually leave a
film on the stone. We suggest using a fine steel wool (#000,
triple zero) to remove the film and restore the shine to
the counter. Don’t worry about the steel wool. It will
not harm the granite. You can also use the steel wool if
food or other material has dried or become stuck on the stone.
I often hear that I need to seal my countertops every
month. Is this true?
The densities of granites vary from one species to another.
While granite is not absorptive, density does refer to the
amount of fissures (microscopic spaces) between the crystals
that make up your granite and gives it its unique color and
character. Sealing will fill those fissures. Your countertop
was sealed as part of the fabrication process. The need to
re-seal on a monthly basis (or ever again) depends upon your
stone choice and lifestyle.
Can I place a hot pot directly on my granite countertop?
Heat will not damage your granite countertop. You can
move a pot directly from the stove to your granite countertop
with no worry. However, a direct open flame may cause irreparable
damage to your countertop. Leave your propane torches outside.
Can I use my countertop as a cutting board?
Do not use your countertop as a cutting board. While your
knives will not scratch the granite, the granite will eventually
ruin your knives.
 I
have heard that granite will scratch, but yet you recommend
steel wool and say knives won’t scratch it? What is
the deal?
Anything harder than the granite will scratch it. The
diamonds that are used in fabrication obviously scratch the
surface. That’s how we achieve the polish that you
see in the stone. However, most things in a house that will
come in contact with the granite will not scratch the stone.
Do I need to get my granite re-polished periodically?
Will it dull over time?
The shine that you have on your stone is not a coating;
it is the polished stone itself. You will not wear it away.
However, a build up of dirt and film will dull the granite.
We suggest using a fine steel wool (#000, triple zero) to
remove the film and restore the shine to the counter. Don’t
worry about the steel wool. It will not harm the granite.
You can also use the steel wool if food or other material
has dried or become stuck on the stone.
When my countertop was installed, the installer used
some kind of wax on it. What was it and do I need to use
it periodically?
We use a type of paste that was specially made for stone.
However, any paste wax can be used. The wax that we use is
a cleaner/sealer. Remember to use light color polish for
light stones and dark polish for darker stones. Also, cleaner
made specifically for stone usually contains an amount of
wax. With proper maintenance and cleaning, the homeowner
does not have to rewax.
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