What Is Granite?:

Granite is the most durable architectural building stone. This igneous rock is comprised mainly of quartz, graphite, mica and other minerals. The increasing popularity of this stone is a testament to its beauty, versatility and consistency. Used in a wide array of commercial and residential applications, granite is ideal for tile floors, walls and countertops, as well as exterior applications such as pavers and wall cladding. Granite is quarried worldwide, with the most exotic colors coming from Brazil, India, Finland, North America, China and Southern Africa. New quarries are discovered each year further enhancing color choices.


 

How Do I Clean My Granite?:

Avoid using generic cleaning products such as bleach, degreasers, vinegar, ammonia, or glass cleaner.  These products contain alkalis and acid chemicals that can damage the granite countertop surface. This will all have a negative effect on the strength of your granite sealer. The end result of prolonged use of these products will be that your granite will be vulnerable to staining. Glass cleaner such as Windex will clean the granite and make it shine but over time; will damage the granite sealer. It is best to use only mild soap and water or cleaners that are designed special for granite use. In nature granite is porous, so it is important to have granite sealed. Our granite comes with a one year sealer already applied, and is best to reapply every 12 to 18 months depending on the use of your granite or we offer a 15 year sealer for an additional charge.

 

Are There Different Classification Of Granite?:

First Choice / Grade "A" -
       • First Choice granite has the highest quality, with high gloss and no visible imperfection. It usually comes ready for installation without any additional preparation such as filling any fishers or extra polishing. CCD only uses First Choice stone.

Commercial Quality -
      • Commercial Quality granite almost always has obvious defects, such as hairline cracks, blotches, clouds or lines. However, professionals with good trade knowledge can process Commercial Quality granite well. For example, they can grind the granite slabs for polishing to achieve a more attractive and reflective gloss. Generally, large Commercial Quality slabs have better quality compared to tiles. Buyers can buy Commercial Quality granite at a lesser price than First Choice granite without sacrificing too much quality if the customer can live with these imperfections.

Second Quality -
      • The less popular Second Quality granite is cheaper and usually has many natural defects and blotches. However, experienced professionals can repair these natural defects. This way, they save money on raw-materials costs, although they also invest more time to process the granite material. A large portion of Second Quality granite might have imperfections, making it necessary to cut it into smaller pieces. As such, it is usually unsuitable for use as countertops. Careful inspection helps determine whether a particular slab of Second Quality granite is workable. Because of its price, Second Quality granite suits large-scale jobs that require plenty of granite material and is not best suited for residential applications.

 

Where Does Granite Come From?:

Granite is quarried at different locations throughout the world. Hundreds of colors and patterns are available from such countries as Italy, Spain, France, China, Brazil and the United States. Typically, blocks are extracted from the granite quarry located high in the mountains on the outskirts of a major city. These blocks, averaging 9 feet by 5 feet by 5 feet deep in size, are transported down the mountain to the fabrication plant in the city. Once at the plant, these blocks are either cut into tiles or slabs. Then shipped to their destination.


 

Will My Granite Countertop Look Like This Small Sample?:

Granite is an organic / natural substance and just as no two people are exactly alike, no two samples of granite will be either. The composition of minerals and the deposit it was quarried from all play a part in the appearance of granite. At Creative Countertops (CCD), after viewing a sample, we will do our very best to order material that looks closest to the sample or the customer is welcome to visit one of our local suppliers and tag their slab or slabs needed. Once the material has arrived to our shop, the customer is welcome to view the exact material and place templates before it is fabricated.

 

Can I have a seamless sink with granite or Quartz?

Seamless sinks can only be installed with solid surface countertops, such as our Atlas product. Normally, under mount sinks are used in stone countertops. CCD carries a wide variety.

What about seams in general?

Solid surface is the only product we offer that can be made seamless. If your project requires more than one piece of granite or quartz, a seam may be required.

What is the main difference between granite and quartz?

While granite is all natural, quartz is an engineered stone. Quartz countertops are 93% quartz and 7% acrylic compressed together.

Do granite and quartz countertops need to be sealed?

Granite should typically be sealed once a year under normal circumstances, while quartz never has to be sealed again after it is installed. Our company does provide a 15 year sealer for granite and marble.

Are these surfaces heat resistant?

Yes. Granite and quartz are both tolerant to heat.  However, it is generally advised to use a trivet when placing hot pots on either surface.

What happens if it gets scratched?

Although both surfaces are highly scratch resistant, small scratches can be 
professionally repaired if they occur.

What is the Template Process?

A template is made over the new or existing cabinets from wooden strips to create a pattern for the new countertop. To do a template, it is best to do directly over the cabinets. In a remodel, CCD can template over the existing counters if needed, but the most accurate is over the cabinets directly. The lead time is approx. 2 to 4 days till install.