Question 1

What is granite?

Accepted Answer

Granite is a light-colored igneous rock with grains large enough to be visible to the unaided eye. It forms from the slow crystallization of magma below Earth’s surface. Granite can be predominantly white, pink, or gray, depending on its mineralogy.

Question 2

What is quartz?

Accepted Answer

Quartz is a chemical compound consisting of one part silicon and two parts oxygen. It is silicon dioxide (SiO2). It is the most abundant mineral on Earth’s surface, and its unique properties make it one of the most useful natural substances. Quartz, behind feldspar, is the second most abundant mineral in Earth’s continental crust.

Question 3

Does granite need to be sealed? How often?

Accepted Answer

Although most granite countertops don’t need to be sealed, it does help the stone resist dirt and spills, which can cause etching and staining. Many professionals recommend sealing granite countertops at least once each year.

Question 4

Are granite and quartz heat and scratch-resistant?

Accepted Answer

Quartz is extremely hard to scratch. Like granite, it will dull your knives, so use a cutting board. Granite and quartz are about equal when it comes to resisting scratches or chips. Because quartz is engineered, it tends to be even harder and more durable than granite, though it offers a similar level of heat resistance. Granite is much more porous than quartz, which can trap bacteria within the surface.

Question 5

Can you put a hot pan on granite or quartz countertops?

Accepted Answer

Granite - No. While brief encounters with a hot pan won’t hurt your granite countertop, using a trivet regularly is recommended. 
 
Quartz – Yes. However, like granite, continuously putting hot pans down in the same place on the counter could cause discoloration over time. Although quartz countertops are extremely durable and heat-resistant, putting a hot pan on the surface can damage the material. As with most other countertops, you must use a trivet or stove mitt to protect it, as heat can cause discoloration or cracking.

Question 6

What is the difference between a drop-in and an undermount sink?

Accepted Answer

Drop-in sinks, the most familiar and popular, are also called self-rimming or top-mount sinks. All terms mean the same thing: sinks with a visible lip around the perimeter resting flat on the counter. Undermount sinks are installed from below the counter.

Question 7

Will granite chip or crack?

Accepted Answer

While granite is one of the most durable surfaces, no material is indestructible. You should not drop weighty, hard objects onto your countertops.

Question 8

Will I see seams in my countertop?

Accepted Answer

The natural stone industry standard is a seam width of 1/16 of an inch. There's a maximum lippage (amount one piece will protrude above another) for the industry of 1/32 of an inch at the center point of the countertop with no lippage at the ends.

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