Like any solid surface, high impact blows can harm granite or quartz. Marble can also bruise from a blunt impact. Because of its crystalline structure, it can chip if subjected to sharp hard objects. Sintered Stone has a glass content and could shatter (like glass) if it receives such an impact. Any stone can be scratched by another stone.

Heat from pots and pans or burning liquids will not affect granite under normal circumstances. Quartz on the other hand can sustain minimal heat. Excessive heat can cause unreversible discolouration or burns. Sintered Stone can withstand a lot more heat than quartz.

Granite itself is approximately 95% stain resistant but, we recommend using a food grade, silicone impregnator on all natural stone products. Some stones require multiple coats. This will insure lasting life and beauty. We also offer a polish that contains sealer for a long-lasting seal and shine. Unsealed, granite can absorb stains such as oil, which can ultimately cause dark spots or discoloration. Oil Stain remover can be used to get stains out of natural stone.

Aluminum and some black rubber appliance feet can leave a mark on stark white quartz. They will clean off with the proper products. Quartz does not require any maintenance as it is 99.9% non-porous.

Natural stone and Quartz should be cleaned using a mild phosphate-free, biodegradable liquid dish-soap, soap flakes or powder which contains no aromatics, followed by a thorough rinsing and drying with cotton-flannel or chamois.

Some soaps are made from animal fat and can leave an oily residue over time.

Stubborn spots on quartz can be removed using methods recommended by each individual quartz brand.

You can cantilever granite up to 10″ with sufficient support on the fixed end and with a large enough piece. Never cantilever unsupported granite where it might receive excessive stress like someone sitting on a counter or stepping on a counter to change a light bulb. You must have support underneath for these situations. Never put weight or stand on or around cut-outs in the counter, such as the skinny piece in front of the sink or cooktop. You will break the counter. Quartz can go up to 14” unsupported. Infinity brackets are popular for unseen support. We offer these brackets for sale.

Seams are not invisible, and the patterns will not line up perfectly. We do our best to match pattern. In natural stone this is very difficult, as every single slab is different. It is easier to match pattern in Quartz as it is man made patters that repeat. We use a machine that sticks to the countertop using a vacuum pump holding it level and tight while the glue dries. The quality of the seam being level and visible is based on the amount of warpage and thickness variation in the stone. Some brands are better than others. We have examples of seams in the showroom.

Only if you want to ruin your good knives. Granite is harder than your knife blades and will dull them very quickly, if you use the countertop as a cutting surface. Always cut and chop on a wooden or plastic cutting board.

Granite, which is crystalline in structure, always has tiny pits – spaces between the various mineral crystals. Different minerals that make up the stone reflect light differently. Some spots can look shinier than others. Granite sometimes has natural fissures as well, which may look like cracks, but are not structural defects and are a naturally occurring result of the immense heat and pressure which formed the granite eons ago. These characteristics are part of the natural beauty of stone and will not impair the function or durability of the material. A product of nature cannot be expected to look manmade.