Elegant
Stone Products - Frequently Asked Questions
What
is Radon?
Do
my granite countertops have Radon in them?
Are
my Stone Countertops dangerous?
Will
bacteria grow on granite?
How
do I care for my granite countertop?
What
is the difference between "cast stone" and natural stone?
Are
engineered quartz surfaces natural?
Is
granite more expensive than man-made materials?
What
is a "pit"? Will I have them in my countertops?
Are
veins weak spots in the stone?
How
often do my granite countertops need to be re-sealed?
Is
it difficult to re-seal my granite countertops?
Can
I hire Elegant Stone Products, Inc. to re-seal my countertops?
I
heard that Quartz Surfacing products won’t stain and that
Natural Stone will. Can you clarify?
Will
the polish on my countertops wear off over time?
What
is "Antiqued" Granite?
Help! I have a stain in my granite!
Can
granite crack or chip?
What
do I do if my countertop chips?
Does
granite scratch easily? Can I cut directly on my granite top?
Can
I have the stone that remains from a sink or cooktop cutout?
Will
my stone countertops look like the color sample?
Is
it okay to mix different colors of stone?
Will
you remove my existing countertops prior to measure &
template?
If I
perform my own removal, how much do I have to remove?
Can
I install my own countertops?
How
much does granite & quartz weigh?
Do I
need extra support to handle the weight of granite or quartz?
How
thick is granite and quartz surfacing?
Is
Elegant Stone Products, Inc. Insured?
How
far can granite extend beyond the cabinetry without additional
support?
Do
my cabinets need to be emptied for my installation?
Does
someone have to be at the jobsite during both the final
measure and installation appointments?
I
want to install a new tile backsplash in my kitchen, when
should this be done?
What is Radon?
Radon is an inert gas discovered by
German physicist Fredrich Ernst Dorn in 1898 (the same year as
Curie's discover of Radium). Its symbol on the
periodic table is is Rn and is the heaviest of Noble
Gasses. It is the decay product uranium.
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Do my granite countertops have
Radon in them?
Let's put
this in perspective first. You are surrounded by Radon!
Some parts of the country have higher
concentrations than others. The primary source of
Radon exposure is from the soil, although exposure can come
from ground water and outdoor air. Only
2.5% of all radon exposure comes through building
materials in general. If you have an elevated amount of Radon
gas in your home, it will almost always originate from your
basement or crawl space. Proper
mitigation
can make high Radon readings practically disappear.
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Are my Stone Countertops
dangerous?
The Marble Institute
of America recently published the findings of a
scientific study that concluded that statistically, you
have a greater chance of a fatal fall from bed than getting
cancer from your countertops. As a stone fabricator, we
were concerned enough about this question that we certified
one of our employees as a
Residential Measurement Provider through the National
Environmental Health Association's National Radon Proficiency
Program (NRPP)
and became an affiliate member of the American Association of
Radon Scientists and Technologists (AARST).
We can honestly say that while some may seek to profit from
instilling fear of Radon in your mind, we are absolutely
confident that the products we install in your home - if used
properly - will not jeopardize
your health.
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Will bacteria grow on granite?
Bacteria, like any other living organism, needs something to
eat in order to live. Bacteria cannot eat granite.
Unclean, unkempt countertops can harbor bacteria regardless of
what countertop material is used. Granite has performed
extremely well in testing; performing second only to stainless
steel in its ability to resist bacterial growth.
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How do I care for my granite
countertop?
For everyday
use, wipe your countertops up with a wet washcloth just like
you would your laminate countertops. To check if you need to
seal your granite, put a small amount of water on the
countertop in a space that it will not be disturbed. Let it
sit for 15 minutes. If the water is absorbed, you need to
re-seal
your granite countertops.
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What is the difference
between "cast stone" and natural stone?
Cast stone is made up of finely ground stone
mixed with resins or cement-based products, then poured into a
mold to create either a slab of cast stone or to create sinks,
mantels, etc. Natural stone is harvested from the earth
in block form, cut into slabs, cut to shape, polished and
installed in your home. Simply put, cast stone is a
manufactured product where natural stones like granite are
formed by nature over the course of thousands of years.
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Are engineered quartz surfaces
natural?
Marketers contend
that quartz surfaces contain 93% quartz. However, this
number is calculated by mass, not volume. Therefore the
true ratio of quartz is approximately 67 - 73%. It is
also important to note that "quartz" refers not only to
natural quartz but glass and mirror particles as well.
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Is granite more expensive
than man-made materials?
It
depends on the granite. Availability, color, and country
of origin are major factors that affect the price of granite.
If the supply of a particular stone is short and demand for it
is high, the price will typically be higher. Given that
stone is a natural product imported from all over the world,
the price spectrum is wide. However, with petroleum
prices fluctuating
the way they do, products like Corian, with a petro-chemical
base can often times be more expensive than the most common
granites.
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What is a "pit"? Will
I have them in my countertops?
Most granite has some degree of
pitting, whether microscopic or visible to the naked eye.
With todays advanced processing, the natural pitting or tiny
craters in granite are greatly reduced. These natural
pits pose no maintenance or wear issues. The depth of
these pits is virtually immeasurable.
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Are veins weak spots in the
stone?
Not necessarily. Some veins are
strictly color variations in the stone. However in some
materials natural flaws can exist within the vein, which
enhances the color and is characteristic of that stone.
Structurally, with today's processing, these materials do meet
the strength requirements for countertop use.
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How often do my granite
countertops need to be re-sealed?
All granite
tops are sealed at our facility before being loaded into
trucks for delivery. We use a high quality sealer
to ensure maximum protection against stains. We
recommend that you re-seal your countertops once a year to
maintain maximum protection.
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Is it difficult to re-seal
my granite countertops?
Competitive products may make the
sealing process seem more difficult than it really is.
After all, if they're trying to be just like granite but
better they have to find some sort of flaw in natural stone!
Seriously though, sealing most tops can be fairly simple. If
you did not receive a “Care & Cleaning of Natural Stone
Surfaces” brochure when your countertops were installed,
please contact us and we will send one to you. You can also
contact us if you live in the Tri-State area (Iowa, Wisconsin,
Illinois) and we'll seal your tops for you. In addition,
you can purchase
cleaning and sealing products through
ElegantStoneProducts.com.
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Can I hire Elegant Stone
Products, Inc. to re-seal my countertops?
You bet. Contact
us today for a free estimate. Be prepared to
provide: 1) square footage of countertops, 2) job
location, 3) stone color & type, 4)original date of install.
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I heard that Quartz
Surfacing products won’t stain and that Natural Stone will.
Can you clarify?
No surface
is bomb-proof. Be very careful with anything
acidic, oily, red wines, fruit juices or food coloring. These
items will also stain laminate, Corian® (and other solid
surface brands), and Silestone® (and other quartz
countertops). Rest assured, most stains can be removed.
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Will the polish on my
countertops wear off over time?
That depends
on whether you have granite or marble. Granite, with
normal wear and tear will not lose it's polish. That
doesn't mean that if you attack your granite with a belt
sander that it wont dull the finish. The only things
that could scratch granite are typically not found in the
kitchen. Marble, on the other hand, is a calcite which
will react with acidic liquids, etching the polish.
Proper sealing and maintenance is more crucial with marble
countertops.
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What is "Antiqued" Granite?
Instead of the normal process of
polishing granite, the polishing bricks are replaced with
abrasive brushes which leave a satin textured finish.
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Help! I have a stain in my
granite!
Many stains can be removed from your granite
countertops. You can purchase
poultice products
designed to remove a variety of stains from
ElegantStoneProducts.com. It is important that
you follow the directions exactly as they are written on the
package.
You can also call or
contact us today
and we will give you a free estimate to remove the stain(s)
for you.
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Can granite crack or chip?
Yes, granite can crack or
chip. However this is usually caused by severe settling,
excessive impact or abuse. Most minor cracks or chipping
in natural stone can be repaired by a specialist in the stone
renovation business or by a qualified fabricator.
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What do I do if my countertop
chips?
Most chips are repairable in granite and quartz
surfacing countertops. If you happen to get a chip, save the
pieces and call or
contact us for a service call. Our service technician will
come out and repair the chipped area using the pieces you
saved. Many times, after the repair is complete, you can't
tell a chip ever happened.
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Does granite scratch easily?
Can I cut directly on my granite top?
In
order to scratch granite you would need to use something as
hard as it or harder. While cutting on your granite top won't
scratch the surface, it will dull your knife. Because of this
we recommend always using a cutting board. Should a scratch
occur, it can be repaired without resurfacing the entire area.
In the event of a scratch,
contact us and we'll
send out a technician.
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Can I have the stone that
remains from a sink or cooktop cutout?
Sure!
The pieces removed from sink or cooktop cutouts however do not
have finished edges. If you would like the
piece(s) re-cut to size and finished we will be happy to give
you an estimate. Some customers will use these
pieces as cutting boards, table tops, plant stands, garden
pavers, etc. Keep in
mind that we can
laser etch any image you desire into these products. --
some colors etch better than others --
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Will my stone countertops
look like the color sample?
Since
granite, marble, onyx, slate, travertine and soapstone are
natural products, with naturally occurring variations in
color, tone, granularity, pattern, etc. these variations are
expected and are the source of its natural beauty. The samples
you see will vary either slightly or to a large degree from
the actual slabs used in your project. We STRONGLY encourage
all of our customers to preview their actual slab before we
begin the fabrication process. We offer the option of a
Stone Waiver in the event that you do not want to preview and
approve the slabs designated for your project.
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Is it okay to mix different
colors of stone?
Absolutely.
When mixing stones, it is a good ideal to consider which
material would be the most practical for the space. For
example, when mixing granite with marble, the granite would be
best suited
for the area around the range because it is the most durable.
The marble could be used on the island or as a dining table.
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Will you remove my existing
countertops prior to measure & template?
We will gladly remove your
existing laminate or solid surface tops. Call or
contact us today for
a free estimate on removal. Be prepared to
provide: 1)
square footage, 2) type of countertop, 3) location of removal.
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If I perform my own removal,
how much do I have to remove?
All countertops, build-up,
screws, nails, and backsplashes must be completely removed. If
wall patching or skim coating is needed after everything is
removed, it will be easier to complete before the granite
countertops are installed. If your install date is already
set, but you need more time to complete the removal work we
can reschedule the installation appointment with you as long
as you call or contact us 48 hours in advance.
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Can I install my own
countertops?
Only you know your skill set and
limits!
Working with stone and quartz surfacing requires
special tools, skills and a strong back. We
highly recommend that you let us do your project from “soup to
nuts” – including the final installation. Keep in
mind that we have nearly 80 years of combined experience
working with stone and our finished products show it!
Fabricating and/or installing natural stone or quartz
countertops really is not a "do-it-yourself" endeavor.
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How much does granite &
quartz weigh?
3cm granite
weighs between 15 and 20 pounds per square foot. An
average kitchen of 60 square feet will weigh about 1,020
pounds.
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Do I need extra support
to handle the weight of granite or quartz?
When
talking about support, you need to consider two different
aspects: Weight and Balance.
Most cabinets are strong
enough to handle the weight of granite & quartz countertops.
When considering weight, you may want to consider how it can
affect the integrity of the granite too. On a typical
24" deep, finished cabinet, maybe you are planning on a 20"
overhang off of the back side. According to the Marble
Institute of America, you'll need to provide substantial
support for 10 of the 20" of overhang in the way of bars,
legs, brackets or corbels. With quartz tops, you can get
away with 15" unsupported material because of its increased
tensile strength.
Balance is the other thing to consider
when discussing support. If your overhang is equal to or
greater than the base on which it is installed, you'll need to
add support to keep your top from tipping. Bar tops are
an area where you will typically need some sort of
support against tippage. If you have a 5" deep half wall
and a 16" bar top, you will need corbels or brackets even
though your overhang is less than 10".
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How thick is granite and quartz
surfacing?
The standard in the US is 1 ¼”
(3cm) material. Depending on the application, however, we can
utilize materials as thin as 3/8”.
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Is Elegant Stone Products,
Inc. Insured?
Yes. We will be more than happy
to give you any proof of insurance that you may require upon
request.
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How far can granite extend
beyond the cabinetry without additional support?
According to the Marble Institute of
America, corbels or structured support should be used when an
overhang exceeds 10" for 3cm material or 6" for 2cm material.
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Do my cabinets need to be
emptied for my installation?
We require all cabinets to be
completely emptied and all drawers removed. This is to allow
for easy access for the installers to set the countertops and
sinks. This also ensures that if any glue, caulk or sawdust
falls down into the cabinets, anything that is generally
stored in the base cabinets will not be damaged.
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Does someone have to be at
the jobsite during both the final measure and installation
appointments?
Yes, we require either
one of the homeowners or your representative over the age of
18, to be at the job site for the final measure. Keep in mind
that many decisions need to be made at this appointment.
We would like someone to be present for the
installation as well to answer any questions that may arise
during the install.
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I want to install a new tile
backsplash in my kitchen, when should this be done?
This should
be done after the granite countertops are installed. This will
allow you or your tile installer to know where to start the
tile backsplash and what size cuts are needed.
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