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GENERAL INFORMATION
Granite is a natural stone that is renowned for its beautiful variations in color, depth and individual characteristics. It is composed mainly of quartz, feldspar and mica, creating a surface that is very scratch resistance. No two pieces of natural stone are alike. They will vary in color, shading, porosity, marking, texture (pits & fissures), veining and pattern. This is the beauty of natural stone and is not considered a defect. Your samples may very significantly in shading and color from your countertops.
DIRECTIONALITY
Many colors have veining or directionality, sometimes called movement or grain patterns. With these colors ? seams, corners and backsplashes will show changes in pieces or direction more visibly than other stones. This will create a north/south, east/west orientation where two pieces are seamed together (similar to wood grain) and is part of the natural beauty of the color selected. If you do not want this feature you should select a more muted color pattern.
NATURAL FEATURES
All stone has ?fissures? which appear as hairline cracks. These fissures tend to be more visible in small areas such as in front of a sink or cook-top cutout. This is not a defect. Many colors have ?pits? which appear like small chips or holes. This is not a defect.
SEAMS
The seams in a granite counter can be seen and can be felt. Every effort is made to limit this factor and minimize the visual impact. We aim to be both aesthetically and economically sensitive when designing seam location. Final seam placement will be determined during production. Because the width and depth of individual stone pieces may vary, the size of slabs will vary and therefore may require seams on large islands and long counter runs. Seam location and number is at the sole discretion of Custom Countertop Inc. All seams are machined in our shop, however most slabs are rarely perfectly flat. We go to great lengths to get your seams tight and smooth, but there still may be slight variations across seams. Seams are typically 1/8? wide and may have ledges the thickness of a business card. Differing crystalline structure can increase the likelihood of visible seams and lamination lines.
SLAB SELECTION
Granite can vary widely in tone, hue, pattern, texture and color. As such, the sample is just a representation of the color you have selected. Even within any given slab there will be these variances. This can result in significant differences in tops within the same kitchen. This is not a defect. It should also be noted that one end of the slab can vary in color, tone and shade from the other, which may result in seams that do not match perfectly. It is our goal to minimize seams, maximize use of material, and create a well-balanced ?piece of art?, variations are a part of natural stone?s inherent beauty
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FINISH
The polished finish is done at the quarry and cannot be altered. As a result, the seam cannot be polished without damaging the polished finish.
BACKSPLASH
All granite countertops must have some sort of backslash. Tile is the most common type of material used. Granite backsplash can be made from the same material as the countertops and will be the same thickness as the deck. The edges and ends of the backsplash will be ?eased? and have a slight (1/8?) radius. Splashes will be placed on countertop with a small bead of silicone.
SINKS
The profile at finished cutouts for undermount sinks will be our ?eased? shape. All undermount sinks are cut according to manufacturer specifications and will have the manufacturer?s suggested reveal. The actual mounting of the sink is included in the undermount sink charge. Cut out remnants or fall off are not supplied with any job.
CARE & MAINTENANCE
Since granite is a product of nature, naturally occurring fissures and porosity require that your countertops be periodically sealed. All counters are sealed at the factory prior to installation. You should reseal your countertops based on the recommendation of the brand you use. The best way to clean granite is to use warm water and a small amount of pH neutral liquid dish washing soap.
STAINING
The periodic sealing of your countertops will help to prevent stains. However, spills should be blotted up quickly to avoid staining. Sealing only gives you a few moments to wipe up a spill. Avoid using harsh chemicals or acidic product on your countertops as this will damage them and break down the sealer.
SCRATCHES
Granite is composed of mainly quartz and feldspar; therefore it is incredibly hard and highly resistant to scratches. As nothing is ?scratch-proof? we highly recommend the use of cutting boards.
CLEANING
A gentle, pH-neutral cleaner should be used to clean you countertops. Many people like to use a mild soap and water mixture. There are a variety of cleaners that are intended specifically for natural stone available for purchase at your local home center or hardware store. Be sure to use a sponge or soft cloth to avoid etching the surface polish of the stone. Follow with a dry cloth to help with water spotting.
HEAT
Although granite material has great heat resistance, we still do NOT recommend placing heat sources directly on the countertops. Use trivets or hot pads under any heated cookware such as pots, pans or other sources of continuous heat (griddles, crock pots, etc?). Subjecting natural stone to continuous heat can damage the polish.
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