Natural Stone

Granite is a product of nature and has its own unique qualities that distinguish it from quartz surface materials. There are so many different patterns, color variations, and other unique characteristics to choose from when you look for natural stone to use in your home. There are hundreds of different patterns to choose from. You can hand select the material that goes into your home, leaving out any guess work on what your finished product will look like.

Granite is low maintenance, often only requiring warm water & mild dishwashing liquid to maintain it's beauty. The cleaner brand 409 has recently come out with a great natural stone cleaner. It has Natural Stone Institute of America's stamp of approval on it.

Before the natural stone leaves our fabrication facility, it is sealed to help prevent staining and water infiltration into the stone. We recommend to our customers that they seal their tops annually with a sealer that we can provide. It is like waxing your car. Just clean your countertops thoroughly, and then apply the sealer to the stone. Let it sit for a few minutes, and then wipe off the excess. In other words, resealing your granite tops is no big deal. You don't even have to put on gloves. You can see more about cleaning your Natural Stone Countertops by clicking here!

Granite does NOT emit dangerous levels of radon. Consumers do not have to worry about radon exposure stemming from natural stone in their home. For more info on the studies on this issue please visit: https://www.naturalstoneinstitute.org/

Granite can scratch, but only from a material that is harder than granite. Granite will burn up to a certain temperature. In most cases it will not. We recommend having a cutting board and trivet for hot plates.

Quartz

Quartz material is another great option for countertops offering beauty and durability. Quartz is a man-made material that is composed of natural quartz with resin and epoxy. The resin that makes up the pigments for coloration and the epoxy that binds the materials together may react to heat. Trivets are recommended for hot items. Consumers should use caution with hot plates, pans, and crock pots.

Quartz offers the same fabrication details as natural stone. Edge profiles, sink cut outs, and custom details can be accomplished to design the countertop that you have always dreamed about. It does not need to be sealed as it is a non-porous substance- no maintenance! It is easy to clean and it will not harbor bacteria when cleaned with the appropriate cleaners. Do not use bleach products or harsh chemical cleaners on quartz. Soap and water is still the best day to day maintenance. Some manufactures of quartz also offer special anti-bacteria components in their quartz lines.
Quartz materials usually come in a couple standard sizes which should be considered when designing your space. Large size islands, L- shapes, and unique layouts will need to be evaluated for seam placement depending on the size of the quartz material- usually 55"x120" or 63"x120".

Several companies manufacture quartz material and offer a wide variety of patterns and color tones. Some of them have done a great job mimicking the look of marble. This allows for the marble look without its' special care and consideration. Manufactures have also started to produce colors that look like granite. Quartz offers a variety of styles from contemporary to classic with a wide selection of colors tones, patterns, and overall looks.