Granite Stone - 4 Tips When Buying

Once only seen in upper-end homes, but now a feature most everyone is looking for, granite countertops are one hot commodity. We got the inside scoop on what to ask for and how to spot quality products and installation from Danny Hallum, vice president of sales for Stone Bridge Homes. Danny has worked in home building and specifically in the business of granite for many years. According to Danny, here is what every buyer needs to know about granite -- that most people don't:

1. Granite can be fabricated by hand or machine

Good craftsmen fabricate better by hand, while the large granite companies do everything by machine. Machine fabricating is quicker, but doesn't polish the edges as well as hand-polishers. To compensate, some companies wax the edges to make them look better, but wax wears off over time. Ask your granite company if they use wax and require them to state in your contract that they don't. Good companies using machines also have employees who manually polish after the machines are done. Ask your fabricator if they manually polish machine edges.

2. Ask about seams

Some granite companies fabricate each piece individually, while others put pieces together, then fabricate. The edging looks better when pieces are fabricated preassembled. Make sure your fabricator installs seams with a suction-automated seam machine. It holds the granite in place and levels the seam much better.

3. Find out if your granite company does its own installs

The large warehouse chains do not fabricate or install. Always use local suppliers who have their own install team. Installation is the key -- you always want local support. Out-of-town and third-party installers are consistently unavailable if you have problems with your install. Local people will support you much better.

4. Insist on 3-centimeter granite

Three-centimeter granite is 70 percent less likely to break than 2-centimeter products. Buy Brazilian or Italian granite only. Most granite is mined in Brazil or Italy, and you want to buy from people who either own the mines or buy directly from the mines. Ask your fabricator if they buy their granite direct or through distributors. Distributors guarantee their quality. They are a little more expensive but worth it, because you can send back anything you don't like.

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Natural Stone Countertops - Choose from Several Options

The appearance is exquisite, the feel is luxurious and the material is long lasting. Such is the description of natural stone countertop. Regardless of whether it comes in the style of a slab or created as specific tiles each part of the natural stone is unique unto itself.

​Regularly take time and care to choose the one that will work best for your needs. Many are virtually maintenance free and some call for a bit of tender loving care to look their finest such as regular staining or oiling. Natural stone countertops come in an assortment of surfaces with the most common being polished, high gloss, honed or matte. Listed below are some of the variables of living stone countertops.

Granite is the most resilient of the natural stone countertops. The only harder stone is the diamond. It will definitely not scratch, crack or chip and can easily withstand high temperatures. It is able to though crack dishes or glasses if set down too hard. Granite is obtainable in vibrant colors and a polish that won't wear off. Because granite is porous you need reseal it approximately once a year.

Soapstone, which is primarily made up of the mineral talc is preferred in both the contemporary or country style kitchens. The nature of soapstone means acids won't etch the stone and the blemishes can be simply sanded out. Homeowners tend to want the not so ideal soapstone and view it as character rather than of flaws. Mineral oil brings out its rich, dark color and helps make it shine.

The sleek and classy marble countertop is classic. Typically located in the baker's kitchen space, it is the serious bakers' choice for rolling dough. Marble is much more porous compared to granite so it requires sealant to be used much more often to prevent stains. Since it is not nearly as hard as some other stone countertops, it is best to be applied in smaller segments instead than entire countertop.

Gorgeous slate is available in tones of gray, green, purple and black. It's certainly not just for rooftops or floors anymore. Slate is definitely turning into a sought-after solution in the kitchen. Its beauty and toughness make it a durable and stylish choice. As with soapstone, regular treatment with mineral oil will bring out the beauty of this building material. Any scratches can usually be removed by rubbing with a moist sponge. Deeper scratches can be rubbed out by using steel wool.

Limestone consists mainly of calcite, a neutral-toned mineral. Limestone differs in hardness but is a more porous stone that stains easily. It demands routine resealing to prevent stains.

Quartz is an interesting stone countertop. Though often referred to as engineered stone, this material is composed of natural quartz mixed with epoxy resin binders. Quartz is an incredibly hard and durable surface. It is nonabsorbent that makes it far more user friendly and stain resistant. It is basically maintenance free with just a simple wipe off with warm water. Other pigments are mixed in the making of the quartz surfacing and because of this there certainly are stunning colors to choose from.

Lava stone is a more unique countertop material that is often sold under the French brand name Pyrolave. Lava stone is quarried in France then enameled and fired. It possesses a really high gloss finish and colors can be customized