re: Granite countertop opinions

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I don't do design or trends, but as far as a countertop that is completely indestructible, granite is your best (and probably only) option. It doesn't require any sealing (you can seal it if you want), you can put a hot pan down on it without damaging it. Clean it with abrasive pads, cut on it if you don't like your knives much.


How is granite the only option for this?

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Simjply put, Granit is the BEST option for this. There is a reason it is so popular.

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Simjply put, Granit is the BEST option for this. There is a reason it is so popular.

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How is it superior to quartz in the ways listed?

This is also my question. I hate tile countertops so I want them gone, but I'd like to do it cost effectively.

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Simjply put, Granite is the BEST option for this. There is a reason it is so popular.

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Agreed.

LOL@ people who seal granite also.

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LOL@ people who seal granite also.

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Why?

I think it's a scam.

I've had granite for years (high polish) and never sealed it.
Other than a very temporary effect, how is non-porous stone going to absorb any sealant?

Here's a good article on the process:

LINK

From the link:
But the reality is less than 20% of granite actually requires being sealed. That means that upwards of 80% of the granite installed in homes requires no sealer at all.

The tests
So how do you know if you have a stone that falls into the 20% category or not? A simple test that is based on nature. Have you ever seen a granite stone in nature or a granite statue after a rain? Watch it carefully and see what it does. You probably will see it dry very quickly, almost instantly. What you are seeing is a granite that doesn't absorb water. This is the same principal used to test your granite. Simply putting a small amount of water on granite and letting it sit for about 15 minutes is all that is required. At the end of 15 minutes wipe the water off with a paper towel. Now examine the stone. Did is it darkened where the water was? If so your stone requires a sealer and falls into the 20% If not then you don't. In fact if you tried to seal the granite that didn't darken, the sealer would just get wiped off since the stone simply won't absorb it.

Now go on to test number two. Drop a drop of mineral oil on the slab and leave it for 10 minutes. Clean it off and see what you get. (Don't worry, any dark spot will lighten and disappear within 20-30 minutes and not hurt the stone) If you have a darkened spot then your stone is susceptible to a staining agent. You need to seal the stone. I recommend a solvent based sealer/impregnator. There are water based products on the market but solvent based is still the king, at least for now.

Interesting article. Most granite companies seal counters after installing just to be safe. It is not a long or expensive process.

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Agreed, but most times it's a waste.

The stone, in a lot of cases, is not going to absorb the chemical.

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Been in my house 10 years and never sealed anything. They look the same way they did when I moved in, and I've spilt all sorts of stuff on them.

Quartize/Quartz are very nice but the options are limited and it is very expensive compared to granite. For an island it is a great option but when you need 4 or 6 slabs, the price tag can become crazy. This is my experience from buying from a stone yard this year.