What is Granite?
Granite is a stone formed
from magma deep within pockets of the earth’s crust. The
stone undergoes a metamorphosis where the crystalline structure
of the minerals within the stone are changed creating the physical
characteristics we find in granite.
See section "Stone Education" for
more details.
Can Granite
be scratched?
It is always possible to scratch a surface, even a diamond, if it
is subjected to sufficient force. However, Granite has a very hard
surface and will not scratch under normal use as a kitchen countertop.
Go ahead and cut on it but your knife will become dull.
Will Granite stain?
Granite is a porous stone and
therefore is subject to the potential of staining. The porosity varies
depending upon the minerals that are present in the granite.
To protect the granite surface
from staining it should be sealed at least once per year. Our recommendation
is twice per year just to assure it is done once. Any stain that
occurs in granite can be removed. See "Care
and Maintenance" section.
Why use Granite?
Granite is the most preferred product for not only kitchen countertops
but also for vanities, islands, bar tops, tabletops, backsplash,
and fire place surrounds. Money magazine stated that one of the easiest
ways to increase the value of your home is by adding granite countertops. 
What colors are available in Granite?
There are over 800 different colors of granite available
in the marketplace. Premier Surfaces inventories some
of the more
popular colors. Please visit our showroom.
If you can’t find
the exact color you’re searching for, we can refer you to granite distributors
that service the Atlanta market. Premier
Surfaces works closely with all of the major
distributors serving the Atlanta market. See section "Stone
Suppliers".
What
is the difference between Marble and Granite?
The difference is in the chemical makeup and how they were formed.
Granite is
formed from magma within the Earth’s crust. The
magma is deep within the Earth and is subjected to extreme pressure
over millions of years. The composition is primarily silicate crystals
and it goes through a metamorphic stage changing the basic composition.
The result is an extremely dense hard material.
Marble is basically
limestone, a sedimentary stone, and is composed primarily of calcium
carbonate. However the marble, unlike limestone, goes through a
metamorphic stage where the crystalline structure is changed becoming
more dense and harder than limestone. Due to marbles calcium carbonate
base it is not as resistant to stains or abrasions as granite. Premier
Surfaces does not recommend marble for kitchen countertops.
However we will fabricate and install marble with the appropriate
caveats.
What type of finishes are available?
An overwhelming majority of our customers prefer the standard polished
finish. This finish brings out all of the beauty inherent in the granite. There are some customers who prefer a subtler look that
is called honed. Honed is achieved by either omitting the final polishing
steps at the quarry or by mechanically removing the polished finish
with abrasives. Other types of finishes used primarily in floor applications,
(e.g. flamed, hammered, sawn or jet washed), are available but will
require special ordering.
Will
my countertop require a seam?
The necessity of a seam will be reviewed when our technical expert
does a “Detail” for your particular granite installation.
See the section "How the Process Works".
There are several issues that could result in the necessity for a seam.
Some
reasons for requiring a seam are:
- the physical dimensions of the slab
- veining in the slab requiring
cuts to make the veining flow in the same direction on the countertop
- physical
limitation of where the piece will be installed
- access to the
installation point (sometimes stairways and door ways are not
large enough to permit one piece applications)
- the physical
limitations associated with moving a very heavy piece (some can
weigh as much as 800 lbs) into position
- the potential
to damage a piece that has a challenging geometry.
Be assured
we will do all we can do to limit the number of seams.
How big will the seam be?
Standard in the industry is a seam width of 1/16 +/- 1/64 of an
inch. There is a maximum lippage (amount one piece will protrude
above another) for the industry of 3/32 of an inch at the center
point of the countertop with no lippage at the ends. The professionals
at Premier Surfaces use special tools to assure that the seam will
be much tighter than industry standards. You should be able to
freely slide a quarter over the seam with no interference. Additionally,
our technicians are trained in how to color match the filler in
the seam to the color of your granite.
Is a higher
priced granite better quality than lower priced granite?
No, the price of granite is based primarily on two factors one
is availability (the lower the supply the higher the cost) and
the second is where it is quarried with the associated transportation
and labor costs. Granite from Premier
Surfaces, no matter what
the cost, will be a high quality stone.
Why does some granite have
many areas that look like little flakes or pockmarks?
Being a natural stone, granite contains many minerals. Some of
these minerals, like biotites, are softer than the surrounding
minerals. When the granite is
polished the biotites are removed due to the high pressure used
in polishing the surface leaving pockmark type look. The sealant
used will generally correct the rough feeling. See the section "Stone Education".
Why do some granites
appear to have cracks?
A crack is a break in the granite caused by a mechanical force
of some sort. Cracks will be entirely through the granite from
top to bottom. Granite does naturally have fissures. These fissures
are more prevalent in granites that have multiple colors. The various
minerals flowing at different viscosities cause the fissures at
the time the granite is formed, they are natural and do not weaken
the granite. It would be very rare for a fissure to extend from
the top to the bottom surface of a slab.
What type of warranty
do you have?
Premier Surfaces offers a lifetime warranty on craftsmanship.
If there is ever a problem with the installation of the granite
we will fix it. It does not take much to get into the granite business,
just a pick up truck and a grinder. You can get a lower price but
the warranty is a “taillight warranty” as long as you
can see the taillights on the pick up the job is warranted. BE
CAREFUL in your selection of a contractor.
I intend
to extend my new granite countertop beyond the cabinet base. How
far can I extend it without adding support?
The maximum extension is two fold:
- It cannot extend more 1/3
the width of the countertop without suport.
- In any instance
it cannot be extended more than 10 inches regardless of the
width without additional support.
What is the maximum span between cabinets?
The maximum span for 3 cm granite is 30 inches between cabinets.
Any span greater than 30 inches will require additional support.
I
do not intend on using a backsplash, will there be a gap between
the wall and the granite edge?
Yes, the gap is needed to be able to put the granite into position.
Depending upon the difficulty of installing the granite piece the
gap would be a maximum of ¼ inch.
Are there different types
of edge treatments?
Yes, please refer to the section “Edge
Profiles” for
the edges that are normally used for granite countertops. Other
custom profiles are available just contact one of our sales representatives
for details.
I have a small job can you do
this?
We welcome any size job. However, we do have a 25 sq ft minimum
charge. You could select a piece of granite from our remnant yard
wherein the square foot minimum would be waived.
How do I properly
care for granite countertops?
Please read the section “Care and Maintenance”
Does Premier Surfaces take care of all of the cabinetry, plumbing,
electric and gas issues for me?
The only business that Premier Surfaces is licensed and insured
to do is the fabrication and installation of granite and other stone
countertops. We
do not have a license or insurance for carpentry, plumbing or electrical
work. We will, when requested, supply the
names of other tradesman who are licensed and qualified.
Is there an issue with bacteria
growth on my granite kitchen countertops?
The Marble Institute of America (MIA) states: “ Bacteria
requires several things in order to thrive and grow: oxygen, sunlight,
water, nutrients and a substrate to form on. The minerals found
in granite are toxic to bacteria. As a result there is no habitable
environment for the bacteria to live and grow on a granite surface.” The
MIA has also conducted independent research on bacteria growth
on countertop materials. Granite was second in inhibiting bacteria
growth only to stainless steel.
Can you tell me how to properly
care for my granite countertops?
Yes, this is thoroughly covered in the “Care
and Maintenance” section.
I am ready to start the process, where do I begin?
First read the section “How the
Process Works,” and
then give us a call - 770-475-0004.
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