How to Care for Your Granite Surfaces
Granite is a beautiful substance that has long been the most popular choice for kitchen countertops. Whether you are a gourmet chef, a family with young children, or someone who is just looking for a high-quality material, granite surfaces, particularly C & G countertops, are hard to damage and are set to outlast the life of your home. Let’s explore the various aspects of granite and how to best care for it.
They are resistant to heat, stand up to most stains, and do not easily show watermarks.
Characteristics
Granite is a natural stone that can be found all over the world. Due to its abundance in nature, each piece of granite has its own unique veining and patterns, making each slab as individual as the places it is used.
Mined from quarries and then cut down to the desired size, granite is available in a large variety of earth-toned colors, including tan, gray, yellow-gold, brown, off-white, taupe, peach and blue-gray. It is an extremely tough material that is difficult to scratch or crack through normal wear and tear.
Uses
While granite is most commonly thought of as a material primarily used for kitchen countertops, it is also utilized in many other areas, as well. Due to granite’s extremely hard and sense nature, it is an excellent choice for commercial lobbies and walkways.
It is the hardest of all natural stones available and it is preferred for areas that will receive high-stress, such as restaurant bar tops, bathroom vanities, and even national monuments.
Long-Term Maintenance
With granite being utilized in so many different places and situations, its purpose greatly varies. One thing that doesn’t change, however, is the importance of maintaining it. From daily cleaning, to annual maintenance, there are some things you must do in order to ensure that your granite stays looking as beautiful as the day it was installed.
Any natural stone is going to be extremely porous, which means that it has many tiny holes inside of it in which air or water could get inside. This could quickly become a big problem once the surface is utilized and water, food, dirt, or other substances begin to get spilled on the granite. One important way to prevent this is to have the granite surface treated with a protective sealer.
A protective sealer will fill in the pores of the granite, which will repel spills and allow you to be able to quickly wipe away messes without worrying about them leaving stains. While some experts say this should be done every year, it is most commonly agreed that sealing your granite every three to five years should be adequate to maintain them.
Testing Your Granite Surface
As previously mentioned, every piece of granite is unique and individual, so the time in between sealing will vary. If you are unsure of if your granite surface needs resealing, there is a simple test you can perform to check, which is referred to as “the water test”.
To perform the water test, all you need to do is drip a small puddle of water onto your countertop, or other surface, and see how long it takes to darken your granite. If the puddle darkens in:
● Under three minutes- it is vital that you reseal with multiple coats right away and repeat every year for the next few years
● Four to five minutes- a few coats of sealer are advisable and resealing within the next three years is probable
● 10 to 15 minutes- more than likely only one coat of sealer is needed and it will be multiple years before another coat is necessary
● 30 minutes or longer- you have a stain-proof piece of granite that does not need to be resealed
Performing this test is easy and does not require much time or effort, making it the perfect way to see if or when your granite needs to be resealed. If ever in doubt, try the water test and see what your surface reveals.
Daily Maintenance
While sealing your granite surfaces if required in order to guarantee long-term quality, there are daily things you can do to keep it looking polished and new.
It is vital that you clean up any sort of spill immediately in order to minimize potential damage. Don’t use abrasive cleaners that could scratch the material and be make sure any cleaning product you use is suitable for granite.
Always use coasters under glasses, especially if they contain citrus juice or alcohol, and put a mat under hot dishes and cookware.
It is also a good idea to put place mats under dishes and silverware to ensure it doesn’t scratch the surface.
Granite is a strong material that is virtually indestructible. While it does require some maintenance, it is a relatively easy substance to take care of and is a great choice for kitchens, vanities, wet bars, or even walkways. As long as you clean the surface daily and make sure to test it for sealing, you will have a beautiful piece of stone that will last a lifetime.
