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About Stone Surfaces

While there are many materials available for use as countertops, there are none that compare to the natural beauty of Granite.

• Granite counter tops will give a greater return on investment than just about anything you can do to your house. Unlike Granite. Carpet, paint, woodwork, appliances, hardwood floors, etc. will show the effects of time and wear.

• Granite doesn’t wear, scratch, or suffer the effects of UV rays, heat or cold like man made counter top materials will.

• Granite tops will look as good in ten, twenty, thirty or forty years as they do the day they’re installed.

• There are over 250 common colors of Granite. If you can’t find a color that fits your taste and design requirements chances are you’re not going to find any other material you like.

• Care and maintenance of Granite is minimal. Other than sealing, there is no other special care required. With today’s technology, the sealing of the average kitchen tops takes about 20 – 30 minutes and will last up to 15 years.

• When sealed, Granite provides a work surface as sanitary as any material used for countertops.

• Industrial processing vats containing sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, and bromine are commonly lined with granite panels, taking advantage of the material's natural resistance to these caustic chemicals. This level of chemical resistance contributes to the ability of granite to resist attack from airborne pollutants associated with acid rain and/or snow-melting chemicals. Certainly there are chemicals that will attack granite, but exposure to them in a typical building environment would be extremely rare.

• Granite material typically comes in 2cm (approximately _ inch) and 3cm (approximately 1 _ inch) thickness. Although Granite can be laminated to provide thicker tops, Granite by Design recommends 3cm material for countertops.

• Granite slabs used for countertops are approximately 6’ x 10’. Some slabs are larger, some smaller. This means you will probably have at least one seam in your countertop. Although seams cannot be made invisible, when done properly, the are barely noticeable. The material used to make seams is extremely durable and will last as long as the granite.

• Granite is second only to diamonds in hardness. It is simply the best work surface available. Its polished finish won't wear off. Unlike marble, synthetic and laminate countertops, granite countertops will not blister, scratch or crack; and they are highly stain resistant. Granite countertops can take a hot pot without the use of a trivet. And its cool polished surface is ideal for rolling out pastry dough. Granite countertops are a beautiful, durable and cost competitive solution for kitchens, baths and other residential applications or commercial applications.

• Granite is the material of choice for countertops in 90% of today’s new home construction.

• Granite has been available for thousands of years but only recently, due to advances in technology, has is been affordable. You can now have what, in the past, you could only dream of having.

• Although some man-made tops can provide good service and ascetic qualities, they are still man made materials designed to simulate natural stone. When you can have the real thing for about the same price, why settle for an imitation?

• Once you’ve experienced Granite, you won’t ever settle for less and anything else is less.

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Types of Finishes for Stone Surfaces

Polished

The Polished finish is a highly reflective, mirror gloss finish. The full color, depth and crystal structure of the stone is visible. A polished finish seals surface pores and is, therefore, nearly impervious to weather and chemical wear.

Honed

A smooth, satin surface without reflection, the Honed finish shows the full color of the stone. It is produced on the same equipment as the polished finishes; however, the honing process ends prior to the buffing stage.

Thermal

The Thermal finish is produced by applying a high-temperature flame to the surface of the stone. This flame fractures crystals on the face, leaving a rough-textured finish. Highly skid-resistant, this finish is an excellent choice for walking surfaces.
Granite countertops, created by nature and fashioned by modern technology, are an investment homeowners will never regret. With deep iridescent colors, granite offers that elusive, one-of-a-kind beauty created only in nature. As a result, granite countertops add character and warmth to kitchens, baths, and other areas of the home with a richness that cannot be duplicated in synthetic materials.

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Granite Myths

Granite is absorbent. Granite qualifies as impervious to water and is actually less absorbent than some solid surface (plastic) products. Granite is commonly used as building material for high-rise buildings due to its ability to withstand gale force winds and rain.

Granite stains easily. Granite is resistant to stains. Generally, any liquid spilled on a granite top, if wiped up within a few minutes, will not stain. However, even water can soak into a granite countertop and leave a dark colored spot but this will evaporate in minutes. Liquids that do not evaporate, such as oils will cause stains if left to soak into the stone.

Stains in granite are permanent. Most stains can be removed. Even oil stains can usually be removed using a poultice or paste that will draw out the oil from the stone.
Granite will lose its polish over the years. While this may be true of marble, granite will shine years from now just as if it was brand new. Granite is highly scratch resistant and will not show wear from daily use.

Granite requires a lot of maintenance. Routine cleaning with mild soap and water is all that is generally required. Once a year, a re-application of a penetrating sealer should be performed, which only takes about 15 minutes—less time than scouring a solid surface countertop with a cleanser to remove scratches.

Heat will cause granite to chip and crack. Granite is heat resistant and can withstand the heat of hot pots and pans without damage. Impact from a heavy object may chip granite but heat from anything short of a blowtorch will not affect your countertop.

Dark colored granites are harder than light colored granites. Granites are composed of a variety of minerals, each of which has specific performance properties. The hardest mineral commonly found in granite is quartz, which is normally a somewhat translucent, white to grey colored mineral.

Granite’s tiny pores and fissures harbor bacteria. Bacteria are found everywhere. If it is on a granite top, then it can also be found on a laminate or solid surface top. Use an anti-bacterial soap to wash your countertop if you are concerned.

Granite and marble are essentially the same. Besides the fact that they are both natural stones and can be polished, they are otherwise very different. Marble is generally a calcious stone, formed from oceanic deposits and then compressed under pressure (metamorphosed). Granite, however, is an igneous rock, essentially molten magma, which is cooled and then hardened below the earth’s surface.

Granite is expensive. Granite is usually competitively priced compared to other high-end surfacing materials. You will be amazed when you compare the price of granite to other popularly famed “luxury surfaces”. Granite offers you an unmatched value with its natural beauty, elegance and longevity.

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Granite by Design Warranty

Congratulations. Your choice of a Granite by Design product is one of the wisest investments you will ever make. Granite is one of the most beautiful and durable natural products in the world. Granite by Design is proud to be the fabricator and installer of the granite material for your home.

The granite material supplied for your home has been cut from premium quality granite that has been selected for its natural color, grain structure and durability characteristics. Variations in grain, pattern and markings are inherent characteristics of natural stone and cannot be construed as a defect.

Granite by Design warrants to the original purchaser of this product that the granite is free from defects in the material and in the workmanship provided by Granite by Design and that the product has been inspected and approved under strict quality guidelines. THIS WARRANTY IS VALID FOR AS LONG AS YOU OWN THE HOME.

This warranty applies to granite installed in its original location by a certified professional and becomes null and void if the granite is moved from its original installation location. This warranty covers only the materials and workmanship supplied by Granite by Design and expressly excludes defects in materials or workmanship supplied by any party other than Granite by Design.

Any claim made against this warranty must be submitted in writing. Upon verification by a Granite by Design field inspector of a valid claim made against this warranty, Granite by Design will, at its option, repair or replace the affected material if it fails due to any defect caused by Granite by Design during the fabricating and installation of the granite material.

In the event of a defect in material and/or workmanship provided by Granite by Design, the cost of repair or replacement shall be borne by Granite by Design or its authorized representatives and includes the labor charges necessary to repair or replace the granite material. If replacement of the stone is deemed necessary, replacement will be made with a granite marketed by Granite by Design at the time it honors this warranty, as nearly identical as possible to the original stone in color, grain and grade. This warranty does not cover the cost of any repairs or replacement undertaken prior to your receipt of a claim verification from Granite by Design.

This warranty specifically excludes defects or damages caused by the following:
1. Customer abuse or misuse
2. Failure to maintain stone properly, in accordance with Granite by Design's recommendations.

This warranty is limited to the provisions stated above, and no other warranty, expressed or implied, exists. The implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose is expressly excluded. Except as provided herein, Granite by Design shall not be liable in either tort or contract for any loss or direct, consequential or incidental damages arising out of the use or inability to use granite for the application as stated herein. Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages. The above limitations may not apply to you.

This warranty gives the purchaser specific legal rights and other rights may also exist that vary from state to state.

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