FAQ

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

WHAT DO I NEED TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING MARBLE & GRANITE?

Being natural stones, marble and granite have been blessed with remarkable characteristics that have captivated humans throughout the ages. Inherent in such natural products is a certain lack of predictability that architects and designers celebrate. Consumers who are less acquainted with the material expect the stone ordered to be identical to a picture or sample they were shown. Although sample stones are intended to be representative of the quarry’s product, the material quarried at one time may differ slightly in color and veining from the sample. Moreover, even a single marble or granite slab will possess a certain amount of color variation from one end to the other. Interior designers and architects have come to view this tendency of natural stone as an advantage. Slight irregularities can be pleasing, introducing an element of the natural into human-designed spaces, whether residential or commercial. For even more information on choosing the right countertop for you, please contact us and one of our sales representatives could help you select what would best fit your project.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MARBLE, GRANITE & QUARTZ?

Granite and Marble are 100% natural stone quarried from the earth, while Quartz is a synthetic man-made material made to mimic natural stone. Granite and Marble have similarities, they come in many colors, each slab being unique. They are both natural materials and resistant to heat. Granite and Marble both should be sealed during the fabrication process prior to customer installation, and re-sealed as needed, typically every year.

Granite and marble (along with marble’s relatives – limestone, onyx and travertine) also have many differences. Granite is formed deep in the earth’s mantle at extremely high temperatures. It is a very hard, resistant stone made of crystallized minerals. The marble family – limestone, travertine, marble, onyx – start out as sediment – animal skeletons and shells, plant matter, silt – at the bottom of bodies of water. After millions of years this solidifies (lithifies) into stone. There is no substitute for natural marble, its milky depth and elegant veining cannot be duplicated by man. Several options come close, but there is nothing like natural marble. Because its main component is calcium, it can be affected by acids such as vinegar and citrus. When it comes to care and maintenance, Marble is not quite as tough as Granite and Quartz – it is a porous material and is more susceptible to stains, etching, and scratches. Marble will also develop a patina over time. The look of natural marble really develops into a casual elegant old world look, beautifully on trend, always classic.

Quartz, being a man-made product, has, in most cases, a uniform appearance in comparison to granite or marble. Quartz countertops are engineered from approximately 93% natural quartz, blended with advanced polymer resins and colorfast pigments to create an elegant, durable work surface. In a quartz countertop you may have small pieces of quartz, granite, and even recycled mirror particles or colored glass. These materials are all mixed together with the resin, poured into a large block mold. Vacuums and Vibration help to press out the air, then the quartz blocks are “baked” in a special process using heat and pressure. Once the quartz block is baked, it is loaded into a gangsaw to be sliced, you can liken this to a bread slicer slicing a loaf of bread. Then the slabs are polished on one face and prepared for shipment. Once at the stone fabricator, the quartz slabs can be finished with any custom countertop edge, based on customer preference. Quartz countertops come standard in a polished finish, and can be customized with a honed finish as well. Additionally, some quartz manufacturers offer a leathered finish for some colors. ELITE Marble & Granite has a wide variety of quartz color options that you can view on our website, or by visiting our showroom.

HOW DO I SCHEDULE AN IN-HOME CONSULTATION?

When you contact us for a free quote we will send one of our team members to meet you or the contractor on location, and to walk through the project with you. At this time they will take all measurements and any notes that are required. Before any orders are placed one of our team members will finalize all measurements. ELITE Marble & Granite is not responsible for inaccurate measurements provided by the client.

WHAT IF I NEED AN ELECTRICIAN OR PLUMBER FOR MY PROJECT?

ELITE Marble & Granite is not licensed to do electrical or plumbing work. You are responsible for anything that needs to be finished outside of the cabinets or countertops. We are not General Contractors. However, we could recommend certified electricians or plumbers.

HOW DO I TAKE CARE OF MY NATURAL STONE?

We do offer professional grade stone safe cleaners that can be bought in our showroom that can be used for daily cleaning. Be careful not to use bleach or abrasive products on any natural stone installation, as these can cause damage to the stone. Many name-brand household cleaners are highly acidic and can cause damage to calcareous stones (like marble, limestone, travertine, and onyx) and to the sealers protecting them. Read the labels carefully to see if they are natural stone safe.

HOW DO I AVOID STAINS ON MY COUNTERTOPS?

All stone is porous to some extent. Granite and Slate are both very low porous and stain-resistant, making stains less of a concern than with other stones. In general, with any spill, a quick clean up is a good idea. Some materials will be more forgiving than others. For example, a puddle of water left on the counter for 30 minutes for some colors (especially lighter), may show a dark spot when the water is wiped away. This spot will then dry up and no evidence will show.

Quartz and Marble are both slightly porous materials and can be subject to stains if abused. In many cases, stains can be prevented by wiping the spill. Marble can be sensitive to oil and acidic based products such as juice, tomatoes, and oils. Travertine is very sensitive to acids and a slight spill of juice can stain the surface. Limestone and Sandstone are both porous and will stain easily.

Stone sealers were introduced to the market in the mid 1990’s. Having your stone properly sealed by a professional will increase the stain resistance of the stone. For example, if your stone is 90% stain resistant with no sealer, you may increase the resistance to 95%.

Should you get a stain on your stone, depending on the stone, you may be able to apply a special paste called a poultice, made of liquid cleaner mixed with an absorbent material, to pull the stain out. Check out our experiment to test how granite would hold up to olive oil stains. For information on how to apply a poultice on your countertops click on this link.

HOW OFTEN DO I HAVE TO SEAL MY STONE?

The life of the sealer will depend upon the type and finish of the stone, the area of application, and amount of wear imposed over time. A piece of stone that is sealed with an impregnating sealer and put in a closet will stay sealed indefinitely. Impregnating sealers are recommended over topical sealers because they increase both the longevity and quality of the protection. The purpose of sealer is simply to make the stone less susceptible to staining, so applying it unnecessarily just wastes time, effort, and money. A simple test to determine if your stone needs to be resealed is to sprinkle it with water. If the water beads up tightly, then the stone has maintained its seal. If, however, the water soaks in or darkens the stone, then it’s time to reseal (once the water evaporates). Granite sealers can last up to 15 years, depending on the porosity and type of granite.

CAN I SEAL MY STONE MYSELF OR DOES IT REQUIRE A PROFESSIONAL?

The process of sealing stone is straightforward and can usually be handled by a homeowner as part of normal home maintenance. Sealing a kitchen countertop will take about 30 minutes. We do offer professional grade sealer that can be purchased in our showroom. If you prefer, ELITE Marble & Granite can take care of cleaning and sealing for you.

WHAT TYPE OF PAYMENT DO YOU ACCEPT?

To place an order for your project with ELITE Marble & Granite, we would need a 50% deposit & the remaining balance is due upon completion of the job. Payment is accepted in the form of check & credit card. All checks should be made payable to ELITE Marble & Granite. All credit card payments will be subject to an additional 3.5% service charge. Any additional questions, please contact us.