Of all of the stones, granite is the least porous. Before being sent to the distributor it is polished and impregnated with a resin. After fabrication and installation another sealant is applied to further protect it from staining. Water left on the granite for a long period of time will show evidence of moisture, however, over time the dark spot will disappear. Oil left on the granite will slowly be absorbed into the stone; wipe these areas as they occur. If an oil stain should occur, you can wipe the area with a poultice, to draw the oil out. Over time, the oil will redistribute through the granite and become undetectable.
Unlike any other materials, granite does not lose its shine and luster. The fact that granite is one of the hardest stones next to diamonds means that normal use will not damage your counter or tabletops.
Granite can withstand a dish hot from the oven or stove right onto its surface. Most “man made” synthetic solid surface tops cannot.
If granite can withstand the fabrication process, it will never break under normal kitchen conditions.
Mild soap and water works fine. There are spray cleaners with an anti-bacterial agent available that you can use. Never use cleaners that contain acid, citrus base, ammonia or bleach. These can damage the finish.
Yes, upon completion of your installation we will seal your granite countertop and then on the 1st and 2nd year anniversaries it needs to be sealed again. There is however no scientific evidence whatsoever that granite retains bacteria.
No, you can do this easily yourself. You can purchase from us the same sealer used in your installation and just follow the directions on the bottle.
A drop-in sink is, just that, dropped in from above the counter top, into the cut out. An under-mount sink sits beneath the surface, under a polished rim. The benefit to this option is that i9T provides a smooth surface from counter to sink. Because of additional polishing involved, there is an upgrade charge.