30

Mar

How Do You Ruin Granite Countertops?

While granite is one of the toughest countertop materials on the market, it can still get ruined. How do you ruin granite countertops? There are plenty of ways you can do it. These ways include:

Ignoring spillages

Due to the tough granite look, some homeowners ignore it when spills happen on granite surfaces. This is wrong. While granite is tough, it’s highly porous, so when you let even water sit on the surfaces for a long time, it risks sinking to the deeper layers and causing stains.

To prevent this from happening, you should make it a habit to clean the spills as soon as they happen.

If you were away when the spills happened, and now the countertops are already stained, all is not lost as there are several tricks you can use to remove the stain.

One of the most effective ways to remove the stain is to use a homemade paste out of acetone and baking soda. Let the mixture sit overnight, then wipe it clean and rinse it with water.

To completely remove the stain, you may have to repeat this process 2-3 times, so it’s always wise to reseal the countertop surfaces after the process, as acetone has been shown to strip away the existing sealer.

If you repeat this process and still the stain doesn’t go away, get in touch with a professional to help you remove it.

Placing hot pots directly on the countertops.

Granite is one of the hardest stones on earth, so the hot pots and pans can’t damage it, right? Well, this is wrong.

While the countertop is heat resistant, it’s not heatproof. This means that when you regularly expose it to a lot of heat, it’s bound to get damaged, and you don’t want this, do you?

To protect your countertops, always have trivets and heat pads in place. These will absorb the heat and keep your surfaces safe from heat damage.

Cutting directly on granite

The same way granite is tough and can withstand heat damage for some time is the same way it can withstand knife abuse, but for just some time.

When you regularly chop meat, vegetables, or anything else on the countertops, you create significant scratches on the countertops, which dulls the appearance of the stone. There is also the risk of damaging the knives.

To ensure this doesn’t happen, always have a chopping board in the kitchen and use it whenever you want to cut anything.

Standing on the countertops.

As we have been saying, granite has a tough look, and this encourages homeowners to sit or even stand on the countertops. While you might get away with it at first, there is the risk of cracks on the countertops enlarging and breaking the countertop surfaces when you repeatedly do it.

Sometimes the countertops will crack and break especially when you sit or stand on the edges.

Avoid sitting or standing on the countertops to be on the safe side. If you want to spend time in the kitchen as you are preparing the meals, don’t sit on the countertops. Use a chair.

Instead of standing on the countertops as you reach the top shelf or replace the bulb, stand on a ladder or stool.

The same way you shouldn’t sit or stand on the countertops is the same way you shouldn’t let the children sit or stand there as the present striations will crack under excessive weight.

Using the wrong cleaning products

Every homeowner wants to give their countertops the best look possible, so they are sometimes tempted to clean the surfaces with tough cleaning products.

As much as cleaning products containing ammonia and bleach thoroughly clean the surfaces, they sometimes lead to the granite stone losing its luster, and you are forced to spend a good amount of money polishing the surfaces.

To prevent this, avoid tough cleaning products. Instead, use soap and hot water. To prevent the surfaces from being too dirty, clean them often.

Granite contractors Rockville recommend that you clean the surfaces at the end of each day. This way, the surfaces don’t accumulate too much dirt that you are tempted to use tough cleaning products.

08

Sep

What Happens If You Don’t Seal Granite Countertops?

If you have been around natural stone countertops, you know you need to seal them to keep them looking their best, but have you ever asked yourself what happens if you don’t seal granite countertops? Here are some of the things that can happen:

Stains from food and grease

When you don’t seal your countertops, they tend to quickly absorb food and liquids, leading to deep stains. Since the countertops are bare, the stains develop within a matter of minutes, even if you are quick to wipe the spill.

The countertops not only absorb liquids, but grease and pigments as well. For example, if you leave a carton of strawberries on your countertops, it’s only a matter of a few minutes, and you find a large stain on your countertops that is hard to remove.

Stains from water

Properly sealed granite will repel liquids and prevent them from permeating into the stone. As mentioned above, an unsealed stone absorbs liquids fast, including water. You might have the impression that something as natural as water can’t harm your countertops, but this isn’t the case.

In an unsealed countertop, water will penetrate, leaving behind watermarks which give your stone an ugly, dirty appearance.

Damage from cleaning products

Vinegar and other harsh cleaning products will damage even the sealed surfaces, but unsealed countertops are more susceptible to damage. Since you haven’t sealed the surfaces, the products that aren’t supposed to harm the surfaces end up hurting them.

For example, products containing citrus quickly eat away at the countertop, seep into the stone and damage the finish, causing discoloration. When you seal the surfaces, you plug the cracks and tiny fissures in the stone, keeping the products from going deep into the stone. As a result you can clean the countertops without worrying about damaging them.

Sealing is straightforward

To keep your countertops in top shape, you should seal them at the time of installation then once a year thereafter. While countertop sealing is such an important task, it’s not complex.

Begin with finding a good quality countertop sealer designed to resist water and oil-based stains. Before you apply the sealer, clean the surfaces, and ensure there are no stains on them.

For best results, work in small areas, giving the sealer time to absorb into the slab before applying the second layer. After covering the entire surface, give the countertops a few hours to dry before using them.

Other ways to maintain granite

Other than sealing it, there are plenty of other things you need to do to ensure your countertop lasts for a long time. These things include:

Don’t step on the countertops

Granite is tough, but it can’t withstand a lot of pressure, especially along the edges. When you are looking to reach onto the top shelf, it’s tempting to step onto the countertops. After all, they are made from stone, right? At no time should you step on granite.

If you have to reach on to something on the top shelf, use a ladder or stool.

Don’t place hot items directly on the countertops.

Granite can withstand heat, but when you repeatedly place hot pans on it, you are bound to discolor it or even cause extensive damage. To ensure your countertops last for a long time, avoid placing hot pans, pots, and other items directly on the surfaces. Instead, use pads, trivets, and other protective materials.

Watch your cleaning products.

As mentioned above, even sealed countertops can get damaged by tough cleaning products, so stay away from them. As a rule of thumb, avoid products bearing acids as they will etch at the surfaces or even discolor your valuable surfaces.

Its recommend you use water and soap to clean the countertops. If the surfaces are too dirty and want to use other cleaning products, first enquire from the countertop company whether you can use it.

Don’t cut directly on the surfaces.

The same way certain homeowners have the impression the countertops are tough, so they can step on them, it’s the same way they think they can get away with cutting onions, meat, and other materials directly on them.

Granite companies Rockville strongly advise against this as it not only damages the countertops, but also your knife. When looking to cut anything on the surface, use a cutting board.