There is a misconception that granite countertops chip easily: they don't. In truth, granite is one of the most rigid materials out there, though it's liable to chip given extreme pressure. Avoid chips by keeping the countertop clean and sealed. Also, make use of trivets.
Dropping heavy items is one of the fastest ways you can chip your countertops. Dragging and moving heavy items across the surface of the stone could also cause similar damage. Keep your countertops clean and safe with Rock Doctor's granite cleaning products.
The best way to protect your granite countertop from chipping is by adding a sealant and cleaning it regularly. Cleaning removes stains and other substances that may weaken the surface. Chipping is caused by hitting the surface with hard or sharp objects. Therefore, avoid hitting the surface with sharp objects.
Don't expect granite to crumble and fall apart as the years go by. However, if you're swatting flies with a hefty pan and land your counter a good smack, it might chip a little. So if your counter's chipped after impact, there's nothing wrong with the stone and you weren't short-changed.
When granite erodes and endures weathering over time, it easily starts flaking and crumbling away from its parent source. This decomposed granite crumbles into various sizes of particles and can be further crushed and screened to specific sizes for different project needs.
Is a Rough Granite Countertop Surface Normal? If grit is present on your granite countertop, it is likely due to poor quality granite – an issue which cannot be solved readily without countertop replacement. In some instances, grout particles may flake off from newly grouted backsplash, although this is less common.
Where do granite and granodiorite form? Granite and granodiorite are intrusive igneous rocks that slowly cool deep underground in magma chambers called plutons. This slow cooling process allows easily visible crystals to form. Both rocks are the product of the melting of continental rocks near subduction zones.
Durability
The following are specific examples of how granite is more durable than quartz: – Granite is much more heat resistant than quartz. – Granite scratches less easily than quartz. – Chips to granite are easier to repair than chips to quartz.
Quartz is actually harder than granite and thus, more durable. In fact, quartz is nearly indestructible, and because it isn't porous like granite, it's easy to keep your countertops relatively bacteria-free. Be careful with cooking pans though: Quartz can be damaged by excessive heat, so use heating pads at all times.
Buff out the repair area using a piece of steel wool until it looks smooth for a beautiful finishing touch. You can also apply a granite polisher, like AGM Cleaner to add shine to the area.
Granite is a Porous Material
Although granite is a hard and durable stone, granite is porous. This means if you spill something and your granite countertops aren't sealed, it could cause permanent stains and unsightly marks. Brand new granite counters often have a sealant applied during installation.
Since this material is porous and tends to absorb water, it's prone to etching after wear and tear. To prevent permanent damage to the stone surfaces in your kitchen or bathroom, you may need to seal them. If you seal your granite surfaces when you don't need to, the protective layer can give them a glazed appearance.
Its color and pattern is designed. Granite countertops are unique slabs of mined stone. No two are exactly alike. Both stones are durable, but granite can chip and stain more easily.
Granite is a stone that's strong enough to support the weight of small appliances and cutting boards. However, it's prone to damage from sharp objects like knives. Avoid using your granite surface as a cutting board. This can cause chips, scratches, dings, and other damage.
The natural stone is mostly scratch-resistant or at least hides small scratches well, due to the depth of its colour and patterns. Granite will only be scratched by another piece of granite or with specially sharpened tools designed to cut through the material.
Granite is naturally heat resistant, and heat damage would occur only if the granite was heated unevenly. So briefly putting a hot pan down on your granite countertop isn't going to cause long-term damage. That said, we don't recommend putting hot pans on granite countertops — not for the granite's sake but for yours.
Note: Some experts will recommend sealing granite countertops every “6-12 months” or “3-5 years”, but there is no hard and fast rule.
Quartz Countertops
Quartz is one of the strongest materials you can use, making it one of the best-value countertops available. Both scratch- and stain-resistant, quartz countertops can look brand new for years even after withstanding heavy usage.
Buy a polishing powder designed for natural stone countertops. You'll generally have to mix the powder with water to form a paste. Then “polish” problem areas with a soft cloth. Some products require you to leave the paste on overnight (mostly for stain removal).
Remove stains from your countertop without damaging the natural stone by using these tips: Apply a baking soda paste: No matter what you spilled, odds are baking soda can help remove it. To clean an oil-based stain, make a baking soda paste with water.
Most experimental studies to determine the solidification temperature (wet solidus) of granitic bulk compositions have led to the view that granitic (and subsequently all silicic magmatic rocks) will crystallize almost completely when cooled to 650–700 °C5,6,7.
All granites are coarse-grained, meaning that you can see the individual crystals in the rock. This texture is known as 'phaneritic', and it forms when magma cools slowly and allows the crystals enough time to grow before becoming completely solidified.
The prevailing paradigm holds that granitic mineral assemblages crystallize entirely at or above about 650-700 degrees Celsius5-7.