F.A.Q.

What Countertop Material is Better? ➤

This is usually everybody’s first question and even though it is very hard to determine which material is better overall, it is definitely possible to identify which material is better for you and your particular project.

Here we will list the 4 most popular countertop materials as well as their characteristics, strengths and weaknesses.

Hopefully the following information will help you decide which stone to choose.

GRANITE ➤

Overall, granite is a very solid choice for any countertop project; it is in most cases very resistant to scratches, chipping, burning, and almost completely stain proof when sealed correctly.

However, there is such a large variety of stones sold as "granite" that a blanket generalization will not do us any good.

Here we divide the different granite slabs into categories and go though their individual characteristics.

Medium Grained, Earth-Toned Stone

A very good choice, These materials are geologically classified as “true” granites distinguishable by their consistent patterns throughout.

Some of these stones are porous and may require sealing.

Tight to Medium Grained, Dark Toned Stone

These dense stones are almost impervious to stains but their dark color may show oil and fingerprint smudges and will require frequent cleaning to keep them looking brand new.

Scratches on these stones appear as white lines and will therefore be more apparent.

Multi-Colored “Busy” Stone with Delicate Particles

Because these types of countertop materials are composed of many different types of stones it is possible for small particles to chip away from both the edge as well as the surface of the stone. Fortunately, repairs in these kinds of materials can be virtually invisible.

It is always wise to rub your hand across the surface of the slab you wish to purchase to check for pits and cracks.

Multi -Colored “Busy” Stone Without Delicate Particles

Some of these materials may be prone to slight imperfections and will definitely require a skilled fabricator to deal with the consistency of the material with goes from very hard to very soft.

With that being said these materials hold up very well against stains and chipping.

QUARTZ ➤

Quartz is an in-demand option that continues to rise in popularity due to it’s price and massive selection of different colors.

Quartz will in most cases, never stain and be harder to chip than granite, unlike granite; quartz can burn from hot pots and pans.

Not all quartz slabs are the same, here we break them down into 4 categories.

White(or mainly White) Quartz

White quartz is one of the most popular choices of countertop materials right now.

The only small drawbacks are that some chips and damage may be very hard to hide due to the material’s consistent nature (similar to fixing a chip in a white porcelain bathtub).

This material can also get grey “scuffs” from rubbing against it, these grey marks are common but fortunately they are easily removable.

“Patterned” Quartz

A very good choice of material. This material’s busy nature helps hide scratches and blemishes as well as any repairs that may have to be done down the line.

Dark-Toned Quartz

Just like dark-toned granite, dark quartz will showcase fingerprints and other marks brought on by daily use that would not show on other colors, this material will require more work to keep clean.

“Speckled” Quartz

A very good choice of material.

Most quartz is made of a fine stone powder mixed with resin, some of the fine powders used can be susceptible damage and staining.

However, in this material there is a mix of fine powder and very hardy “crystals” which are stain proof and incredibly scratch resistant.

MARBLE ➤

Marble is a beautiful and Timeless choice that has been used as a building material for 2500 years and possibly even longer.

Here we break down marble into 2 categories with different traits when it comes to countertop use.

Light-Toned Marble

Light marble is prone to etching, scratches and staining.

it’s best use is for wall cladding and fireplaces, as well as gently used areas such as bathrooms and powder rooms.

Medium to Dark toned Marble

Dark-toned marble is equally as prone to scratches and etching but the color and nature of the stone make any damage harder to spot and easier to fix.

This kind of marble are usually more dense so they are more resistant to staining.

QUARTZITE ➤

Quartzite is truly one of the hardest stones that is used in construction projects today.

But not all stones labelled as "quartzite" are the same.

For our purposes we can divide quartzite into three main groups with drastically different properties.

Crystalline Quartzite

These types of stone embody what a true quartzite is; they are some of the densest, heaviest stones that are virtually scratch and stain proof.

They are easily identifiable by their crystalline structures.

Grainy Quartzite

Although these stones are very hard and scratch resistant they have not fully crystallized in the ground to become true quartzites, so they may be porous.

These stones lean towards the geological “sandstone” classification and can be identified by the presence of small grains which give the stone a “sandy” appearance.

Mixed-Stone Quartzite

Some of these high-end materials may be prone to slight chipping and will definitely require a skilled fabricator to deal with the consistency of the material which goes from very hard to very soft.

How is a Chip in my Countertop Fixed? ➤

Chips are fixed by being filled with a color matched epoxy that is then sanded flush to the counter’s surface.

Most chips are virtually invisible but in some materials the color may not blend as well as it does with others.

Natural granite or manmade quartz that has a lot of pattern or veining hides chips very well, so does dark gray or brown marble.

Chip repairs are more visible in light colored, translucent (semi-see through) marble or quartz with a solid color, especially pure white quartz.

Can a Scratch be Fixed? ➤

Scratches in marble or granite can be fixed although the process(surface polishing) is quite lengthy (1-2 hours to buff out a 1 square foot area of stone)

Scratches in quartz can also be fixed but depending on the color and brand of quartz the area that the scratch was removed from may have a slightly different shine than the rest of the counter. Surface polishing quartz should only be used as a last resort.

Can I Make my Stove Opening Wider? ➤

Yes, enlarging stove openings is a common procedure, it is virtually mess free when done properly and takes about 2 hours.

Can Stone be Cut in my House? ➤

Cutting stone is a dusty process but at Method Marble we take every measure to keep your house clean including using the best cutting blades and vacuum equipment as well as entirely covering off the work area with plastic tarps.

When do I Need to Seal my Countertop? ➤

The best way to determine if your counters needs to be sealed is to place a folded napkin soaked in water on your countertop and leave it for a minute or so.

Remove the napkin and wipe away the excess water, if you see a dark “stain” where the napkin was that means that your granite is absorbing moisture and needs to be sealed.

You can purchase granite sealers at most hardware stores but the best way to seal your granite is by using a silicone-based sealer (available from granite industry suppliers) applied by a professional. This will leave your counters looking brand new and the sealer can last for years.

Why is my Countertop Chipping a lot? ➤

The most common reason countertops chip more than usual is because the edge profile isn’t rounded over enough.

With any material; be it metal, wood, or stone; a sharp corner is more susceptible to dings and nicks that a nicely rounded one.

It is possible to have a granite professional re-profile a stone countertop edge right in your house relatively quickly and cleanly with the correct tools and dust-protection measures.

What can I do if my Sink Fell Down? ➤

Firstly, do not worry or stress, sinks falling down is the most common of all granite service calls.
You can simply prop the sink up from the bottom as a temporary measure, this will allow you to use the sink lightly before you start the repair.
Clean all the old adhesive from the underside of the granite and the sink. In most cases the sink itself will actually have no adhesive stuck to it because the rim of the sink was not roughed up prior to install (this is the most common cause of sink failures)
Use a wire brush, grinder, knife, or any other tool you can think of to rough up the rim of the sink that will be in contact with the adhesive, make sure you do this thoroughly.
Use a waterproof, flexible adhesive like clear silicone (colored silicone has a weaker bond strength) or better yet; a product called “No-More Nails”(use the blue tube, not the red one, only the blue tube is rated for stone).
Apply a bead of adhesive to the most outer edge of the sink, if you apply the adhesive too close to the actual bowl of the sink it will spill out on the bowl when you press the sink up to the stone and create a mess for you to clean up.
Push the sink up to the stone, move it side to side a little bit to ensure a tight bond, then prop it up from underneath using a solid wood stick or whatever other method works in your particular situation.
To ensure your sink doesn’t fall down again glue small wood pieces around the outside perimeter of your sink for an even tighter bond.
After 24 hours you can remove the wood that was propping your sink up and use the sink freely.
Putting sinks back up is our most common call, we also offer this as emergency service(same day service) additionally we can glue the sink in a way that does not require the 24 hour wait time for the adhesive to dry(for cases where you need to do plumbing immediately).

What is the Best Way to Clean my Countertops? ➤

Our favorite general cleaner is Methyl Hydrate (very similar to rubbing alcohol but a little stronger) we like this cleaner because it will not damage granite, quartz, or marble and does not have any other chemicals or substances in it that leave a film on the surface of the stone.

A lot of popular materials such as white quartz may get dark “rub marks” on the surface and especially along the edge. In most cases these can be removed with Magic Eraser or Lemon Vim (do not use the vim with bleach that usually comes in a blue bottle)

PRO TIP: Magic eraser works even better when mixed with Methyl Hydrate, but be sure to test on an inconspicous area first.

What Things Should I Avoid doing to Prevent Damaging my Countertops? ➤

Different countertop materials have different requirements when it comes to avoiding damage, we will break it down here to the 4 major countertop choices.

GRANITE ➤

Make sure the stone is properly sealed -- see: “When do I need to seal my Countertop?”

Avoid putting hot pots and pans on the stone, even though granite is generally very heat resistant, extreme heat can burn the resin that is sometimes put into the stone to seal it’s natural fissures and chips.

QUARTZ ➤

Hot Pots and pans will burn the resin that binds the quartz together; this will leave a brown-black irreparable burn mark on the surface of the stone. A good rule to follow is “if it’s too hot to hold in your hand do not place it directly on the surface of the quartz”

Quartz is made of resin and little pieces of stone, the resin that binds the stone together can be sensitive to some chemicals; avoid using the products as well as other products of a similar nature to the ones listed below,they may wear down the polish of your stone.

--AVOID THESE CLEANERS--

- ACIDIC AND ALKALINE CLEANERS (CLR, Bar-Keepers-Friend)

- POWDERED CLEANERS (Baking soda, Comet, and Javex)

- BLEACH

Using heavy duty cleaners is not recommended for daily cleaning but in some cases can work very well for removing stubborn stains, test in an inconspicuous area first.

Do not write on quartz with markers or any other writing utensils that have a high content of ink.

MARBLE ➤

Make sure the stone is properly sealed -- see: “When do I need to seal my Countertop?”

Even when your marble is sealed avoid putting anything acidic on the stone, acid causes etching (chemical burns that strip away the shine).

HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS WITH ACIDIC CONTENT:

- Wine

- Vinegar

- Lemon/Lime juice

- Baking soda

- Dish soap

- Cleaning Powders (Javex)

- Carbonated Drinks

- Toothpaste

...the list goes on…

Etching will only occur if the acidic product stays on the marble for an extended amount of time, so long as the product is removed quickly from the surface of the marble there should be little to (in most cases) no damage.

Do not put hot pots and pans on the marble, they can actually burn the stone and cause an irreparable yellow-brown burn mark

Do not stand or place overly heavy items on your marble counter, if you put weight on an unsupported marble surface it will crack or at the very least develop stress fractures which look like tightly packed white lines.

Marble scratches very easily so the following things should not be done when working on the surface of this stone.

- Do not use cleaning powders such as such as baking soda, Comet, and Javex, they will “scrape” away the shine.

- Do not cut on the surface of the marble even though thin scratches are barely noticeable when standing directly in front of the marble you will always see them when light hits the stone just right.

- Do not slide objects such as porcelain coffee mugs or glass bottles on the surface of the marble, any rough spots on the bottom of these objects will “scrape” away the polish of the stone.

QUARTZITE ➤

Some quartzites can be porous, in most cases the top of the stones are thoroughly sealed with a premium sealer.

However the edges on the perimeter of your kitchen may be untreated; it is important to thoroughly seal the edges of porous quartzite otherwise they will take on moisture that cannot escape (since the top of the stone is sealed)

Some quartzites have a high marble content and should be treated the same way marble is treated ---see MARBLE---

What is the Granite Install Process? ➤

A rough sketch of your kitchen is submitted to your fabricator. This is used to help determine how many slabs of material you may need.
A material is selected for your countertop.

- Quartz slabs are usually selected from a sample rack.

- Granite slabs are usually selected from a slab yard.
The final quote for the price of your job is be made up.
A deposit for the material is given (usually 50% of the value of the job)
A technician comes to your house to measure your project.
The slab is delivered to your fabricator, then cut to shape and polished.
The cut pieces are loaded on a truck and delivered to your house.