Granite, Marble, and Quartz are all appealing for countertops in a kitchen or bathroom, all three come in various colors and patterns and are a natural alternative to laminate, wood or concert.
Granite is the most common choice for kitchen and bathroom countertops because of its natural appeal and its resistance to stains, cracks, and scratches. Both marble and granite are naturally made stones and although marble has the most unique look and natural imitation it can be less forgiving when it comes to stains and scratches. Marble is more porous than both granite and quartz making it more susceptible to staining especially with highly acidic liquids and cleaners.
Unlike marble & granite, quartz countertops are not entirely natural, they are manufactured stone about ninety-two percent quartz and eight percent resin. By doing this it gives the manufacture a wider variety of color options and designs. Quartz is also the least porous of the three stones making it the most resistant to stains and scratches and requiring the least about of care and upkeep.
For cleaning use mild soap and warm water, rinse with clean water and dry with a soft cloth.
We recommend 409 Stone Cleaner for your granite countertops if you prefer to use a stone cleaner. Note that using too much soap or stone cleaner can leave streaks, spots of a film.
**DO NOT use cleaners that contain acid such as bathroom cleaners or tub and tile cleaners. To keep your countertops safe from stains we recommend using a sealer every year for granite, and every six months for marble. Our stones are sealed during installation.
If the countertops are heavily used, we recommend a sealer to be used twice a year regardless of the type of natural stone, contact us for service.
Most of our Granite comes from Brazil, we also import from Italy, Spain, China and India.
Granite is formed from volcanic magma under earth’s surface and takes millions of years to fully cool down and harden. During the cooling down process the magma combines with different minerals to create the various intricate patterns and designs you see. As the surrounding earthen material erodes overtime the hard granite is exposed and this creates what is called a “granite quarry”.
In general no, but all stone does have some porosity to it.
We recommend keeping your stone up to date on sealers to avoid staining. Some colors are more susceptible to staining than others. Spilling acidic liquid or using harsh cleaners can increase the risk of getting spots or stains on the granite. Also leaving any type of liquid sitting directly on the countertops for a period of time will run the risk of getting a dark stain or spot.
No, you cannot burn granite with ordinary use.
Although we do not recommend sitting hot pans directly on your granite countertops. In general granite is also very hard to scratch and is resistant to normal use. Although just like burning we do not recommend that you cut directly on your granite surface. (Ask us about a free granite cutting board with your purchase!!)
Granite is most susceptible to cracking during shipping and installation.
The likelihood your countertops cracking during normal use is very low. Although normal use does not include standing or sitting on your countertops!
We recommend sealing granite once a year and marble once every six months.
If the countertops are used heavily we recommend sealing twice a year regardless of the type of natural stone.
Click Here To Request a Free Quote or you can call (919) 661-1010.
Once we know the total square footage and details of the project we can determine the amount of material needed and provide you with a quote.
Options for tear-out of your old materials are available.
Price depends on the amount of square footage and includes complete tear-out and proper disposal.
California Granite is a highly trained contractor for stone countertops, but we are not licensed electricians or plumbers.
Therefore, we cannot assume any liability for making electrical or plumbing connections. We can, in most instances however, recommend reputable and licensed individuals or companies to complete these tasks for you.
Yes we offer a warranty!
California Granite & Flooring warrants that all custom fabricated marble, granite, quartz and other products will be free from defects in workmanship and materials under normal use for a period of (1) year time this warrant runs from the date of installation (the “Warranty Period”). For the duration of the Warranty Period, California Granite & Flooring will repair or replace, at its own discretion, products found to be defective. Products are warranted at no additional cost to our direct customers only (no warranty is extended to a third party).
Yes, backsplash installation services are available.
A backsplash is typically installed 3 to 4 days after countertop installation. Remember that we are here to help! You will have a design expert available to assist you in making your look complete.
Depending on the layout seams may be necessary.
Our highly qualified installation team will make the seam(s) virtually unnoticeable by color matching the seams with the color of your granite.
We’ll take care of simple work regarding disconnecting your sink.
Once your countertops are installed, you will have to reconnect your sink.
Granite Countertops & Quartz countertops are repairable. Our quality repairs are virtually unnoticeable once they are complete.
Natural stone is porous, so it is susceptible to staining.
The use of a sealer will not prevent stains, but it will provide you with reaction time to clean the stone. All natural stone countertops that we install are sealed before they reach our facility and installation.
Prefabricated granite does look nice, but is usually thinner and cracks easier than the real thing.
Most prefab granite is manufactured in China, so there is little or no quality control, and who knows what unknown chemicals are used to bind the material. Prefabricated granite uses lower quality grade granite and is [priced lower for a reason! The advantage of “full slab”/custom cut is that the possibilities are endless, you can have whatever size you require, with the exact slab that you want and pattern that you like on the slab AND it’s of much higher quality.
California Granite & Flooring only uses full slab granite!
Natural stone countertops are so popular in commercial and residential installations because they are so durable and easy to maintain.
The stone you install today will stay beautiful and functional for generations with very little maintenance.
DO’s…
Seal your countertops annually, clean your countertops with ammonia-free Windex and dry them with a Terrycloth towel, buff them with “000” steel wool to remove difficult grime, and do only light cutting on the granite surface.
DONT’s…
Use harsh or abrasive detergents, leave acidic liquids on the surface for extended periods of time, or leave wet rags or sponges laying directly on the surface for extended periods of time.
Please contact us with any other care and maintenance questions.
Yes you can, but we strongly recommend that you don’t.
The countertop installation process provides the perfect opportunity to update/replace your existing plumbing fixtures. In addition, once the countertops are in place, it will be virtually impossible to replace it later. See out popular sinks here.
Once you pick out the material, we ask for a 3-7 business day lead time to make the template, fabricate, polish, and have the installation completed.
An average size kitchen installation is complete in one day. This includes both the tearing out of the old countertops and the installation of the new countertops.
3CM is 1 1/4″ thick and 2CM is 3/4″ thick. 3CM is standard for kitchens. 2CM is popular for vanities, table tops, & bars. Actual thickness can vary depending on quarry.
The cost is based on two things, the square feet of the project and the type of counter-top or flooring you pick.
By choosing California Granite you are dealing directly with the fabricator and eliminating any “middle man” cost.
We provide very competitive prices and no hidden fees. In addition, to our reasonable prices we offer a 3-7-day lead time. Your stone can be installed in as little as 3 days!
We purchase material from reputable vendors such as Daltile, Cosmos, Triton, Marva, RockPoint, AG&M, Francini, Floridatile, Emser Tile, Traditions in Tile.
We also have highly certified in- house installations teamsand a network of a local specialist with years of experience to provide you with the best work around. Plus, you get to hand select the slab of your choice. If you need any help choosing the best look for your project we offer a free consultation service with our interior design experts. At California Granite we go above and beyond to make sure you have your desired outcome. See the California Granite difference here.