About:
Granite is an igneous rock predominately made of quartz, mica, and feldspars. It can be found all over the world with South America and India being two of the more predominant suppliers of stone for the building industry. It is quarried into huge blocks, sliced into slabs or tiles, and polished to the specified finish desired. Granite varies from fairly uniform grainy patterns to dramatic swirls and comes in a huge range of colors. Each piece of stone is unique making each installation in your home equally as special.
TEXTURES & STYLES
Granite comes in four different textures. Not every stone is available in all the finishes. Texture choices are more limited in tile form.
Polished: Polished granite is the most common finish. It is shiny and has the smallest pores therefore is the most impervious to staining. Almost all color choices are available in the polished finish.
Honed: Honed granite is smooth with a matte finish. It shows less dust than polished but is more susceptible to staining and watermarks, requiring more maintenance. Be especially cautious with oils as they can be absorbed into honed stones.
Antiqued/Brushed: More and more stones are becoming available in the antiqued finish as this style is gaining in popularity. This look can fit into a broad range of styles. It has a satin finish with a slight texture. The surface of the stone has been treated with a silicon carbide brush which removes the softer material and burnishes the stone creating an unusual and durable finish.
Flamed: The flamed finish is achieved by torching the surface of the granite creating a rough texture. This finish is generally used on floors in commercial projects.
SEALING & CLEANING
Maintaining a proper seal on your stone and cleaning with the proper products will elongate the life of your granite. Test all cleaners and sealers in an inconspicuous area before full application. Miracle Sealants Company offers a wide variety of supplies that you can purchase through our showroom.
Stonetech Revitalizer: This can be used on any style of granite. The combination of pH-neutral cleaner and sealer is ready to use out of the spray bottle. Not for everyday use.
Stonetech KlenzAll: This is a great everyday cleaner. It is pH neutral and conveniently in a spray bottle.
Stonetech Enhancer Pro: This color-enhancing, penetrating sealer is designed to leave the stone with the color it is when it is wet without changing the finish. This is intended for honed and brushed stones.
Stonetech Impregnator Pro: This penetrating sealer has an added polymer that is large enough to clog the larger pores in flamed stone. Also great for a non-color enhancing look in brushed and honed granites.
Stonetech Bulletproof: This water-based penetrating sealer is perfect for sealing your polished granite. It will not change the color of the stone.
Granite is available in both tile and slab form, though tile formats are increasingly difficult to find as slab becomes the preferred application. Granite countertops are often a popular use for this exquisite stone.
Slab: Granite slabs are a beautiful way to add value and personality to your home. They vary greatly in price depending on color, availability, and country of origin. A typical slab is seven to ten feet long. Depending on your layout there is a possibility of having seams. Slab seams are filled with a matching color epoxy making them more durable than grout seams. We adjust the template layout to make the stone’s movement continue through the seamed area to the best of our ability.
There are several edge profiles to select from, although not all stones can accept all edge details. Mineral deposits, pockmarks, fissures, and pits are all naturally occurring in some stones. These can affect the material’s ability to accept a polish, occasionally creating dull spots. These are not defects of the stone, they are characteristics that remind you that you have a beautiful naturally formed rock, not a manufactured product…think of them as freckles. If these characteristics do not appeal to you please ask us about the quartz products that we offer.
With so many options of types of granite, we are sure your personal tastes will be satisfied. We look forward to your investment lasting more than a lifetime.