Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Granite?
- Does Australia quarry stone?
- How hard is it?
- Will it scratch?
- Why is Absolute Stone’s Granite so much cheaper...
- How does it comparer to man-made plastics?
- Is Granite available in white ?
- How about cream tones?
- What about putting hot pots onto it?
- Does It need to be sealed?
- How do I care for it?
- What if I get a stain?
- What if I get a chip?
- Summary
What is Granite?
Granite is basically a natural rock or stone, sometimes also called quartz or feldspar. It is formed over millions of years. It occurs naturally in every country around the world.
How long has it been used in Kitchens?
Granite has been used for the past 50-60 years as bench-top surfacing in kitchens. Prior to that, most kitchen bench-tops were manufactured from marble. (Generally white "Carrara" marble was used, a marble sourced from the mountains surrounding Florence, in Tuscany, Italy).
Does Australia quarry stone?
Yes, in relatively small quantities. However due to the high cost of processing the stone (cutting and polishing), it is available at a cost that very few people can afford. The determining factor as to whether stone will be quarried in a country depends predominantly on the particular country’s labour costs.Many Australian companies have gone to the wall trying to quarry and process granite.
How hard is it?
Granite is one of the hardest materials known to man. (Just slightly softer than diamonds). Hence, it is ideally suited to use for kitchen bench-tops and vanities.Will it scratch?
Not with general kitchen usage. Steel is softer than granite, hence a kitchen knife should not scratch the surface.Granite will only scratch when rubbed with another piece of Granite or a diamond.
Silicon Carbide is also harder than granite. Hence Green Scouring Pads should be avoided on Granite and also on ALL bench-top surfaces..
Why is Absolute Stone’s Granite so much cheaper than the Traditional Product, allowing it to be used in Project Homes and the Developer Market?
- We produce bench-tops using a modular system.
- Edges are pre-finished in China.
- Wastage is virtually nil, compared to up to 30% with traditional methods.
- The current colour choice is limited to a range of 18, though this is under review and will be extended as time goes on, and the market directs.
- Absolute Stone has a unique "leveragable" installation system, thus allowing volume markets to have access to this "world-class" product.
The Great Debate - How does it compare to man-made plastics?
(i.e. Corian, Granite Transformations, Caesar Stone, Silestone and similar)Absolute Stone’s Granite is a 100% natural, breathing material. It will have slight shade/colour variations, some veining (depending on the stone selected) and some composition variations, much like natural timber.
These variations contribute to its’ natural beauty. It is generally harder than the resin/plastic based products. These Companies usually advertise their product as having x% of Granite, the inference being that the higher the %, the more hard wearing it will be.
Granite will NOT burn. Most resin-based products create highly toxic fumes when burnt. Most house fires start in the kitchen……make your own deductions!
Is Granite available in white ?
No, which is one of the main reasons plastic based products became necessary. The closest stones to pure White backgrounds, are Marbles.Marbles are used for bench-tops, but are softer than Graniite, so require more care. There is an Indian Stone called "Kashmir White" that is a granite and has a white background, but definitely not as consistent as the man-made materials.
