Bringing the beauty of granite into your home
come into our showroom and feel the quality.

Unit 8f Whitesbridge Industrial Estate. Southend Road. Billericay, Essex. CM11 2UL

Please call 01268 270008 or fax 01268 270004

Within this page we hope to answer all your questions and promote the excellence of GRANITE.

Order - using measurements you supply - using the fax or email details above and on our contact page.
tip... be precise and always supply measurements after you have decided the fixtures will remain in place.
for example - do not use your old kitchen base units as a guide if you are about to replace them, this could lead to inaccurate details.

What is the difference between granite and marble?

Granite is one of the hardest materials on earth. Granite is composed primarily of quartz, feldspar and mica. Other minerals may be present in the stone
creating its unique colors, textures and patterns. Used as a countertop material, it is resistant to scratches, acids, stains and heat. It is long-lasting, durable
and available in a wide variety of colors, textures and unique crystal patterns that create a warm and inviting environment for you kitchen or bath.

Marble works beautifully especially in the bath where the veining patterns and colors that appear can be used to create exquisite designs. Marbles are made
up of mostly of calcite. Marble is sensitive to acidic foods such as vinegar, lemon, tomatoes, wine, as well as some tile cleaners, mildew removers and other
materials commonly found in the kitchen or bath and will dull a polished finish.

Should I use granite or marble for my worktops?

Granite is the most versatile stone to work with. Granite can be used anywhere indoors or outdoors. Marble can be used almost anywhere,
but it has limitations. Marble weathers outdoors and it is more susceptible to dulling, scratching and staining.

How heavy is granite and will my cabinets support it?

The actual density of granite will vary from material to material. On average, a piece of granite that is one square foot by 1/16 of an inch thick
(12"x12"x1/16") weighs approximately 1 lb. In other words, Granite that is 1 1/4" thick weighs approximately 16 to 22 lbs. per square foot.
Granite that is 3/4" thick weighs approximately 12 to 15 lbs. per square foot.

As long as you have ordinary cabinets with frames that are securely fastened to the wall and/or floor, you're cabinets will support granite
worktops. The force of an average person weighing 150 lbs. standing on a cabinet creates more stress on the cabinets than the granite
worktops. The weight of the person (150 lbs.) is applied to less than 1 square foot of area. Whereas the granite only applies about 20 lbs. per square foot.

What are the advantages and disadvantages to using granite for my worktops?

Advantages:

Beautiful - Extraordinary range of colors and patterns
Bacteria Resistant
Scratch Resistant
Heat Resistant
Easy to clean
Disadvantages:

Comparatively expensive.

How easy is it to scratch the granite?

Marble is very easy to scratch. There are few things that will scratch granite: diamonds, another piece of granite, hardened steel.
If you wanted to scratch the granite you could, but under normal use you will not scratch it.

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Do I need to use a cutting board?

Marble - yes. Granite - no, not to protect the granite. You may consider one to protect your kitchen knifes.

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What special care does granite require?

Clean regularly, don't use acidic or abrasive cleaners that will dull the finish over time. Don't hit the worktops with a hammer.

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Can stone worktops be repaired?

Reasonable damage can be repaired: small cracks or chips. If the stone is chipped, always try to save the piece that chipped off.

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How resistant to bacterial contamination is granite?

If you're concerned about bacterial contamination of your kitchen countertop, it looks like granite is the way to go. That's what a recent
study by the Hospitality Institute of Technology and Management, a St. Paul, Minnesota-based organization that develops educational
materials and research for the retail food industry, shows.

The study measured the bacteria-resistance capacity of six common countertop materials. Each surface was contaminated with E. coli
(nearly 2 billion of the microorganisms), washed and rinsed with soap and water and then sanitized with a vinegar-and-water solution.
The results are shown in the table below.

Surface Microorganisms Eliminated by Cleaning

Granite 79,432,823
Plastic Laminate 498,884
Tile 293,765
Concrete 32,810
Wood 2,080
Dr. O. Peter Snyder Jr., who conducted the study, says, "We hope our research will help consumers make healthy decisions when selecting
a countertop surface for their kitchens."

Here is the report from the Hospitality Institute of Technology and Management

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How much unsupported overhang can my worktops have?

Overhangs should not exceed 6" beyond the supported area. An unsupported span of 24" and up to a maximum of 36" is acceptable as long as
the stone is supported on both sides of the span.

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How do I attach my dishwasher to the stone countertop?

It is recommended that you do not attach the dishwasher directly to the stone countertop. Most dishwasher manufacturers have either side-mount
or floor-mount brackets available. The side-mount brackets attach the dishwasher to the adjacent cabinets. Please, contact your dishwasher
manufacturer for these brackets. Drilling into the bottom of the stone can cause stress cracks and discolorations in the surface of the stone.

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