Kitchen Remodeling--Granite counter

Kitchen Remodeling--Granite counter

I suppose a counter is a little off topic, but hopefully not too much.

We are remodeling our kitchen and have these questions about granite
counters.

The literature says granite cooktops are heat resistant.

Do people take hot skillets or pans from the cooktop or oven and put them on
the granitite?

Does the granite need to be resealed? How often?

Thanks

Bill

Re: Kitchen Remodeling--Granite counter

On Mon, 15 Jan 2007 21:00:33 -0500, Bill Hogsett
<bhogsett@adelphia,net > wrote:

>I suppose a counter is a little off topic, but hopefully not too much.

Not at all.

>We are remodeling our kitchen and have these questions about granite
>counters.
>
>The literature says granite cooktops are heat resistant.
>
>Do people take hot skillets or pans from the cooktop or oven and put them on
>the granitite?

Yes. No problems.

>Does the granite need to be resealed? How often?

There are new supposedly permanently-sealed granite counters, but I
haven't seen a report on them yet. Resealing is a simply process, done
once a year, twice if you're super-conservative. Apart from moving
things off the counter, it takes 10 minutes of your time.

-- Larry

Re: Kitchen Remodeling--Granite counter

In article <7aCdneHtK4BarDHYnZ2dnUVZ qninZ2d@adelphia,com >,
bhogsett@adelphia,net says...
> I suppose a counter is a little off topic, but hopefully not too much.
>
> We are remodeling our kitchen and have these questions about granite
> counters.
>
> The literature says granite cooktops are heat resistant.
>
> Do people take hot skillets or pans from the cooktop or oven and put them on
> the granitite?
>
> Does the granite need to be resealed? How often?
>
> Thanks
>
> Bill
>

We have an 8 x 3 foot granite island, 6 years old, and love it. It's
completely heat resistant, although we tend to be a bit over-cautious
and use hot plates most of the time. We also work directly on the
granite for things such as kneading bread and rolling biscuits.

We seal it every 2 years or so, although that can vary with the nature
of the specific stone you get. One word of advice - if you decide to go
ahead, be sure to see the actual slab you will be getting before you
agree. Do not rely on a catalog picture or a salesman's assurance that
your will be "just like" the one in the showroom. It's natural stone and
varies a lot.

--
Peter Aitken

Re: Kitchen Remodeling--Granite counter

Bill Hogsett <bhogsett@adelphia,net > wrote in
news:7aCdneHtK4BarDHYnZ2dnUVZ_qninZ2d@adelphia,com :

> I suppose a counter is a little off topic, but hopefully not too much.
>
> We are remodeling our kitchen and have these questions about granite
> counters.
>
> The literature says granite cooktops are heat resistant.
>
> Do people take hot skillets or pans from the cooktop or oven and put
> them on the granitite?

Yes. This is one "feature" of granite that I like a lot. It's useful,
too, in acting as a heatsink to cool down pots or casseroles.

> Does the granite need to be resealed? How often?

My granite installer said to reseal every 5 years, but I imagine it's based
on the type of granite you purchase. Different granites have different
porousities (is that a word?). My granite is 7 years old now (I haven't
resealed it) and it looks brand new. I love it.

Dee

Re: Kitchen Remodeling--Granite counter


"Bill Hogsett" <bhogsett@adelphia,net > wrote in message
news:7aCdneHtK4BarDHYnZ2dnUVZ_qninZ2d@adelphia,com ...
>I suppose a counter is a little off topic, but hopefully not too much.
>
> We are remodeling our kitchen and have these questions about granite
> counters.
>
> The literature says granite cooktops are heat resistant.
>
> Do people take hot skillets or pans from the cooktop or oven and put them
> on
> the granitite?
>

The problem is not from heat but from scratches like dragging a heavy cast
iron ware across it. So you do need protection to guard your investment.


> Does the granite need to be resealed? How often?
>

I have a kitchen that needs it every 6 months and one that doesn't need
reseal at all.


> Thanks
>
> Bill

Re: Kitchen Remodeling--Granite counter


Instead of granite, have you looked at Cambria?

http :// www .cambriausa,com /learn_faq.cfm

Non-porous, seamless, no maintenance quartz in many designs.

Andy

Re: Kitchen Remodeling--Granite counter


Andy wrote:
> Instead of granite, have you looked at Cambria?
>
> http :// www .cambriausa,com /learn_faq.cfm
>
> Non-porous, seamless, no maintenance quartz in many designs.
>
> Andy

Andy, can you set hot pots down on the Cambria, as one can with
granite?
Dee Dee

Re: Kitchen Remodeling--Granite counter

Dee Dee said...

>
> Andy wrote:
>> Instead of granite, have you looked at Cambria?
>>
>> http :// www .cambriausa,com /learn_faq.cfm
>>
>> Non-porous, seamless, no maintenance quartz in many designs.
>>
>> Andy
>
> Andy, can you set hot pots down on the Cambria, as one can with
> granite?
> Dee Dee


I dunno. Quartz is rock, I don't see why not. Anybody?

Andy

Re: Kitchen Remodeling--Granite counter


Andy wrote:
> Dee Dee said...
>
> >
> > Andy wrote:
> >> Instead of granite, have you looked at Cambria?
> >>
> >> http :// www .cambriausa,com /learn_faq.cfm
> >>
> >> Non-porous, seamless, no maintenance quartz in many designs.
> >>
> >> Andy
> >
> > Andy, can you set hot pots down on the Cambria, as one can with
> > granite?
> > Dee Dee
>
>
> I dunno. Quartz is rock, I don't see why not. Anybody?
>
> Andy

It is my understanding that it is not ALL or solid quartz, but that the
quartz pieces are put together with a substance.
Dee Dee

Re: Kitchen Remodeling--Granite counter

In article <1169237756.522034.107130@38g2000cwa.googlegroups,com >,
deedovey@shentel,net says...
> It is my understanding that it is not ALL or solid quartz, but that the
> quartz pieces are put together with a substance.
> Dee Dee
>

Precisely right. The "quartz" countertops are not at all like granite.
Granite is dug out of the ground, cut into slabs, polished, etc. It has
the beauty of natural variation, although some granites are certainly
better than others. All of the "quartz" products are not natural, they
are made in factories. They are surely durable but they lack the beauty
and variation of a natural product. Even after 6 years I am still
finding beautiful details in our granite island.


--
Peter Aitken

Re: Kitchen Remodeling--Granite counter

Dee Dee said...

>
> Andy wrote:
>> Dee Dee said...
>>
>> >
>> > Andy wrote:
>> >> Instead of granite, have you looked at Cambria?
>> >>
>> >> http :// www .cambriausa,com /learn_faq.cfm
>> >>
>> >> Non-porous, seamless, no maintenance quartz in many designs.
>> >>
>> >> Andy
>> >
>> > Andy, can you set hot pots down on the Cambria, as one can with
>> > granite?
>> > Dee Dee
>>
>>
>> I dunno. Quartz is rock, I don't see why not. Anybody?
>>
>> Andy
>
> It is my understanding that it is not ALL or solid quartz, but that the
> quartz pieces are put together with a substance.
> Dee Dee


Dee Dee,

I can't advise any further than what I said since I don't have Cambria. I
was debating on installing this product myself. I have no connection or
interest in the company.

All the best,

Andy

Re: Kitchen Remodeling--Granite counter


"Dee Dee" <deedovey@shentel,net > wrote in message
news:1169162917.886243.116110@11g2000cwr.googlegroups,com ...
>
> Andy wrote:
>> Instead of granite, have you looked at Cambria?
>>
>> http :// www .cambriausa,com /learn_faq.cfm
>>
>> Non-porous, seamless, no maintenance quartz in many designs.
>>
>> Andy
>
> Andy, can you set hot pots down on the Cambria, as one can with
> granite?
> Dee Dee
>

Don't know anything about Cambria but if its quartz then it should take the
heat. Also what I've seen in my local area is granite countertop is usually
3/4" thick and quartz is 1-1/8" thick and doesn't require a plywood backing.
Granite has many styles of edge treatments but don't see that in quarts.
YMMV

Re: Kitchen Remodeling--Granite counter

On Sat, 20 Jan 2007 06:30:46 -0800, "# Fred #" <noemail@nowhere,net > wrote:

>Don't know anything about Cambria but if its quartz then it should take the
>heat.

It's chunks of quartz held together with a binder. The questions primarily
concern the qualities of the binder in response to heat and shock.

>Also what I've seen in my local area is granite countertop is usually
>3/4" thick and quartz is 1-1/8" thick and doesn't require a plywood backing.

All Home Depot granite sold around Washington DC is 1.25" thick. Mine has no
backing, even under an 11-inch overhang ten feet long.

>Granite has many styles of edge treatments but don't see that in quarts.

Silestone and others offer various edge treatments, including from HD.

-- Larry

Re: Kitchen Remodeling--Granite counter

On Tue, 16 Jan 2007 10:45:25 -0800, "# Fred #" <noemail@nowhere,net >
wrote:

>The problem is not from heat but from scratches like dragging a heavy cast
>iron ware across it. So you do need protection to guard your investment.

Silestone, and others do not scratch. Quartz might be a
consideration for you.

>> Does the granite need to be resealed? How often?

Quartz does not need resealing....ever.

Silestone® is the only countertop with built-in Microban®
antimicrobial product protection to safely fight the growth of
odor-causing bacteria 24/7 for the life of the product. As a result,
Silestone is easier to clean and stays cleaner in between cleanings.

Re: Kitchen Remodeling--Granite counter


> Silestone, and others do not scratch.

Don't know about that. If you could cut it for the kitchen top than you
could scratch it.

Quartz might be a
> consideration for you.
>

Quartz would be nice but I see granite slabs everwhere and its so very cheap
if you install it yourself.