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1.
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What is the difference between granite and marble?
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2.
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What does the grade on granite and marble mean?
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3.
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Should I use granite or marble for my benchtops?
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4.
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How heavy is granite and will my cabinets support it?
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5.
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Do I need to seal my benchtop?
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6.
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What are the advantages and disadvantages of a granite benchtops?
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7.
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How easy is it to scratch stone?
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8.
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Do I need to use a cutting board?
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9.
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What special care does stone require?
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10.
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Can stone benchtops be repaired?
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11.
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How resistant to bacterial contamination is granite?
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12.
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How much unsupported overhang can my benchtop have?
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13.
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What is the entire manufacturing process of polished slabs?
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Answers
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1. What is the difference between granite and marble?
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A.
Granite is one of the hardest materials on earth composed primarily of quartz,
feldspar and mica. The other minerals present in the stone give granite its unique colour,
texture and pattern. It is resistant to scratches, acids, stains and heat. It is long-lasting,
durable and available in a wide variety of colours, textures and unique crystal patterns that
create a warm and inviting environment for your kitchen or bathroom.
Marble is a beautiful stone suitable in bathrooms where the veining patterns and colours can
be used to create exquisite designs. Marbles are made up of mostly calcite. Marble is
sensitive to acidic foods such as vinegar, lemon, tomatoes, wine, some cleaners, mildew
removers and other materials commonly found in the kitchen or bathroom. These materials
could damage marble and dull a polished finish.
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2. What does the grade on granite and marble mean?
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A.
The grades given to granite and marble are for pricing purposes only and do not reflect
the quality of the stone. Often we are asked to price a granite benchtop where the customer
has not yet specified the stone.
In this instance we provide a quotation on a range of granites from categories A-E
(category A being the lowest price and category E being the highest).
Then when the customer selects their stone all they need to do is match the category
given to the stone with the quotation provided earlier.
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3. Should I use granite or marble for my benchtops?
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A.
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.
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4. How heavy is granite and will my cabinets support it?
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A.
The density and weight of granite is variable.
On average, 1 square metre of granite that is 3cm thick weighs approximately 100 kilograms.
As long as your kitchen cabinets are level and are secured to the wall and floor,
they will adequately support granite benchtops.
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5. Do I need to seal my benchtop?
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A.
You can't go wrong by sealing your benchtop.
Using a sealer does not make the stone un-stainable.
It simply fills the pores in the stone and makes the staining process slower,
thus giving you more time to clean a spill before a stain sets in.
All marbles and lighter colored granites should be sealed.
Marbles should be sealed once or twice a year. Granites should be sealed once a year.
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6. What are the advantages and disadvantages of a granite benchtops?
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A.
Advantages:
Extraordinary range of colors and patterns
Bacteria Resistant
Scratch Resistant
Heat Resistant
Easy to clean
Disadvantages:
Joins
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7. How easy is it to scratch stone?
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A.
There are few things that will scratch granite:
- diamonds
- another piece of granite
- hardened steel
If you want to scratch the granite you could,
such as by driving a knife into the granite with force
and dragging it along the surface. However,
under normal conditions you should not scratch it.
By contrast, marbles and limestones are very easy to scratch.
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8. Do I need to use a cutting board?
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A.
Granite - no
Marble - yes
However, you may consider the use of a chopping board to protect your kitchen knifes.
Cutting directly on the surface of a granite benchtop will blunt your knives.
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9. What special care does stone require?
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A.
Your granite benchtop may require sealing. Otherwise,
cleaning the benchtop with soap and water should suffice.
Don't use acidic or abrasive cleaners that will dull the finish over time.
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10. Can stone benchtops be repaired?
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A.
Reasonable damage such as small cracks or chips can be repaired.
However, be aware to always try and save the chipped piece of stone.
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11. How resistant to bacterial contamination is granite?
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A.
We have obtained some interesting information from the World Wide Web.
A study was made to measure the bacteria-resistance of six common benchtop materials.
The study involved contaminating each surface with E. coli.
The surfaces were washed and rinsed with soap and water and then sanitised with a
vinegar and water solution. The results revealed that Stainless Steel and Granite are
clearly a hygienic form of benchtop.
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12. How much unsupported overhang can my benchtop have?
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A.
In most cases overhang should not exceed 300mm beyond the supported area.
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13. What is the entire manufacturing process of polished slabs?
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A.
To view the entire process from quarrying granite to the processing of slabs
please click on the following link.
http://www.levantinadegranitos.com/eng/prodemat.htm
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