Granite

Many of us talk about granite worktops without actually appreciating its long life cycle before it brings our kitchens a healthy helping of luxury. We hope this helps.

Definition

Granite is an igneous rock composed of mostly two minerals: quartz and feldspar. It is an intrusive rock, meaning that it crystallized from magma that cooled far below the earth's surface. Its name is derived from the Latin word 'granum', which means 'grain', a reference to the easily-seen minerals in the rock.

Where Is Granite Found?

Much of the earth's continental crust is made of granite and it forms the cores of the continents. In North America, the landscape surrounding Canada's Hudson Bay and extending south to Minnesota consists of granite bedrock. Those rocks are part of the Canadian Shield, the oldest rocks on the continent.

Granite also is found below much of the rest of the middle of the continent. Buried under hundreds of feet of sedimentary rocks and glacier-deposited sediment, you'll find what's called basement rock. Granite can make up much of this foundation of the continents.

In mountain ranges like the Sierra Nevada, Appalachians, and Rocky Mountains, granite is found in huge masses of rock called batholiths, which form the roots of the mountains.

Granite Care

To keep granite worktops clean, we recommend you use a microfiber cloth to dust off the surfaces. Wipe down the granite countertops as needed using warm water. When possible wipe down the worktops with a damp cloth and a stone cleaner formulated with a neutral pH. Stay away from harsh chemicals and abrasive cleaners as they can scratch, pit, and etch the surface of the stone.

How often should I seal my granite counters?

How often you'll need to re-seal your granite depends on the absorption rate of your material, the type/quality of the granite and the products used for cleaning.

How often you should re-seal your granite worktops depends on several things. The absorption rate of your stone (porous or dense), the type/quality of the material, and the products used for cleaning the worktops.

Light colored granites and un-polished (honed, leathered) softer stones such as marble may need sealing every 1-3 years.

Dark colored granites (blues, blacks, browns and greys) can be sealed less frequently such as every 3-5 years.