FAQs
Can I afford natural stone for my house?
Natural stone has come a long way since it was first used in the home. With the technological advances and the cost of transportation and production, natural stone is more affordable than ever before. That is not to say that there are not more expensive and less expensive stones available, most stones do vary in price. For the low cost and the high return on natural stone, it is becoming a staple in most homes.
How would installing natural stone surfaces increase the value of my home?
It is said that most people, when searching for a home, first look in the kitchen and bathrooms. This is because those are the areas where people spend the most time. These are some main areas that are most likely not going to be replaced right away. People who walk into a beautifully decorated kitchen automatically can imagine themselves having a dinner party or making a meal. This creates a desire for the house right away.
Most of the time remodeling a kitchen for re-sale can have a positive return for the seller. On a street with multiple homes for sale, or even a geographical area, a home with a decorated kitchen using natural stone and fairly new appliances will sell much quicker than a home that needs remodeling work. This ultimately makes your home a better buy and more desirable then the next one.
How can I tell if my stone is good quality?
At Quality Marble & Granite, we only deal with First Quality stone. We do have access to second and commercial quality materials, but that is only by request of the buyer.
Natural stone is usually broken up into three different quality grade standards: First Quality, Second Quality, and Commercial Quality.
First Quality stones have no natural flaws such as cracks, large veins that do not belong in the particular type of stone, and large rocks that do not match the stone. First quality stones are known to have a very consistent pattern and color running through the entire piece. The surface will be free from any defects that can be prevented, and the durability of the stone will be the strongest.
Second Quality stones have natural veining that might make the presentation look inconsistent. There may be small to medium rocks in the stone that do not match the pattern and there may be small cracks somewhere near the edges of the stone. Some stones that are considered second quality will have a less consistent surface texture or pattern. These stones can be used by fabricators who can and would be willing to work around any natural flaws.
Commercial Quality stones may be seen with lots of natural veining that does not match the surface, or can be seen with large rocks that stand out and do not look consistent with the rest of the material. Commercial quality also may have a completely different look from one side to the other, making it difficult to fit multiple pieces together. This quality type is best used in areas that will only be using small pieces that can work around the multiple flaws and that are intended for a very low price. This type of stone is usually not requested in the United States for any surface covering.
What are the advantages of natural stone?
Natural stone has many advantages that make it one of the world's leading solid surfaces. From the wide array of color selection to the ease of care and maintenance, natural stone is a product for the exquisite taste, and for people who want that "One-of-a-Kind" product.
Being used for construction, natural stone has a very elegant and natural look, unlike any other surface out there. When natural stone is used for the home, whether it is countertops, flooring, showers or decoration, it always becomes a topic of conversation and is appreciated for its natural beauty.
Because of the most recent technology created to manufacture natural stone products, it has become more affordable than ever, and based on the durability, these products are built to last for many more years than most other surfaces. It is said that granite countertops have a lifespan of over 100 years.
Natural stone can be found around the world in many different countries and climates. Under these unique conditions, natural stone can be seen in many different colors, patterns, and even shapes and sizes. Because of this large variety, natural stone can work with virtually any color or texture available.
Does granite really have radon?
The idea of granite carrying radon gas has come across the media from time to time. This theory has been carefully studied and highly tested to assure, that no granite installed in people's homes would cause any harm from these radon emissions.
As a matter of fact 69.3% of indoor air radon content comes from soil around the house. 9.2% of the indoor radon content is circulating in the outdoor air. Studies have found that granite countertops are not known to pose a health risk to consumers.
You can see more on Radon and Granite by clicking below:
Radon has been a concern of homeowners
Are granite countertops safe for food preparation?
Actually granite countertops are known to be one of the safer countertops when it comes to harboring bacteria. Granite is safer and more sanitary than stainless steel, which is used in most commercial kitchens at restaurants. There are even products that can be purchased such as our sealer and impregnator which has been developed to offer anti-microbial protection for countertops sealed with this product.
The other benefit to having granite in the kitchen is that it is virtually scratch resistant. That does not mean it cannot be scratched, it just means that someone would have to try to scratch it to see any results. As a matter of fact, cutting foods on the counter surface directly, most likely will not scratch the stone, but rather dull the knife blade used for cutting.
Is natural stone difficult to maintain and take care of?
Natural stone has come a long way since it was first used as decorative surfaces. Not only is it manufactured to last, but there have been extremely successful studies on how to preserve and maintain natural stone.
When it comes to household surfaces, there are a large variety of products which are made specifically for natural stone. Some products are guaranteed to last a lifetime while others only last about one year. Either way, these products should be maintained on a regular basis to assure that your stone will remain in top shape to resist scratching and irregular wearing.
Natural stones need natural care, so stay away from any chemical that is not specifically recommended or formulated for that type of product. We recommend using a specially formulated product that is meant for use on natural stone or simply antibacterial soap and warm water for those times that you are out of stone cleaner.
There are different types of stone, which all have different and unique ways to maintain them to keep them looking great for a long time. Some stones are affected by acids, such as ketchup, tomatoes, lemons, limes, and many more acidic foods. Marble and Onyx are some of the more delicate stones, especially when polished.
For a list of natural stone care and maintenance products which can be found at Quality Marble & Granite, click here.
What is the process of natural stone from the mountain to the house?
- Natural stone goes through many stages of transformation, taking it from a mountain to installing it as a countertop or flooring, shower walls or fireplaces, facades or sculptures. All over the world there are mountains which are made up of igneous rock. Igneous rock is formed by slowly cooling pockets of magma that were trapped under the earth's surface. These rocks can take millions of years to cool and crystallize into granite rock.
- There are many ways that natural stone is quarried. Most common ways are by digging, cutting or blasting from the mountain surface itself.
- These blocks that are quarried are then trucked or shipped to the manufacturing plant where they will be cut to the desired shape or size. These will then be used for slabs, tiles, or smaller blocks.
- These slabs, tiles or smaller blocks will go to be polished or finished to the desired finish.
- The finished product will then go to the appropriate place to be used for countertops, showers, facades, flooring, sculptures, fireplaces and more.
- In the process of transforming the slabs into countertops, the installer will measure and make a template of the cabinets to cut the stone into the correct shape and size to fit on the surface to which it will be applied. During this process the fabricator and/or installer will create the edge detail on countertops to enhance the beauty and give it an appealing finish.
- These finished products are then taken to the location to be installed and detailed to give it the rich and elegant look it deserves.
