COcheesehead
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
We’re looking at a lot of model homes. Quartz and materials that appear solid in color are in.
People are sold on quartz because “you have to seal granite.” Sealing the granite is simple, takes little time, and only has to be done twice a year at most. If you’ve ever wiped down your wooden furniture with Pledge or washed the sink with a spray cleaner, you’ve done most of what is equivalent to sealing. Clear the counter, clean it, spray on the sealant, leave for - IIRC - 20 minutes, then wipe it off. Done.
It seems the seal works like a water-proof spray? The sofa I bought years ago came scotchguarded, and if I spilled anything liquid, it beaded up instead of soaking in, and the seal on the granite works like that, I assume, from the photos I've seen on the Internet. So if you spill nothing on it, I imagine you don't need the seal.
So to people who responded that they never sealed their granite and haven't had any stain issues, maybe you are such a clean, non-klutzy bunch of folks who haven't spilled anything major?
It seems the seal works like a water-proof spray? The sofa I bought years ago came scotchguarded, and if I spilled anything liquid, it beaded up instead of soaking in, and the seal on the granite works like that, I assume, from the photos I've seen on the Internet. So if you spill nothing on it, I imagine you don't need the seal.
So to people who responded that they never sealed their granite and haven't had any stain issues, maybe you are such a clean, non-klutzy bunch of folks who haven't spilled anything major?
Though early examples and current low end quartz looks manmade, you can buy quartz countertops that mimic granite, marble, soapstone, etc. now too. Some examples here https://www.thisoldhouse.com/ideas/all-about-quartz-countertops.
Though early examples and current low end quartz looks manmade, you can buy quartz countertops that mimic granite, marble, soapstone, etc. now too. Some examples here https://www.thisoldhouse.com/ideas/all-about-quartz-countertops.
Marble vanity tops in two of the baths. Stains just by looking at it.
Sounds good. It's either your granite is not as porous, or the seal is really good, but I'm no expert. After seeing some stains on white-grey granite countertops on the internet, I must admit - I'm a little weary because I want light-colored countertops...Well, we have had our granite in the kitchen for over 10 years. Never sealed it. I did the "water test" where you pour a small amount of water on the granite and see how long it takes to soak in, if ever. I waited over 30 minutes, and it never soaked in. Just stayed in a puddle on top. According to the test, no sealing is needed. And no, I am far from non-klutzy/non-messy. I poured the water right next to the sink area where most activity happens - plates/dishes/pots/glasses always being set down, cutting/dicing happening, etc. No soaking in at all.
Lots of granites just don't require sealing either because they have less porous rock or because they're dark in color. One of the reasons I chose Verde Butterfly granite for our counters 15 years ago is that it does not require any special products or sealers, and in fact, sealers can create a dull film on the surface so they're not recommended. It's a dark green that's mostly chunks of feldspar with white quartz inclusions, gold veining and some small red garnets that flare when the sun hits it. I assure you, this counter has had all kinds of stuff spilled or dripped on it, including red wine left overnight, and it still looks beautiful.
So to people who responded that they never sealed their granite and haven't had any stain issues, maybe you are such a clean, non-klutzy bunch of folks who haven't spilled anything major?
Quartz can be ruined by a hot pan, so we have ruled it out for kitchen use. Quarztite and granite come is various levels of porosity, which affects stain absorbtion, and colors, which affects your ability to see stains. We use a granite cleaner/sealer, so the stone is sealed every time we clean it.
I have not noticed those. Thanks. The ones I see are a monolithic pattern. I started a personal rule a long time ago. Mrs Scrapr & I bought an Olds Auroura. It was sold on the premise...just like a Cadillac only cheaper. It was a POS. If I ever have a chance to buy something that is "just like____ only____ I am going to go by the real thing
My own personal rule. YMMV
Anybody own very light colored (white with grey streaks) granite countertops?
A hot pan can ruin (crack or discolor) granite as well. But I can’t imagine putting a hot pan directly on any countertop anyway.Quartz can be ruined by a hot pan, so we have ruled it out for kitchen use. Quarztite and granite come is various levels of porosity, which affects stain absorbtion, and colors, which affects your ability to see stains. We use a granite cleaner/sealer, so the stone is sealed every time we clean it.
A hot pan can ruin (crack or discolor) granite as well. But I can’t imagine putting a hot pan directly on any countertop anyway.
Granite takes high heat better and is more “natural” and quartz is more crack/chip and stain resistant. Having chipped our granite counter simply cleaning a large pot in the sink, we’re sold on quartz.
So do we, or an unused burner if we just want to move a pan off the heat.Agree, we always use trivets.
So do we, or an unused burner if we just want to move a pan off the heat.
We may well with the next house though I’m not keen on replacing our All-Clad and Mauviel pots and pans, but we still won’t put hot pans on the counters.Join the induction range gang, as soon as you shut off the burner it is off the heat.
We may well with the next house though I’m not keen on replacing our All-Clad and Mauviel pots and pans, but we still won’t put hot pans on the counters.
A hot pan can ruin (crack or discolor) granite as well. But I can’t imagine putting a hot pan directly on any countertop anyway.
Why not? I mean I do this all the time. Well, I did it when I had granite or tile. Never had a problem from it. I am actually totally puzzled by this because I don't even know what I would do with the hot pan if I didn't put it on the countertop....