A special hats off to Jim Heaphy for writing an incredibly well wrtitten article on the Pros and Cons of Granite in the Kitchen and Bath Design News

Below is a portion of the article written for Kitchen and Bath Design News in March 2010 by Jim Heaphy "A Look at the Most Common Myths About Granite" -To read the entire artcile we reccomend to go to the original article.

"We’d like to shed some light on common myths and misconceptions about granite countertops. Some of these myths are spread by people trying to sell granite, or people trying to sell competing products by criticizing granite.

Myths also originate when people try to simplify complex matters, coming up with generalizations that are true much of the time but not all of the time.

MYTH BUSTING

Following are some of the most common myths about granite:

• “Granite is heat resistant, so it is perfectly okay to place hot pots on a granite countertop.” While it’s true that granite is quite resistant to the sorts of temperatures encountered in kitchens, excessive heat can damage or discolor some types of granite sealers. Rapid heating can also generate internal stresses that could cause a crack at a weak spot, such as a natural flaw or fissure in the stone. An easy way to eliminate potential problems is by using a trivet with feet.
• “Granite countertops should be resealed once or twice a year.” This is a generalization. Many different types of stone are sold commercially as “granite.” Some are inherently resistant to staining without applying any sealer, and applying sealers to these stones can actually cause other problems. For example, high-quality black stones usually do not need sealers. On the other hand, some stones sold as “granite” are so porous that their shortcomings can’t be solved by even the best sealers. There is no single recommendation that can be made about use of sealers on granite. The answer is specific to each individual type of stone.
• “Granite countertops won’t chip, crack or stain.” High-quality types of granite are very resistant to such damage, but any stone will chip if a hard, heavy object hits a square outside corner. Cracking may result from natural flaws in the stone or errors in fabrication or installation. Some stones sold as “granite” will absorb cooking oils, which darkens those areas significantly. These stains can be very difficult to remove...."

To Read the rest of this article visit - http://www.kitchenbathdesign.com/print/Kitchen-and-Bath-Design-News/A-Look-at-the-Most-Common-Myths-About-Granite/2$5477

Source: Kitchen abd Bath Design News March 2010 by Jim Heaphy "A Look at the Most Common Myths About Granite" - Original article