Granite is one of the world's oldest building materials. Over the years, man made materials have been introduced to try and compete with the beauty and durability of granite. With the introduction of these materials, misconceptions and falsehoods about granite have come about. Some of those granite "myths" are listed below:
GRANITE IS ABSORBENT - Granite qualifies as impervious to water, and is actually less absorbent than some solid surface products.- GRANITE STAINS EASILY - Granite is very resistant to staining. Generally, any liquid spilled on a granite countertop will not stain, when cleaned up in a reasonable amount of time.
- GRANITE WILL LOSE IT'S POLISH OR BECOME DULL - Granite will continue to shine years from now, and will not show wear from daily usage.
- GRANITE REQUIRES "LOTS" OF MAINTENANCE - Soap and water is all that is necessary for everyday cleaning. Most granites do require a sealer, which usually has a lifespan of 10-15 years or more. Application of a sealer takes minutes to do, and can even be done by the homeowner.
- GRANITE WILL CHIP AND CRACK - Granite is a natural material, and like any natural material, it is not indestructible. However, granite is extremely resistant to scratching and staining. Granite is also able to withstand an enormous amount of heat, more than is usually generated in a kitchen.
- GRANITE IS EXPENSIVE - Granite is very competitive in price, when compared with other countertop materials. Due to improvements in quarries, technology and shipping, many granites are less expensive than solid surface or quartz surface materials.
- GRANITE HARBORS BACTERIA - Granite is a functional material, which holds up beautifully to the wear and tear of a kitchen. Bacteria can grow on almost every surface in the world. A study by the Hospitality Institute of Technology and Management showed that during a normal cleaning with soap and water, granite which had a sealer applied, will quadruple the amount of bacteria removed during a normal cleaning process.
GRANITE IS RADIOACTIVE - Much has been made about radon and radiation in granite. Granite, which is a material that comes from the earth, can have some radioactive elements included, just like every other object that comes from the ground. Many studies have been done which conclusively show that granite countertops pose no health risk. More information can be found on the Marble Institute of America's website: MIA Radon Information.