We are open via appointment only, Monday to Friday, from 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM. 

No. You can't burn granite with ordinary use. It is perfectly ok to set hot pots or pans directly from the stove or oven onto granite.

Generally no, although all stone is porous to some extent. Granite itself has very little porosity, while marble is a very porous stone that can be easily stained.  Certain coloured stones may absorb some moisture with prolonged contact in comparison to others. For example, a puddle of water left on the stone for some coloured stones may show a dark spot when the water is wiped away. Usually, no evidence remains once the liquid is removed and the granite dries. A stone sealer is highly recommended after installation, which is why we always seal the stone once we have fitted it for added protection. Some stones are more porous than others, so it is important to use a penetrating sealer to prevent stains from oil, wine, or other liquids from soaking into the surface. We have self-sealing kits available in the works that we sell regularly. 

Warm soapy water will do the trick, or even cleaners specifically formulated to help clean and protect stone surfaces.

Only if you want to ruin your good knives! Granite is harder than your knife blades and will dull them very quickly if you use the countertop as a cutting surface. Always cut and chop on a wooden or plastic cutting board.

Although both are quarried from the earth, granite and marble (and marble’s relatives - limestone, onyx, and travertine) are very different from each other. The greatest difference lies in the porosity, softness, and durability of marble when compared to granite. Visually, marble differs as it has veining while granite has a more fleck-like granular appearance.

Natural stone is categorized into two general categories according to its composition. Siliceous stone is composed mainly of silica or quartz-like particles. It tends to be very durable and easy to clean. Included in this category are granite, slate, and sandstone. Calcareous stone is composed mainly of calcium carbonate. It is sensitive to acidic cleaning products and frequently requires different cleaning procedures than siliceous stone. Types of these stones include marble, travertine, limestone & onyx

In general, it is very difficult to scratch. Granite is one of the hardest stones known to man and is highly resistant to scratching in ordinary use. A knife blade will not scratch granite. It can be scratched by another piece of granite or with specially sharpened tools designed to work with granite-like tungsten and diamond blades.

Not with ordinary use, although like any solid surface, high-impact blows can harm granite. Because of its crystalline structure, it can chip if subjected to sharp hard objects.

Granite is highly resistant to scratching, cracking and staining, and is impervious to heat. Daily kitchen activities pose no problem and it can take a hot pot without the use of a trivet. This makes granite an ideal choice for countertops.

It is not recommended as marble (and limestone and travertine) are calcium carbonate, and their polished surface is more vulnerable to household acids including vinegar, mustard, citrus, and a host of other food-related products. These acidic substances cause a chemical reaction, which will remove the polish. Additionally, marble and limestone can be scratched much more easily than harder stones such as granite.

Marble does make a perfect pastry slab; its perfectly smooth, cool surface is ideal for rolling out dough and pie crusts.

Granite, which is crystalline in structure, always has tiny pits - spaces between the various mineral crystals. Granite sometimes has natural fissures as well, which may look like cracks, but are not structural defects and are a naturally occurring result of the immense heat and pressure that formed the granite eons ago. These characteristics are part of the natural beauty of stone and will not impair the function or durability of the material. A product of nature cannot be expected to look manmade.

The old rule of thumb is never to use anything you wouldn’t use on your hands. Never use powdered cleansers or abrasive pads to clean your stone. Even "soft scrub" type cleaners contain pumice, which is powdered volcanic stone and might damage your stone countertops or floors. Never use any product which is acidic; this includes substances like ammonia or many common liquid cleaners. You should always use sealers and cleaning products designed specifically for natural stone.

Like marble, it is not recommended. Limestone is highly susceptible to surface changes or damage from kitchen acids including citrus juices, vinegar, mustard, and so forth. Unsealed, some of the more porous limestones can be subject to stains. If the limestone is polished or semi-polished, you will see a rough spot where the substance sat on the stone. Limestone can scratch easily as well.

Limestone is a sedimentary rock consisting mostly of organic material such as skeletons and shells of marine creatures and sediments. It is formed by material that settles to the bottom of bodies of water, and over millions of years, solidifies into solid rock. Earth movements over extremely long periods of earth’s history can lift limestone miles into the air. The summit of Mount Everest is limestone that started out on an ocean floor.

Availability, locations of quarries around the world, the rarity of the colour, and the amount of labour required to extract the stones all affect the price of natural stone. 

This entirely depends on the size of the slabs imported, and the amount of work that is required by the customer. We will lay out a worktop in a way that will minimize the amount of waste material while maximizing the natural beauty of veinings and patterns. However, we have smaller pieces (offcuts) available at more economical prices.

Due to the limitation of slab size, seams on a granite countertop are necessary and sometimes unavoidable. The visibility of seams will depend on the granularity, colour, and pattern of the stone. A member of our knowledgeable team will help to explain the seam process in further detail to you if required.

You should never use powdered cleansers or abrasive pads to clean your stone. Even "soft scrub" type cleaners contain pumice, which is powdered volcanic stone and might damage your stone countertops or floors. Never use any product which is acidic; this includes substances like ammonia or many common liquid cleaners. You should always use sealers and cleaning products designed specifically for natural stone.

Quartz countertops are manufactured by grinding up natural mineral quartz, then pressing it into slabs, which are bonded with resin. This sets quartz apart from marble and granite, as it is not a truly natural stone.    

Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, it is formed when limestone is exposed to extremely high pressures and temperatures and can take over 200 million years to form.   

Granite is formed underneath the ground when magma with a high content of silica and alkali metal oxides cools and solidifies over millenniums.