Granite Safes
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Columbian Home 0707-1 Granite Ware 21-1/2-Quart Steel/Porcelain Water-Bath Canner with Rack $18.97 Columbian Home Products 21 QT. Cold Pack Canner With Rack Capacity To Hold Seven Quart Jars Note: Cannot be used on sealed glass top stoves… |
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BIA Cordon Bleu 8-Ounce Mortar and Pestle Set, White $12.99 A mortar and pestle crush and grind herbs, nuts, and spices in a very satisfying, down-to-earth way. Both pieces are made of heavy, durable porcelain that is vitrified and nonporous so as not to absorb odors, stain, or crack. The smooth white glaze covers all but the lower interior of the bowl and the lower third of the pestle, where a textured surface takes over and aids in the grinding process. … |
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Corelle Livingware 12-1/4-Inch Serving Platter, Winter Frost White $12.99 A party favorite, this platter serves any variety of courses from appetizers through desserts. Perfectly versatile, the 12-1/2-inch oval dish is suitable for a sizable serving of hors d’oeuvres for entertaining, roast chicken with vegetables for the family, and a plate of brownies for hungry after-schoolers. The appeal of the bright white appearance offers a simple design that is stackable for spa… |
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DuPont StoneTech Professional Revitalizer Cleaner and Protector 24-Ounce Spray, Citrus Scent $8.25 … |
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3M 8210Plus Particulate Respirator N95, 20-Pack $10.99 … |
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Loctite 908570 ,2.7-Ounce Tube Clear Silicone Waterproof Sealant $2.75 3 oz. Silicone is the most universal means of sealing common household joints and cracks that are subject to direct water contact. This indoor/outdoor formula withstands temperature extremes and adheres to a wide variety of materials. It is also pH neutral for use in aquariums. Use it to bond and seal sinks, tubs, plumbing fixtures, windows, and siding…. |
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Granite Gold Granite Gold Daily Cleaner GG0029 $6.60 This unique, streak-free formula safely deep-cleans granite, marble and other natural stone surfaces, and quartz surfaces such as Silestone. Our Daily Cleaner leaves a fresh citrus scent, and should be used regularly in place of everyday household products/polishes, which can damage natural stone…. |
Granite Countertops for under $70.00 – Believe it!
Granite Safes
Kitchen Granite Countertops
Granite has become the material of choice for high-end kitchen countertops over the years. Not only is it beautiful and elegant, but it is very durable, said to be second only to diamonds. Although it is more expensive, it should last more than a lifetime. It also comes in a vast range of colors and granular textures that you can choose from to match your home’s color palette. Because of its aesthetic appeal, it also increases the value of your home.
Aside from its elegance and its durability, granite is also heat and water resistant, and scratch-proof, making it practical for the kitchen and bath. It is also impervious to acid. It is widely used as flooring and in other building features, both indoors and outdoors. It is also used in ornamental objects.
Granite is an igneous plutonic rock that is formed as magma solidifies deep in the earth. It is made up of large mineral grains packed tightly together, during a long cooling period. It contains quartz and feldspar and a spattering of other minerals. Quartz and feldspar are light-colored and what makes granite hard. The presence of other minerals results in the variety of colors and variegations. Red, for example, indicates the presence of iron.
The term ‘granite’ is loosely used for commercial purposes to indicate any type of hard stone that has visible grains. But not all commercial granites are the real deal, if you ask geologists. Many ‘commercial granites’ are actually other types of igneous rocks, such as anorthosite, andesite, charnockite, diorite, gabbro, gneiss, granodiorite, khondalite, pyroxenite, rhyolite, schist and syenite. Their difference lies in the amount of quartz, feldspar, and other minerals they contain. What you need to remember is that the strength can be determined by the size of the grains—the bigger the grains, the lower the strength.
Not all granites are created equal, and there is not a universal grading system for it. Stone dealers and quarries have their own grading system based on the same characteristics of the stone. The consistency in the grain and color is an important consideration. Consistently variegated and colored granites are graded higher. Large blocks that do not have surface fissures and pock marks, and embedded fractures are also considered of higher value. That is why larger slabs are more expensive than granite tiles that have been cut around these imperfections. Those are material known in the market as premium choices.
Care & Maintenance
Granite counter tops are easy to clean. But keep in mind that not all ‘granites’ are the same, so stay on the safe side and use only mild cleaning agents. True granite, however, is safe from all types of harsh substances. Look for cleansers that are specifically for granite. Then polish it with a soft cloth.
You can also do a water test to determine if your ‘granite’ has fissures– which is more conveniently referred to as being ‘porous’. To do this, spill water on the surface, let it stay for 5-10 minutes. If the spot becomes darker, then it is porous. The more porous it is, the more it needs to be sealed. Sealers will also protect the stone from any stains. But if you accidentally stain your counter top, it can most of the time be removed using a poultice.
When it is time to reseal your granite countertops, look at the many options available since there are several kinds of sealers in the market. The water based formulas are the most used .Some need to be applied once or twice a year, while others may last five to ten years. Some manufacturers now also offer granites that are permanently sealed. Sealing your granite does not take too long though, it is a 15-30 minutes process, and easily be done by anyone. Just make sure you use a good product. A good sealer not only seals the surface but also fills in the fissures, and still allowed the stone to breath.
But whichever direction with go when using granite for your counter tops, rest assure that you have added a lifetime of elegance, beauty and durability to your home.
About the Author
Val Rocha, has been in the stone industry for the past 10 years. She has gathered extensive hands on knowealeage about natural stone; that has enabled her to better serve their customers over the years. Their Granite Kitchen Countertop is located in Suwanee GA
What’s Lurking in Your Granite Countertops Can Kill You
When marketing a product, one expects a bit of hype. The idea is to show that the product is the best over the competitor’s line of product. That is the trade of advertisers and the history of marketing. Some tactics used to sell can be humorous or as serious as the competition between manufacturers. Marketing tactics that play on fears of the general public can be a very powerful tool.
In the present day, there’s a very popular angle of “green.” This is prevalent everywhere in the media. So what happens when you mix a scare tactic under the guise of environmental concern?
Buildclean found the answer to that question. The premise seems of the nonprofit organization seems to be admirable but the fact that the “awareness campaign” that Buildclean is currently using seems to be curiously slanted. In fact, the target seems to be the natural stone industry.
When Sara Selber of BuildClean was asked how she got involved in natural stone and radon, she explained how she was approached by the owner of C&C North America, a company that produces two products – granite and a quartz product called Silestone®™.
“C&C North America then recruited a quartz company called Cambria, after they learned quartz was an issue, she further explained that the two companies hired her to test quartz, granite and other surfaces for radon emission. Both companies are testing their products through BuildClean, and they contracted two labs – one in New York and one in Israel.
We have looked all over the C&C website but cannot find any mention of natural stone.
When ask what granites emit radon, Sara Selber said; “Not all granites emit radon or radiation. There are some that clearly do. There are some that absolutely don’t. We don’t know,” she said.
They’re being set up as a non-profit, and they’re funded with two large donations.
The first is $250,000 from the makers of ‘Silestone.’ They manufacture quartz countertops, which is a direct competitor to granite. Silestone finance records show that they started out in April of 1998 with a an initial investment of $410K, made there first million in 1998, sales in 2002 was over $70M, and sales in 2006 was well over $260M. it is not hard to see that they have the money to invest $250,000 in a new advertising campaign.
BuildClean is also getting money from Cambria, another quartz manufacturer.
In fact, Cambria’s marketing director is on BuildClean’s board of directors.
When asked about the funding Sara responds: I don’t believe the issue is who our founders are. And I’m not going to have that debate.” That answer seems to be clear enough.
In a recent interview Mrs. Selber mentions teaming up with Al Gerhart who has some interest in the granite radon scare.
Al Gerhart is a carpenter whohappens to own a website called the Solid Surface Alliance .org. He educated himself, regarding materials he works with that may expose him to harmful elements.”
Upon further review it seems this “personality” is well known for his view of natural stone. All one has to do is look at the website to get the gist of his viewpoint. Coincidentally, there also seems to be a new business venture for Solid Surface Alliance as the website now sells Geiger counters to detect radiation…
His debates have earned him quite a place online in forums discussing the subject.
After a certain debate on a well known residential forum, a renowned geoscientist in the industry concluded:
“Al attempts to hijack debates by choking the system with verbal diarrhea. The problem appears to be that he has a bit of knowledge about some things but not enough sense and understanding of the subjects. In that debate on the Garden Forum he threw in so many fabrications (plain made up lies) that his credibility just plummeted to zero.
Anyone who operates this way (by including a number of facts to gain an element of credibility in the eyes of a generally uninformed audience, twisting facts deliberately or because of his lack of understanding, and then throwing in a number of lies) does not deserve extended airtime. Many years ago when doing science psychology I still remember my professor giving the advice to his students that you should never engage a nutter in debate. You can never win an argument with such people. I recognized this early in the forum and that is why I would not engage him in “debate”.
One of his major problems is that he does not know what the numbers mean and how they are derived.”
In response to the buildclean tactics, The Marble Institute of America is in the process of doing their own independent study:
“The Marble Institute of America (MIA) is grateful for the preliminary response from the members to the newly established Truth About Granite Fund. Based on this positive response, it’s clear that their colleagues share their commitment to protect consumers from needless fear mongering by establishing standards for the testing of granite so consumers can safely and comfortably enjoy the beauty, durability and practicality of this natural stone.”
When we asked the MIA why Sara Speer Selber consider The Truth About Granite Fund as a draconian move that is being waged against BuildClean(TM), they simple responded:
“The Truth About Granite Fund was established to help raise funds to develop unbiased, scientific standards for the granite industry, including the testing of granite for radon. No such standards currently exist in the natural stone industry. Previous tests of granite samples have found they are safe. However, the Truth in Granite Fund aims to take advantage of new, advanced scientific instruments that make testing both more practical and more accurate. Our goal is to make sure testing follows consistent protocols, so that future studies are meaningful and based on consistent, approved science – not isolated methodologies or unapproved instruments. Ultimately, our goal is to make sure the granite we sell is safe.”
This latest sales tactic received the attention of an independent group called the Natural Stone Restoration Alliance (NSRA). The NSRA saw Radon testing as an added service that their members could provide to the homeowners along with all their other services for natural stone. Josveek Huligar, one of the lead testers and trainer for the NSRA , invited times Members of the Solid Surface Alliance dot org to discuss and provide proof of this threat to the home owners.
The Solid Surface Alliance dot org agreed to provide an alleged radiation producing granite sample that they claim to have in their possession to do independent testing. After an initial agreement between the two groups it seems the Solid Surface Alliance dot org has reneged on the delivery of the alleged material. Mr Huligar was disappointed of the outcome. The NSRA than requested the name of the company that Mr. Gerhart claimed to just have rejected over 10k worth of radon producing granite. When the information was not provided, Huligar ask if he could purchase the next slab that Mr. Gerhart rejected. But for some reason Mr. Gerhart could no longer find a sample for testing. Mr. Huligar went on to say: “All we care about at this point. As for whether are not Stone adds a measurable amount of “radon” in a home, Mr. Gerhart had agreed to come to NY and pick out a hot slab that I would place in my own home after testing my home for radon. Once the granite was installed I would test my home again as described by the EPA and have it tested by someone approved by the EPA. Not only would we do the short and long term test, we would also video tape the whole event, the selection, the creation, the install, and than setting up cameras for anyone to view the stone and meters on the net. I was looking forward to do this, but at this time it appears that Mr. Gerhart has no plans on doing as he said which is a big disappointment.”
The NSRA plans to push for this simple test, they feel that the consumers only care about one thing; “whether or not adding granite in your home would significantly change the radon levels in a home”. At present, the most prudent consumer should watch the outcome of this debate and make an informed decision, not taken in by a scare tactic by advertisers.
EPA Confirms That Granite Countertops Pose No Significant Health Risk
About the Author
Huligar is a proud member of the
Natural Stone Restoration Alliance