Myths about granite countertops debunked

Dear Contractors.com,

My wife and I are looking into getting new countertops for the kitchen and we need some unbiased advice. She wants to get granite, but I don’t want to pay so much for a product that I’ve heard can stain and chip. Can you set the record straight, or suggest something else that will help us decide on what to get?

- K.P.R. & W.R., Washington, DC

You’re having difficulty coming to an agreement because you’re both right – partly. Your opinions are conflicting because your concerns refer to different qualities, or grades, of granite. Let’s clear up a few things.

First, chipping your countertop shouldn’t really be a concern. “For designer-grade granite, which is the highest quality, the surface is sealed with resin to fill in any cracks or pits, and to protect the surface,” explains Sibel Unsal, owner of Stone Masters, Inc., of Springfield, Virginia. “The coating makes it smoother and resistant to stains and chips, without affecting the look.”

However, countertops made from lower qualities of granite are not resin-sealed, and are susceptible to damage (they also have more variations and more seams, as they are assembled from smaller pieces of granite). “Chipping shouldn’t be a concern. People forget that granite is a rock, and a pretty hard rock. In fact, its strength is rated 7 out of 10, compared with stainless steel, which is a 5 on 10,” continues Unsal, whose family-owned business uses only designer-grade granite.

As for stains, they are highly unlikely. According to Unsal, you’d have to have either acid or oil sit on an unsealed surface for at least three hours before a stain would set in. And even if you do get a stain, it can be removed.

“For an acid stain, soak it overnight in a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. And for oil stains, apply toothpaste and leave it overnight,” says Unsal, who advises that the toothpaste remedy can also be used for pimples on your skin. “But I’ve never had anyone complain about a stain.”

Finally, the price of granite has come down in the past 5 years, due to the increased demand and competition. These days, granite will cost you the same or less than Silestone or Corian countertops. “You’ll pay a bit more for a quality, first grade granite countertop, but the prices are nowhere near what they were before their surge in popularity,” Unsal concludes.