tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957252938238286906.post4591499638652460739..comments2023-10-24T05:59:44.491-07:00Comments on All Stone Granite: Grades of GraniteBoyd McGuirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10125928054318547136noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957252938238286906.post-45686344855100689912016-09-28T09:08:50.654-07:002016-09-28T09:08:50.654-07:00/I have seen Super White classified as granite and.../I have seen Super White classified as granite and also as quartzite. I've also read that Super White performs more like marble or a "soft quartzite". The look is classic but I don't want to get into a 'tail wagging the dog' scenario where care of the slab trumps ease of use. Thought ?BigFranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05190820039931051156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957252938238286906.post-56286037369955602032016-01-21T12:25:09.632-08:002016-01-21T12:25:09.632-08:00Hi Sarah, colour and pattern differences are norma...Hi Sarah, colour and pattern differences are normally not considered to be defects but rather showcase the range of a stone's aesthetic form. Colour and pattern variances can be problematic when mixed together or when used adjacently in a design setting. Some stones may vary within the same block although it is more typical that a section of a quarry will differ from another section. Most quarries will "loosen" a large section from which numerous blocks will be split or cut from. A "master" stone craftsman/setter should select processed materials from consecutive slab or tile bundles whenever there are considerable known variances for the material specified. A consultation between the stone supplier, stone contractor, designer, and homeowner should always take place during the selection and pre-fabrication phase of any stone project. Hope this helps and Best of Luck! Rod MeyersRod Meyershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13267259067223133030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957252938238286906.post-3202045494653033872016-01-19T03:58:27.907-08:002016-01-19T03:58:27.907-08:00Slightly off-topic so sorry.
I have taken delivery...Slightly off-topic so sorry.<br />I have taken delivery of marble to replace a number of staircases. The material delivered appears to consist of 2 different marbles (both colour and pattern). They are vaguely similar but when compared next to one another, the difference is very noticeable. For example the steps are one type and the vertical infills and the skirting and cornice another. Is this a feature of a low grade block, material derived from slabs taken from opposite ends of the same block or (as I suspect) material taken from 2 different blocks when the first was used up. Any guidance would be very helpful.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16650406526985670760noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957252938238286906.post-48109647448607586512014-10-22T17:21:11.996-07:002014-10-22T17:21:11.996-07:00Thank you for your information on the various grad...Thank you for your information on the various grades of granite. I just got a solid granite shower pan that is grade A but I could not find a clear description of what grade A means until I came across your blog post.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05161265142800260959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957252938238286906.post-62826916868629734462012-07-30T09:21:01.256-07:002012-07-30T09:21:01.256-07:00Here you have providing very useful information Th...Here you have providing very useful information Thanks for such an incredible site! <a href="http://www.rockandco.co.uk" rel="nofollow">www.rockandco.co.uk</a>Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15651817009012481454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957252938238286906.post-44415521632824440192012-07-30T09:20:59.690-07:002012-07-30T09:20:59.690-07:00Here you have providing very useful information Th...Here you have providing very useful information Thanks for such an incredible site! <a href="http://www.rockandco.co.uk" rel="nofollow">www.rockandco.co.uk</a>Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15651817009012481454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957252938238286906.post-90464898790006715372010-06-13T17:10:20.198-07:002010-06-13T17:10:20.198-07:00hello rob, we are about to have granite countertop...hello rob, we are about to have granite countertops installed and the slab that we have chosen is silver cream. In my tedious search, i finally found a site that stated silver cream is a high grade granite, i was also told by a sales person that it is also an exotic slab. First question, is all of this true, and if so, what would be a fair asking price per sq foot. thanks for all of your help. I am located in Florida, if that makes a difference.royalandcrownedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17862261996388716005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957252938238286906.post-63989841663033196942010-04-05T12:57:26.097-07:002010-04-05T12:57:26.097-07:00Elaine, most granites and marbles require either a...Elaine, most granites and marbles require either a penetrating sealer, a top-coat sealer or both, depending on the stone's minerology. There are thousands of varieties of granites and marbles available not including the differences between each slab of stone from the same origin. I recommend a fundamental approach which when properly applied will for most stone countertops cause water to bead on the surface instead of penetrating and forming dark spots. Not only will this prevent water absorption but also staining from generic household cleaners, cosmetics, organic compounds, etc. Home Depot and most tile suppliers carry a few product brands such as: "Stone Specific", "Tile Lab", "Stone Tech". They all produce a penetrating sealer for polished granite which is also very effective on polished marble. Penetrating sealers soak into the stone and work below the surface. This provides long lasting protection and differs from top coat sealers which are more susceptible to wear factors. Let's begin... It is important to clean the granite surface and dry it completely before applying the penetrating sealer. Home Depot carries cleaning solutions for granite and marble to be used prior to sealing. These are usually mild to neutral ph cleaners that do not contain additives such as waxes which would prevent the sealer from penetrating. Alternatively, a strong solution of water with either pickling vinegar or baking soda will also work effectively. Rinse well and allow the granite to dry completely. I sometimes facilitate this with a strong hair dryer or heat gun. Wear gloves and eye protection and apply the sealer using a thickly folded paper towel or a disposable clean white cloth. Make sure to saturate the towel well so that a generous amount of sealer is applied. Try to avoid depositing sealer on mirrors, sinks faucets, and wall areas. The stone's surface should look completely wet and will dry fairly quickly as the sealer penetrates and evaporates. This process usually takes between 10 to 15 minutes. Apply a second coat and allow this to dry for the same amount of time. Be ready to buff the surface with a dry terry or microfibre cloth as it is easiest to remove within this time frame. The amount of residue left on the surface will depend on the porosity of the stone its absorption rate. In either scenario your stone will be adequately sealed. Stubborn residue is easily removed using a piece of extra fine steel wool which may also be used periodically to maintain your granite's luster. Steel wool leaves small filings behind which wipe up easily with a slightly damp cloth. Home Depot carries a cleaning products brand called "ZEP" which produces a spray-on wax based cleaner for granite countertops. This or a similar product designed for granite will provide an additional protective barrier, enhance your granite's luster, and make day to day cleaning streak- free and almost enjoyable. I re-seal my granite countertops every 1-2 years. Sink and cooktop areas; 6 month-1 year intervals for maximum protection. Best of luck!Rod Meyershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13267259067223133030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957252938238286906.post-43343165224565684392010-04-05T06:14:45.776-07:002010-04-05T06:14:45.776-07:00I have just had a piece of granite put in my bathr...I have just had a piece of granite put in my bathroom which looks fantastic, but I can't believe how much water it is soaking up. If I put a cloth down or a container, or if there are splashes from the basin they leave a dark spot within a minute or 2. Have the suppliers given me marble instead of granite, or is this a lower grade of granite? Any info would be appreciated.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11738734294389039650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957252938238286906.post-56389573436493483662010-02-13T12:34:36.924-08:002010-02-13T12:34:36.924-08:00You have a great blog for granite and I've lin...You have a great blog for granite and I've linked to this post which I find very educational. Hope you don't mind I post a back link..<br /><br />Chris<br /><br />www.WeNeedRehab.comChris Amstutzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13149941242220884987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8957252938238286906.post-32322907224073804292010-02-05T13:54:18.867-08:002010-02-05T13:54:18.867-08:00I have considerable experience as a production qua...I have considerable experience as a production quarryman,scaler,grader, and granite exploration consultant. I currently own and operate a marble & granite fabrication shop and stone restoration business. Granite quarries do have a grading system which differs somewhat from primary processors, distributors, and fabricators. There are 4 grades at the quarry level. <br />A- Monumental/Sculpture grade. Homogenous in color or consistently variegated. Grain will be ideally exposed when processed and surface polishing will close up well. Larger block yields,free of embedded fractures or surface fissures. Rift & Grain are ideally factored. Structurally sound.<br />B- Building grade. No consistencies in grain and coloring. Blocks are large but may contain fractures which are considered workable within processing machinery tolerances. Stone may be quarried with alternative grain structure. <br />Structurally sound when processed.<br />C- Utility grade. Usually smaller blocks with numerous fractures and fissures. Can be split or sawn dimensionally. Surface finishing limitations as well as structural limitations. <br />D- Waste/Landscape grade. Generally used in the quarry for road building or sold as landscaping material.Rod Meyershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13267259067223133030noreply@blogger.com