Prestige Granite & Marble is the North West’s largest granite and quartz worktop manufacturer. With more than 20 years of experience, we are proud to be your preferred supplier and expert on the latest technology and design innovations. Below, please find the answers to all of your questions about granite and quartz worktops. If you would like to learn more about Itastone quartz or any of our other products, please reach out to us!
Granite is an igneous rock consisting of mostly quartz and feldspar that features a crystalline structure. Its components produce granite’s light appearance, often pink and white. However, darker minerals like black mica biotite and muscovite often accentuate the base colour to give it a salt-and-pepper look. The majority of the Earth’s crust is composed of granite. As one of the hardest known materials on the planet, granite is an ideal choice to be made into worktops, bathtubs, shelves, and other products.
Granite is formed beneath the Earth’s surface over eons as a product of volcanic activity. As magma slowly cools over millions of years, it combines with minerals to become larger crystals that can be quarried and used in your home.
Granite is formed deep within the Earth’s core, while marble forms from calciferous deposits near the ocean floor. Each takes shape over eons, but their mineral compositions cause them to react differently in homes and outdoors. Granite is composed of a wider assortment of elements and is much harder than marble. Furthermore, granite may feature differing sizes and colours.
Granite will not crack or chip under normal conditions. Granite may crack as a result of improper transportation or installation, as well as from weathering, but it will remain intact as a feature in your home. In the rare instance that granite cracks, an adhesive and some ground granite can be used to repair it.
Granite can show stains or signs of moisture if a spill is not immediately cleaned. Water may also spot but typically disappears when it is completely dry. Liquids that may stain your granite include hand soaps, red wine, coffee, and oil. It is best to clean the spills as soon as they come in contact with your granite.
It is not necessary to seal all granite, but you will generally reap benefits from doing so. Sealing your granite will preserve its finish without altering its appearance. Using a sealant will also make it easier to maintain your granite and help it resist the absorption of spills or stains. Granite should be resealed at least every few years, though some areas may need more frequent sealant applications.
Quartz is the second-most-common mineral on the planet and the most abundant mineral at Earth’s surface. It is present in igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. Quartz is a durable silicone diode compound that can be used in a variety of products, including building materials and electronics.
Quartz is one of the hardest known minerals, which makes it a durable choice for worktops. Other reasons for quartz’s popularity as a material for worktops include its variety of colours, its unlikeliness to chip or crack, its stain-resistance, and its non-porous nature that does not allow bacteria to nestle in tiny crevices like it would with other worktop materials.
Quartz occurs naturally worldwide, but the two largest quartz mines are in the U.S. and Brazil. Large quantities of quartz are found on the surfaces of mountaintops, rivers, beaches, and deserts. India is also home to large amounts of clear quartz deposits.
Itastone quartz worktops are resistant to stains because of their durability and the resins that are introduced during production. Furthermore, the non-porous surface of quartz does not permit spills or substances to settle into small nooks to cause discolouration.
Quartz worktops are scratch-resistant under typical conditions. As one of the most durable materials used for worktops, Itastone quartz is capable of withstanding normal usage without a blemish. However, using a cutting board for knives will help quartz maintain its shine and lustre.
Quartz worktops are non-porous, which will keep bacteria or other substances from settling into crannies that would be present in the surface of alternative worktops.
Quartz’s resin component leaves it vulnerable to direct heat, so it should be treated with care. It is more resistant to heat than laminate surfaces but lags behind worktops made of granite and other stones in terms of heat resistance. Hot pads are recommended to protect the surface of your Itastone quartz worktop and keep its appearance pristine.
The largest slabs of quartz are typically 3200 mm x 1600 mm, meaning anything larger would need to be seamed. However, seams can be relatively inconspicuous so that your Itastone quartz worktop has the appearance of a seamless display.
Prestige Granite & Marble is the North West’s largest granite and quartz worktop manufacturer. With more than 20 years of experience, we are proud to be your preferred supplier and expert on the latest technology and design innovations. Below, please find the answers to all of your questions about granite and quartz worktops. If you would like to learn more about Itastone quartz or any of our other products, please contact us asap!
