Questions, answered.

Granite is a family of very hard stones — quartz, feldspar and mica fused deep in the earth into a crystalline structure. It’s used for countertops, floors, walls, fireplaces, steps, thresholds and sills, and is much harder than marble.

Its polish resists etching from household acids like citrus and vinegar, it resists scratching from knives, pots and pans, and typical kitchen heat won’t affect it.

High-impact blows can chip it, and unsealed granite can absorb oil stains. Under normal use, hot pans won’t harm it.

Flamed granite is blasted with intense heat to create a textured, non-slip surface for exteriors and wet areas. Honed granite stops just before a mirror polish for a soft matte look.

All granite has tiny spaces between crystals; on a full polished slab you won’t notice them. Natural fissures may look like cracks but aren’t structural defects.

You can, but it will dull your knives quickly. Seal at least once a year (every 90 days for heavy use) and always chop on a board.

A metamorphic stone of calcium carbonate formed under immense pressure over millions of years, giving it its rich veining. It’s softer than granite and scratches more easily.

You can — it makes a perfect pastry slab — but polished marble etches from vinegar, citrus, ketchup and mustard. Honed marble hides etching better. We generally recommend granite or quartz for busy kitchens.

Acid reacting with polished marble or limestone removes the polish. Green serpentine “jades” resist etching; granite is unaffected by common household acids.

Many green stones are actually serpentine. They resist acids better, but tiles must be set with epoxy to prevent curling.

Never use anything you wouldn’t use on your hands — no powdered cleansers, abrasive pads, ammonia or glass cleaners. Use cleaners and sealers made for natural stone.

Mostly ground quartz bound with polymer resins and pigments, compacted under vibration, vacuum and pressure into dense, non-porous slabs. We’re a certified fabricator for Silestone, Cambria, Caesarstone and Zodiaq.

No. It’s non-porous, resists stains from wine, coffee and lemon juice, and keeps its gloss without polishing. Clean with a damp cloth and a non-bleach, non-abrasive cleanser.

It’s scratch- and scorch-resistant, but we still recommend trivets for hot pots and a cutting board for knives.

A sedimentary stone formed from shells and marine sediment over millions of years. The summit of Mount Everest is limestone that began on an ocean floor.

Like marble, polished limestone can etch from kitchen acids, and porous varieties can stain if unsealed. Honed finishes show etching less.

Not at all — some, like Beauharnais, are nearly as hard and dense as granite, though still sensitive to acids when polished.

On granite, yes under normal conditions. Avoid it on marble, where heat can leave marks. Neither is flammable.

Granite is chip-resistant, but we avoid sharp straight edges around sinks. Eased or rounded edges look great and resist chips.

Material is priced per square foot based on origin and availability; edges per linear foot; and sink, cooktop cut-outs and special requests separately.