FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
Stone Selection Process
Granite Stone Usage
Stone Cleaning / Maintenance
General Questions
Stone Selection Process
Q: Can you describe the process of ordering with your company?
A: The whole process is designed for quality and speed. First, the client picks a stone from the Quarry Direct Inc. (QDI) warehouse. QDI then gives this information to the client’s fabricator who will provide a quote based on the client’s specific project. Once the quote is accepted by the client, the client or fabricator will place the material "on hold" with QDI so that it is available when needed. The fabricator will then schedule a template date with the client. From the time the template is made, the fabricator's client can usually expect a turnaround time of 2 work weeks depending upon workload.
Q: Do I need an appointment to come down to your place?
A: No appointment is necessary; Quarry Direct Inc. is open to the public Monday through Friday from 9 am to 4 pm and Saturday morning by appointment only.
Q: Where do you operate?
A: Quarry Direct Inc. wholesale distributes slab and time in Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Nebraska, and South Dakota.
Q: What is your payment policy?
A: Quarry Direct Inc. is paid by the fabricator.
Q: Do I have to buy the whole sheet/slab?
A: Your fabricator puchases the whole slab from QDI. Please check with your fabricator on how it might affect your project quote.
Granite Stone Usage
Q: Can I cut on my Granite countertop?
A: Only if you want to ruin your good knives. Granite is harder than your knife blades and will dull them very quickly, if you use the countertop as a cutting surface. Always cut and chop on a wooden or plastic cutting board.
Q: Can my granite top be damaged?
A: Like any solid surface, high impact blows can harm granite. Because of its crystalline structure, it can chip if subjected to sharp hard objects. Unsealed, granite might absorb stains such as oil, which can ultimately cause dark spots or discoloration. Heat from pots and pans or burning liquids will not affect granite under normal circumstances.
Q: Can I set hot pot on my granite countertop?
A: Granite is formed by extreme heat and pressure combined beneath the earths crust. It can not be affected by heat from a cook top or frying pan. A lighted flame placed under the granite will have no melting effect.
Q: Can granite chip?
A: Only in cases of sever abuse with a hammer or impact tool. A chip can be filled with a granite dust and epoxy mixture. If a chip occurs on your countertop, do not throw out the chipped pieces. Your fabricator can use them to fix the countertop, so that no one will be able to tell it was ever chipped.
Q: Can granite crack?
A: No, not with regular use. Granite is most susceptible to cracks during shipping and installation. Normal use will not overstress this durable material.
Stone Cleaning / Maintenance
Q: How do I clean my granite countertop?
A: Granite is a very durable stone. It is also much harder than marble. Granite has been used in the past in the commercial industry. Some of the obvious applications have been panels on the outside of buildings, walls, and floors of "high-traffic" areas. Granite will withstand almost any element it comes up against including heat and cold. Granite itself is approximately 95-98% stain resistant but, we suggest using a Stone Tec Sealer on all of our natural stone products. This will insure lasting life and beauty. Polished granite should receive the same cleaning care as polished marble, preferably using a daily granite cleaner or using a mild phosphate-free, biodegradable liquid dish-soap, soap flakes or powder which contains no aromatics. This is followed by a thorough rinsing and drying with cotton-flannel or chamois. If you are going to go with just plain soap and water, keep in mind that this can lead to soap build up. This, in turn, will dull your countertop’s finish significantly and you don’t want that. Also, plain soap and water will not bring your countertop to a beautiful shine like Stone Tec’s daily granite cleaner will. When using a granite cleaner, let it sit for about 30 seconds and then wipe it off well using a soft cloth. This will work best. For more detailed information about cleaning, please view the video "Care and Cleaning of Natural Stone in the Home" by clicking on the "Links" tab at the top of this page and then select the video under the Videos Section.
Q: Does granite stain?
A: In general, no. All stone, however, is porous to some extent, but Granite has very little porosity. Most colors will never show any moisture. A few colors may show some moisture if exposed for a period of time. For example, a puddle of water left on the counter for 30 minutes for some colors, may show a dark spot when the water is wiped away. This spot will then dry up and no evidence will show. Only a few colors demonstrate this trait. Most fabricators will seal the countertops after they are installed. If the Stone Tec daily granite cleaner is used, the cleaner contains some sealer that may lengthen the time between sealing your granite.
Q: Can I seal marble?
A: Just like granite, marble is sealed after the fabrication process; unfortunately due to its porous nature sealing marble is insufficient for everyday kitchen use.
Q: Is it necessary to seal stone?
A: Since mineral surfaces are quite porous they absorb liquids, which may result in discoloring and staining. Although there are many commercial grade products available on the market which may bring the stone to its to its original luster, taking simple precautions and regular maintenance can save a lot of trouble and cost. All marble and granite tops are sealed immediately after they are installed. The impregnating substance penetrates the stone clogging most of its pores making its quite impervious to alcohol, juices, soft drinks, cosmetics, cleaners, coffee, food and even oil. With course of time, depending on how heavily the tops are used, the sealer gets washed out. The clear indication of this happening would be the fact that the liquids are easily absorbed into the stone leaving temporary (if promptly wiped off) stains. For more information about sealing natural stone, please click on the "Links" tab at the top of this page and select the video Care and Cleaning of Natural Stone in the Home.
Q: What is the best way to clean marble and other stones?
A: The old rule of thumb is never to use anything you wouldn’t use on your hands. Never use powdered cleansers or abrasive pads to clean your stone. Even "soft scrub" type cleaners contain pumice, which is powdered volcanic stone, and might damage your stone countertops or floors. Never use any product which is acidic; this includes substances like ammonia or many common liquid cleaners such as Windex. You should always use sealers and cleaning products designed specifically for natural stone. For more information on cleaning Marble visit Marble Institute of America's Care and Cleaning page. A video "Care and Cleaning of Natural Stone in the Home" is available in our Videos Section.
General Questions
Q: What’s the difference between marble and granite?
A: Although both are stones and both are quarried from the earth, granite and marble and marble relatives (limestone, onyx and travertine) are very different from each other. Granite is formed deep in the earth’s mantle at extremely high temperatures, and is a very hard, resistant stone made of crystallized minerals. The marble family (limestone, travertine, marble, onyx) starts out as sediment (animal skeletons and shells, plant matter, silt) at the bottom of bodies of water. After millions of years this solidifies into stone. Because its main component is calcium, it can be affected by acids such as vinegar and citrus beverages.
Q: Should I use marble or granite for my kitchen countertops?
A: Although typical application of marble is for the bathroom vanity tops, Jacuzzi tops and fireplaces, it is possible to use it in the kitchen. However, due to the fact that it is easy to scratch and is affected by acidic substances, such as vinegars, ketchups etc, we don’t usually recommend it. Moreover the high-gloss of the marble countertop can be partially lost as many chemicals etch its surface. Granite in turn is considered the second hardest stone, its polish is not subject to etching by household acids, or scratching by knives and pots and pans under normal use. It is also not affected by typical kitchen heat such as hot pans.
Q: I am considering purchasing a granite countertop for my kitchen. Is it expensive?
A: Excellent choice! The cost of a granite countertop is comparable to Corian or other engineered stone countertop, sometimes even less, while offering more benefits.
Q: My little sample of granite has pits on the surface – will I have these on my kitchen counters?
A: Granite, which is crystalline in its structure, always has tiny pits, spaces between the various mineral crystals. You don’t see them on a larger piece because the overall appearance is polished and mirror-like. Granite sometimes has natural fissures as well, which may look like cracks, but are not structural defects and are a naturally occurring result of the immense heat and pressure which formed the granite eons ago. These characteristics are part of the natural beauty of stone and will not impair the function or durability of the material.
Q: Will my granite look like the online sample?
A: The samples you see on the computer have been scanned and saved as digital images. The color tones may not be absolutely correct due to variations in computer systems, monitors and compression algorithms. Also, granite is a natural material with naturally occurring variations in color, tone, granularity, pattern, etc. These variations are expected and are the source of its natural beauty.
Q: How are seams made?
A: Seams are done where the two pieces of stone are put together. The seams are joined with epoxy that is mixed with the color that matches the stone. The joined area is then smoothened, leaving only a very thin line visible.
Q: Can granite cantilever?
A: You can cantilever granite up to 12" with sufficient support on the fixed end and with a large enough piece. Never cantilever unsupported granite where it might receive excessive stress like someone sitting on a counter or stepping on a counter to change a light bulb. You must have support underneath for these situations.
Q: What is the appropriate thickness for a granite countertop?
A: A standard kitchen countertop should be an inch and a quarter thick for structural reasons. Thinner granite can be used if appropriate structural support is added.
Q: Does granite have any pits or fissures?
A: Yes, granite has natural pits and fissures that are part of the stones natural structure. Some types of granite have more of such characteristics than other types. Pits are minimized in some granites that have been resin treated.
Q: Can granite be repaired?
A: It is very hard to damage granite. If any damage occurs it can be sealed with a mixture of epoxy and ground up chips of granite.
Q: How is Granite formed?
A: Granite is an igneous rock of visible crystalline formation and texture. It is composed primarily of feldspar, quartz, and mica. It starts off as liquid magma deep within the earth’s core where it is cooled and compressed over millions of years under tons of pressure. It is then quarried, cut and polished. After that process it can be applied in various ways like kitchen countertops, vanity tops, fireplace surrounds as well as Jacuzzi surrounds and other custom designs. Click on the "Links" tab at the top and then select Rob's Granite Page for more information about granite.
Q: Do granite seams show?
A: Because granite is a natural material and is mined from the quarry in blocks usually no more than 10 feet long, you will most likely end up with seams. Also, because granite is sold in rectangular pieces, you may want to use seams to reduce your costs, such as in an "L" shaped corner. The visibility of seams will depend on the granularity, color and pattern. A small, uniform grain (such as Uba Tuba) will not be as apparent as a larger varied grain (such as Juparana Vyara). A dark color (Blue Butterfly) will be less apparent than a light color (Kashmir White). A dramatic pattern with swaths of color (Paradiso) will show more seams than a uniform pattern (Dakota Mahogany). Most end-users have found that the beauty of natural granite outweighs the concern of seams.
Q: Is marble suitable for a kitchen countertop?
A: No, marble is not a good choice for a kitchen countertop. Although it can be sealed, it is not as dense as granite and therefore it is more porous and susceptible to being stained or etched in a highly used area like a kitchen. It is much softer and it will chip and crack under frequent use.
Q: Where can I use marble?
A: Marble can be used for a number of various applications like fireplace surrounds, tabletops, saddles, and shelves. Ideally it can be applied to a number of projects in the bath area like Jacuzzi surrounds, vanities, floor, and shower paneling. Generally you can safely use marble in low traffic areas.
Q: Is marble really appropriate to use in living areas?
A: Yes. Since ancient times, marble has been used in all areas of the Grecian home; from furnishings to floors. These Greek marbles have proven as durable as materials traditionally considered to be sturdier with the added benefit of creating a warm welcoming atmosphere.
Q: How do I deal with sink and stove cutouts?
A: Your fabricator has the ability to cut any sink or surface unit. Under-mount sinks (sinks that are mounted under that countertop so as not to show any rim) are fully cut out, then the inside of the hole is polished. The countertop is then flipped over and fitted with special grommets for your plumber to fasten the sink. Self rimming cutouts are cut 6" into each corner leaving some of the straight section to be cut in the field to facilitate safe shipping.
Q: What do I need to consider when buying a granite countertop?
A: Granite is a natural stone. It is very hard and durable, heat and scratch resistant as well as easy to maintain; it is the material of the future. Aside from the practical aspect, granite is very versatile in the design field. It comes in various colors and structural compositions, our yard stocks more than 1000 colors to choose from on site. All stones are not exactly the same. Each block will have unique characteristics attributed to the specific granite.
Q: What do I need to consider when buying marble or granite?
A: Because it is a natural stone, marble -and more recently granite- has been blessed with a remarkable natural beauty that has captivated humans throughout the ages. Inherent in such natural products is a certain lack of predictability that sophisticated architects and designers celebrate. End-users, who are less acquainted with the material, expect the marble or granite to be ordered to be identical to the picture or sample they were shown. Although sample stones are intended to be representative of the product, the material quarried at one time may differ slightly in color and veining from the sample. Moreover, even a single marble or granite slab will possess a certain amount of color variation from different blocks. Interior designers and architects have come to view this tendency of natural stone as an advantage. Slight irregularities can be pleasing, introducing an element of the natural into human-designed spaces, whether residential or commercial. Be sure to view the video Real Stone, Real Value which is located under the "Links" tab at the top of this page.
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Learn more about our products!
In this section you will find answers to the most common questions that our customers have asked us. Familiarize yourself with granite and marble so that you can make the best choice for your application.
If you feel that your questions were not answered here, please contact us. We will gladly give you the answers.
Please contact
Quarry Direct Inc.
For your tile & slab -
granite, marble and travertine needs.
Quarry Direct Inc.
1833 E. Mulberry St. Unit B Map
Fort Collins, CO 80524Phone: (970) 419-8576Fax: (970) 419-8420Email:
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