FAQ - Custom Glass & Granite

Frequently Asked Questions

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Granite Questions

Glass Questions

Granite Answers
Q:	Is Custom Glass & Granite right for me?
A:	Absolutely. Custom Glass & Granite is committed to customer satisfaction and building a lasting reputation. We want to work to satisfy the customer's needs. We are also dedicated to customer education as the granite business, though very old, is still very fragmented and mysterious. Most granite providers like to keep it that way so they can maintain artificially high prices. We strive to make the process of selecting granite totally transparent with no surprises.

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Q:	Who are Custom Glass & Granite clients?
A:	We do projects for architects, designers, developers, contractors, and private individuals.

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Q:	Can you tell me about Custom Glass & Granite and products?
A:	Custom Glass & Granite is committed to providing granite at the best prices with top quality workmanship. We do this by integrating all aspects of the granite business, from importing granite directly to the finished product. We are dedicated to providing outstanding quality at affordable prices. We also focus on continual improvement in all aspects of our operations to become more efficient and cost effective at what we do.

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Q:	I've seen some ads for special low pricing. You seem more expensive?
A:	Please read our helpful article about buying granite countertops (here). Yes, there are some "driveway" fabricators who can offer apparently lower prices, but check them out carefully and fully understand what you might be getting and what is "missing" from their advertised prices. Remember that cheapest does not equal best value.

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Q:	So, what is granite?
A:	True granite is an “igneous” rock formed when molten rock cools deep inside the earth. The size of the grains and crystals of the minerals that make up the rock are determined by the temperature, pressure and speed of cooling. Rock that cools rapidly is made up of small crystals and tends to be harder and stronger. Rock that cools slowly has larger more dramatic crystals but is often weaker. There is a lot of stone on the market today that is sold as granite but is, in fact, not true granite. Sedimentary rocks (rocks deposited as layers of sediments) consist of cemented grains of sand, shale and other minerals – slate is a good example. Limestone consists of the fossilized shells of sea creatures that lived millions of years ago. Metamorphic rocks are those which started as one kind of stone and changed under heat and pressure into another type of rock. Marble and Gneiss (“nice”) are examples. Many rocks that are called granites are in fact Gneiss or a kind of layered granite. None of this really matters so long as you can find the stone with the color, texture and strength that you need. The key minerals in granite are quartz (very hard), feldspar, and softer minerals such as mica which add special reflectivity and drama. Even though it is very hard, granite can be scratched because of the presence of softer minerals, and it can be broken or chipped because of the weaknesses along grain boundaries. Similarly some minerals in natural stone can be attacked by acidic liquids – lemon juice, coke etc, some more so than others. Another fact often misunderstood by customers is that the glossy shine of natural stone isn't caused by something coating the surface, it is the actual stone polished to a mirror finish using diamond polishing tools. Waxes and polishes just produce a water-resistant surface and add some reflectivity - like waxing your car. Some slabs are coated with a resin at the factory before final polishing. This helps to strengthen weaker stones and fills some of the natural pits in the surface. The color of some "resined" slabs will age or change over time, typically darkening, and on rare occasions the resin will react with sealer applied after installation to produce a milky finish. This is a hot topic in the industry at the moment and some manufacturers do not provide full information about their manufacturing processes.

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Q:	How do you choose a stone?
A:	The key issue is one of personal taste. There is a vast array of colors and visual textures available, including stone with “movement” – large scale variations in color and pattern. The popularity of colors shifts with the times. Reliable favorites which seem to defy trends are black, dark green, browns, subtle reds, silvers and yellow/golds. When choosing a granite, ask about its physical properties, hardness, strength, abrasion resistance etc. Any reputable supplier should be familiar with the stone’s properties and refer to ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) ratings, if available. Some interior designers and architects are recommending "honed" or flat finishes on granite - Absolute Black Honed is getting quite popular these days. I personally think it is a less-than-optimum choice for the average kitchen. It will show fingerprints, scrapes and un-wiped spills more readily than a polished finish and after a few years of wiping around a sink area the stone will take on a polish in some areas making it appear blotchy. Some installers and customers apply a sealer, which can just makes things worse. It is a pretty stone when brand new but some customers later regret the choice. Other colors are now becoming available in honed finishes as well as other textured finishes - flamed, washed etc.

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Q:	Are there other colors available?
A:	We offer any color stone if it exists in our inventory or in the inventory of any importer in the area. On this web site are just a sampling of available colors, which represent excellent value. We maintain an inventory of some of these colors in our own warehouse so that any project - large or small, residential or commercial - can be fulfilled quickly.

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Q:	And what about marble and limestone?
A:	These products can be great choices for bathrooms and vanities but I would discourage their use in a kitchen where they can be more easily scratched and attacked by acidic liquids.

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Q:	Will my granite countertop have visible seams?
A:	Most granite installations will require at least one or more joints called seams. During layout and design, we will try to minimize the number of seams required. Additionally, our care in manufacture ensures that edges fit together very tightly to help lessen the appearance of visible seams.

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Q:	What is the difference between a polished, honed, and flamed finish?
A:	Honed surfaces are smooth, but very porous. This texture is common in high traffic areas. Honed stone colors are not as vibrant as polished stone. Polished stones have a glossy surface that wears away over time due to foot traffic. The surface is smooth, but not very porous. The reflectivity of a polished finish brings out the brilliant colors and grains of natural stone. The shine of natural stone is the result of a special coating on the stone. It appears after a process provided by polishing brushes and powders used during fabrication. Flamed stone, which is very porous, has a rough surface that is developed through intense heat.

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Q:	Is there special care I need to take with my countertops and vanity tops?
A:	Cooking oil and hairspray leave a residue, and many common foods and toiletries contain acids and other ingredients that may etch or dull the stone surface. Use a specifically formulated revitalizer on a regular basis to remove these residues.

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Q:	What size slabs will I need?
A:	Marble and granite slabs are available in a standard thickness of 2 cm and 3 cm (¾" and 1 ¼"). Slabs come in various sizes, and the amount of slab needed varies depending on the job. Your fabricator can help you make this decision.

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Q:	What are my countertop edging choices?
A:	The design and style of your home will determine the most appropriate type of edging. Your fabricator will have many edging styles from which to choose. We can also help you choose a style during your selection process.

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Q:	How do you care for your new granite?
A:	Be sure to get your suppliers advice on caring for your new granite countertop as they should be cleaned regularly with a pH neutral cleaner, sealed with a penetrating sealant at least once a year (in most cases) and polished regularly to keep it beautiful. On the other hand, beware of salesman pushing stone sealer! Some stones are extremely dense and impermeable and do not need a sealer - Black Galaxy is an example. Sealer will only build up on the surface and cause clouding, requiring eventual stripping with harsh solvents. If a granite countertop becomes cloudy in appearance it's a reasonable bet that it is due to buildup of "something" on the surface. Although granite is very hard and most of the minerals are harder than steel, it can be scratched. If that happens it is usually best to cover up the scratch with a stone "darkener". Scratches can be polished out but that involves actually removing some of the stone and this can create a very slight "dish" in the stone which will show up in reflections. Polished stone is as flat as a mirror and changes in the surface will show up as distortions and these are often more noticeable than minor scratches. At the moment there is no truly effective scratch filler on the market, but I hope someone makes a breakthrough soon. Granite was once a molten rock and it can handle a LOT of heat - much more than engineered stone and other countertop materials. Go ahead and put your hot pans directly on the stone. I still encourage customers to be careful with pots and pans however, mainly because they can cause scratches it they are dragged across the surface and there is a piece of grit underneath. Also some metals will leave a black or grey mark on the stone. If you need to remove something like this, or something which has glued itself to the stone, don't be afraid to use a single sided razor blade or steel wool to polish the surface of a granite. Don't do this with limestones or marbles, however, they will scratch more easily.

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Q:	Do I need to seal my natural stone?
A:	We strongly recommend sealing all natural stone without exceptions. Natural stone is a porous material that can absorb spills and stains if left untreated. Sealing your stone will prevent most spills from damaging your investment. A wide variety of sealers are available, and we can help you select one for your specific needs and natural stone type. Sealers are chemical products that reduce the absorption and penetration of foreign agents into any surface where applied. Sealers will not always prevent staining, but will usually delay the absorption of the foreign agent into the stone. We recommend sealing natural stone because sealed stones that have been stained are easier to clean. Before a sealer is applied, make sure the surface is clean and no stains are present. This is important because if stains are present, the sealer will cure on top of the stained surface, making further cleaning fruitless. If this does occur, you must strip the sealer before the surface can be cleaned. Before you apply any chemical to your natural stone make sure you test the product in a small and inconspicuous area and evaluate the stone's reaction to the chemicals. By pouring an over-the-counter chemical over the entire stone surface, you may risk damaging the stone and making the original problem even bigger. Once you can determine that the chemical has worked properly, repeat the same procedure over a larger area. Sealers and enhancers will not bring shine to dull stones. If a stone loses its polish, it may be necessary to have the dull area professionally re-polished. Most natural stones can be resurfaced and refinished to their original condition, but it's best to leave this process to an industry professional.

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Q:	How do I remove spills from my natural stone?
A:	Blot the stain immediately with a paper towel. Don't wipe, as this will spread the spill. Flush the area with plain water and stone soap and rinse several times. Repeat as necessary.

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Q:	Are there cleaning products that could be harmful to my natural stone?
A:	Many products can harm natural stone. Do not use any cleanser that contains vinegar, bleach, ammonia, or acid. Always carefully check the product label for any of these ingredients.

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How resistant to bacterial contamination is granite?

If you're concerned about bacterial contamination of your kitchen countertop, it looks like stainless steel and granite are the way to go. That's what a recent study by the Hospitality Institute of Technology and Management, a St. Paul, Minnesota-based organization that develops educational materials and research for the retail food industry, shows. The study measured the bacteria-resistance capacity of six common countertop materials. Each surface was contaminated with E. coli (nearly 2 billion of the microorganisms), washed and rinsed with soap and water and then sanitized with a vinegar-and-water solution. The results are shown in the table below:

Surface Microorganisms Eliminated by Cleaning
Stainless Steel	85,113,804
Granite	79,432,823
Plastic Laminate	498,884
Tile	293,765
Concrete	32,810
Wood	2,080

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Q:	Can you re-connect my electrical and plumbing connections?
A:	We are not licensed electricians or plumbers. Therefore, we can not make electrical or plumbing re-connections. We can, in some instances however, recommend reputable and licensed individuals or companies to complete these tasks for you. This keeps us focused on the natural stone business to provide the best product for the lowest cost.

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Glass Answers
Q:	What is etched glass?
A:	Etching (high-pressure water, laser, sandblasting or acid etch) is a technique that permanently applies designs or graphics to glass and mirror. It will not chip, peel or wear over time.

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Q:	What are the differences between etched, carved, frosted glass?
A:	Etched: the use of an abrasive to alter the surface of a material. Carved: a deep etching technique that selectively sculpts to achieve a 3D quality. Frosted: etching that usually covers a large area.

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Q:	How can etched glass be used?
A:	Etched glass can be used to assist the architect or designer in enhancing an environment when just plain glass won't do: entranceways, corporate logos, store fronts, furniture.

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Q:	Can tempered glass be etched?
A:	Yes, but it is not suitable for carving. However, laminated plate glass can be carved and meets the same code specifications for safety glass.

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Q:	How can etched glass be cleaned?
A:	Any commercial cleaner that you would normally use on glass surfaces is fine. We recommend hot water mixed with ammonia and a stiff bristle brush for stubborn stains.

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Q:	How deeply can glass be carved?
A:	This depends on the thickness of the glass being used and the effect you wish to achieve. Generally the glass should not be carved deeper than a depth equal to 1/2 its thickness.

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Q:	What other kinds of surfaces can be etched or carved?
A:	Virtually any type of glass, as well as mirror, plexiglass, stone and marble, and most metals.

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Q:	Can I provide by own design?
A:	Yes. Custom Glass & Granite can reproduce your design either by scanning it into our computer or translating it into a hand-drawn illustration.
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