10 Things You Should Know About Granite

1. Radon Gas:
There were reports generated in 2008 stating that granite emitted radon gas. In the actuality the origin of the report was generated by the manufacturer of a man-made countertop product as a scare-tactic to drive consumers to their product.
Granite is a natural stone, which emits extremely low gas fumes and does not cause any harmful diseases. There are many independent studies posted on the internet which substantiate the truth about radon gas.

2. Maintenance:
Since granite is a natural stone, it does have some porosity. All of our countertops are sealed prior to installations. However, sealing does not guarantee that a stain will not happen. Sealing does not fill in all of the imperfections within the surface.
Stains are extremely rare. In the life of our company we have only had one client report a stain. Stains usually occur when a liquid, such as wine, olive oil or juice, is spilled onto the counter and the spill is not addressed for several hours. The longer a liquid sits on the surface of the counter, the higher the likelihood a stain could occur.
Many granite shops recommend that granite be sealed twice per year. This depends on the type of sealant purchased -- make sure to read the label! Some sealants are 1-year sealants, others are 25-year sealants! The cheaper bottles will seal your counters for a shorter amount of time. Our countertops are sealed in production; you will not have to seal your new counters until 1-year after installation.

3. Material Variance:
Since granite is a natural stone product, there are variances in the color, pattern and veining of the stone. These variances can be found from piece to another, and most certainly from shipment to shipment purchased for inventory.
Often clients will review granite and make a color selective but wait to purchase the granite for a long period of time while their construction project moves forward. When they come in to buy the granite, the color shade or pattern has changed. We recommend placing a deposit and holding materials if you have specific pieces that you really want.

4. Selecting your color:
Granite shopping can be a little overwhelming with all the different variations. To help you easily find the granite you want we recommend thinking about granite in four categories: light and dark colors, print or veining patterns. When you visit Silex Interiors we will help you find your granite selection based on there factors.

5. Thickness:
Granite is typically sold in 2cm and 3cm. We stock all 2cm products which is the predominant thickness. If you would like thicker granite we can source 2cm or laminate an edge onto our 2cm granite for a 4 cm look.

6. Sink Mounting:
Most sinks are under-mounted to the bottom of the granite countertops. Some companies use bondo and glue the sinks to the bottom of the granite. At Silex Interiors we use a metal sink setter which bolts to the inside of the cabinets. This sink setter holds the sink in place which keeps it from collapsing if overloaded with pots and pans.

7. Tie Granite Into An Existing Backsplash:
this can be difficult to do because the granite thickness will vary from your previous countertops. It is probable that you will need to either raise your countertop deck height or replace the bottom run of backsplash tile with a custom piece to get the new countertops to match the backsplash. During a remodel, we recommend replacing your backsplash.

8. Overhang:
Granite typically overhangs cabinets between 1inch and 1.25 inches. For eating areas we recommend between 12 and 16 inch overhang.

9. Installation Process:
Most people are unfamiliar with the process for granite fabrication and installation. A good understanding of the process can reduce stress.
1. Once your contract is signed Silex Interiors will give you a template date. The template date is the day our fabricator visits the job site and creates the templates for cutting the granite. The template date will be scheduled within two weeks from your contract-signing. The template process will take only a few hours and will not cause any disruptions within your home. If you are doing a remodel the old countertops do not need to be removed before the templates can be created.
2. The fabrication is completed at our facility. Within seven days of the template date Silex Interiors will install the fabricated Granite at your job site. The installation takes approximately one full day to complete. Although a second day may be necessary for detail work depending on the size of the job.
3. It is best to wait and inspect the work after the installer has stated that work is completed. Inspecting during the installation process only slows down the work flow.

10. You Can Afford Granite!
As Silex Interiors we use a unique production method which reduces your job cost from between 10% and 40% depending on your color selection. We have approximately 75% of the fabrication completed overseas before stocking the granite at our stores. This process leverages low cost manufacturing overseas and we pass the savings along to you!
What you receive as the client is the same high quality granite but at discounted prices and faster installation times than traditional fabrication methods.

1. Radon Gas: