Granite

Granite is a granular igneous rock that varies in color and crystal structure.  Although it can contain a variety of minerals, it is comprised mainly of quartz and feldspars, making it incredibly dense and hard.  Granite occurs in hundreds of colors or mineral combinations, ranging from white to black and every color in between.  Since different minerals are required to make the different colors, every granite color has slightly different properties.  All granites are incredibly durable and scratch resistant.  We recommend sealing your granite once a year, with a good quality seal.  As with all natural stone, granite can vary greatly, even granites that are the same color can often vary substantially.  This variation is what we love about natural stone!

Marble

Marble is a crystalline stone composed of carbonated minerals like calcite and dolomite.  Marble can have a variety of other minerals in it as well, creating beautiful vein and color combinations.  The primary minerals in marble are softer and more porous, making the stone itself softer and more porous.  That means that a marble tile or countertop will wear differently than a granite or quartz.  As marble wears it can etch or stain giving the surface of the stone what is called a ‘patina’.  Many people love this look, but it is definitely something to keep in mind when searching for a surface in a high traffic area.  Marble can be professionally re-polished to restore its shine, or allowed to age gracefully!  We recommend sealing marble at least once a year with a high quality seal to protect from staining.