1. CAN YOU CUT ON GRANITE?

Granite is such a hard stone that scratching it isn’t a concern, you may actually dull your knife blade. But it is porous, so definitely don’t put raw meats on it. Basically, you can cut directly on granite without damaging it but we still recommend using a cutting board.

2. CAN GRANITE WITHSTAND HEAT?

Yes, to a certain extent. It’s happened to me before that a potholder slipped and I had to put a casserole dish down on the countertop immediately to keep from dropping it or burning myself. That’s not going to damage your granite countertop.

Excessive exposure over time will break down the sealant and may even cause discoloration, so it’s best to use a trivet or a potholder to protect your stone. There’s a whole other set of rules when talking about an outdoor kitchen, so we’ll touch a little bit on that next.

3. CAN I USE GRANITE FOR AN OUTDOOR KITCHEN OR PATIO TABLE?

Yes but some granites hold up better than others outside. Consistent patterned granites without a high concentration of quartz are perfect for outdoor applications. Wild patterns with lots of variation don’t do as well.

Also, some granites have iron deposits that will deteriorate and leech rust over time. So choose wisely and don’t hesitate to ask. Your showroom project manager will make appropriate recommendations for your outdoor granite needs.

4. DOES GRANITE SCRATCH?

Another question commonly asked from customers is, “Does granite scratch?” While it is possible to scratch granite, it’s not exactly easy to do. Granite rates from 6 to 7 on the Mohs Hardness Scale, so it’s a really hard, durable surface. The only things that will scratch granite are materials that are as hard or harder than the granite itself.

For instance, you could scratch your granite countertop if you were to slide another piece of granite across the top of it. Some people ask for cutting boards to match their new countertops, which is a cool idea, but just make sure that you put felt pads on the bottom edge.
I like these that we picked up at a local home improvement store because they are thick and hold the weight of the cutting board nicely. You won’t be able to scratch it with a kitchen knife.

5. DOES GRANITE STAIN?

The most common concern that consumers have about granite countertops is the fear that they will stain them. We’ve talked about sealing natural stone in a previous conversation, here’s a link to that if you haven’t seen it yet or need a refresher: <insert link>.

While the honest answer to this questions is YES, it is possible to stain any stone countertop, even quartz. But don’t let that scare you away from using them in your home. With reasonable cleaning habits and annual sealing, your not likely to develop stains. If you do, there are products on the market to remove them that don’t require the services stone restoration professional.

Granite countertops have been around for a long time and they’re not going anywhere. There’s a reason that they’ve remained popular while other surfaces have come and gone. Natural stones like granite and quartzite are excellent choices for countertops for most any project.