Quote:
Originally Posted by Keith  |
In our daily lives we don't need to keep everything sanitary and wipe down door handles and go crazy. However there are two places in the house you should care about when it comes to sanitation. The bathroom and the kitchen.
I viewed your link on stoneinfo.com. I noticed that it was registered by a company who profits from stone. Too bad the NSF which governs this doesn't see it his way. Say what you will but if he opened a restaurant and used granite on the food prep areas they could shut down his restaurant immediately on the spot even when a house packed full of hungry patrons.
I've been in the Kitchen business for years and I don't listen to anyone who is trying to sell me something. Here's my take:
BACTERIA: On the stoneinfo site it said that stone simply cannot harbor bacteria. This is laughable. Any surface can harbor bacteria including solid surface or stainless steel. Its just with the nonpourous surface you can wipe it off and clean it whereas with a pourous surface its harder to clean in the pours. C'mon this is just common sense.
RADON GASES: Of course granite doesn't have harmful gases. This is rediculous too.
SOLID SURFACE IS NO BETTER THAN GRANITE FOR STAINING?: Now I know this site is made by a granite company. I've been in thousands of homes remodeling and have never seen a stained solid surface top but have seen hundreds of stained granite tops. Can solid surface be stained? Yes but its harder to do. Can granite be stained? Yes and it happens frequently.
Even today I sell granite. If someone asks me my opinion I will tell them. Granite is beautiful and as long as you seal it once a year or so and take care of it then you should have no problems. Keep mustard, wine and other common items off the tops and or if you do get mustard or wine on them then wipe it up immediately. Don't let it set overnight! If the tops break or stain then its natural and there is no warranty. I've had one of my granite top suppliers tell me "Its made by God take your warrany up with him." We're friends and we talk openly like this so I wasn't offended. He was right too anyway.
Its like this... If you would like to have a suede jacket and you like how it looks and feels then buy the suede jacket. Yes it it may stain easier, yes it has its unique care properties and so if you want the look then you must live with the ups and the downs.
If you don't like the idea of sealing your tops every year or two, or if you don't want to wipe the wine or mustard stain up after the party then just don't get granite and get something easier to take care of like Solid Surface. The brands Corian and Meganite Solid Surface were mentioned on here. I've sold both and I have no doubt that if there is a crack, defect or even if my countertop supplier installed the job improperly I have no doubt that the large Corian or Meganite factory would back it up. Its written right there in their 10 Year warranty to me. If my Granite supplier "Billy Bob" goes out of business there is no large factory to back up the workmanship. There is a huge difference in the types of companies involved.
You are not going to die if you buy a granite top and probably nobody will get sick. "IF" you keep them clean and properly maintain the tops.
That is why NSF won't allow granite to be used in restaurants because they are busy Kitchens. They don't have time to wipe down the tops constantly throughout their shifts and for the protection of the people they require a nonporous surface to be used in food prep areas. Not a surface that can be made non pourous by a seal that needs to be periodically reapplied.
I don't need to visit a website that sell stone to get my information, just comon sense and experience will do.