Expert Answers in Counter tops

ANSWER - The term "fissure" is used commercially in the stone industry to describe a visible separation along intercrystalline boundaries of a natural stone.  This separation may start and stop within the field of the…

ANSWER - The standard practice for suppliers and fabricators of natural stone slabs for countertops and other applications is to have the client inspect and approve the slab before fabricating it.   Typically there is paperwork…

ANSWER - Industry standards state that for 3/4" (2 cm) thick stone you can cantilever the support 6" and for 1.25" ( 3 cm) stone you can cantilever 10".  But in no case can you…

ANSWER - There are no industry standards for natural stone countertops that dictates how thick the backsplash is relative to the thickness of the countertop itself.  All of the industry details for countertops depict the…

ANSWER - There is no mandate on where seams can or cannot be placed on a stone countertop, although the standards do state that the layout of the joinery of the countertops is extremely important…

ANSWER - Marble isn't the safest material to use on a kitchen countertop because it is primarily comprised of calcium carbonate that is chemical sensitive and has a tendency to scratch.  Having a honed surface…

ANSWER - In spite of the name suggesting it is granite, Petit Granit is known as a Belgian Limestone.  Several sources on the internet state not to use it as a countertop and say it…

ANSWER - Many natural stones that are produced around the world are treated with a type of sealer to enhance the color of the stone.  If some type of solvent gets on the countertop e.g.…

ANSWER - The Natural Stone Institute, formally the Marble Institute of America, Dimension Stone Design Manual states that "Cracks occur in stones as a result of man-made mechanically induced stresses during handling, fabrication, transport, or…

ANSWER -  It isn't clear from your description  exactly what the  conditions are, but generally speaking, if you have a countertop that is book-matched or if the veining is contiguous, and one of the slabs…