FAQ

Both granite and marble are natural stones quarried from the earth. Granite is a much harder substance than marble. Because granite is composed primarily of feldspar, quartz, and mica, compressed over millions of years, it is a harder, denser and therefore more practical, substance than Marble. Marble is a metamorphic rock consisting primarily of calcite and dolomite. It is formed by the transformation of limestone under extreme pressure and heat. Marble is softer, more porous and will scratch and stain easier than granite therefore it's practical applications are limited.

Marble and Granite come from quarries all over the world from Italy, to India, Brazil and Canada to name a few.

Granite is generally resistant to stains if spilled liquids are wiped up within a few minutes. Acidic spills like red wine, lemon juice, and tomato-based sauces and liquids that do not evaporate i.e. oils will cause stains if left to soak into the stone. Urban Quarry always delivers your granite with two additional coats of sealer over and above what the slab company has put on. But because most granites are porous, they require a certain level of normal, ongoing maintenance to help protect against any stains that may develop.

For everyday cleaning, use a few drops of a mild liquid antibacterial dishwashing detergent or stone soap. Always avoid cleaners with abrasives, ammonia, acid or other harsh chemicals (i.e. Windex, Ajax and Vinegar) as they will scratch or etch your granite. Acidic spills like red wine, lemon juice, and tomato-based sauces should be swiped from the surface immediately as should all oil-based products because they will cause stains if left to soak into the stone. Also, wipe off excess water on the surface as it may create water damage.

While you can cut on granite, we do not recommend it as repeated cutting will dull your good knives over time. We recommend you use a cutting board.

While you can place hot items such as pots and pans on granite, we recommend the use of a trivet to assure your countertop's lasting beauty.

Granite will not chip or crack with normal use, but any excess force may cause chips or cracks to form. Most of these fractures can be repaired without leaving a visible mark.

Granite thickness can very from slab to slab but at Urban Quarry, we use 3cm (1 1/4") granite. We prefer this thickness for a number of reasons: the front edge of the granite does not need to be built up like it is with 3/4" x 3/4" material meaning no visible lines on the finished edges. The 3cm thickness also enables us to imbed rebar underneath, in front and in back of most sinkholes to make that area stronger. In some cases, this thickness allows us to source larger slabs.

Whether or not your granite will have a seam depends on many factors including: is the slab big enough to suite your project?, will we be able to get the slab in your house without damaging your property or our staff?, and will we be able to put the slab standing up on end of your cabinets without touching the ceiling of your kitchen? These are questions our template technician will be able to answer for you when he templates your project. Your choice of granite may also effect if a seam is visible or not. Seams are more likely to show with linear (vein) type granite. Where seams are required, we do our professional best to ensure that they are as "seamless" as possible through the use of specialized tools to tighten the seam and coloured epoxy to help camouflage and bond the seam.

Yes, because granite is a natural stone, there can be pits (spaces between the granite's crystals) and fissures (natural crack-like formations within the stone) Pits and fissures do not affect the stone’s durability. In fact, we believe they add natural beauty and character to each individual piece of granite.

From square edge to full ogee, Urban Quarry offers over 13 different edge profile options. To learn more, see edge profiles.

Because most marbles are sensitive to everyday acidic products such as fruit juices, coffee and tea and many cleaning products, we do recommend most marble be used as countertops in a kitchen application. There are a few marbles, such as green marble, which has a different geological makeup, which makes it appropriate for countertops.

"Honed" and "polished" refers to the stone's finish. Honed stone (either granite or marble) has a matte or satin finish while polished stone has a highly shiny and reflective surface finish.

removed by using a poultice formulated for the specific stain.

Yes, chips can be repaired and in most cases the repair is undetectable.

With a Ph neutral stone cleaner. We recommend using the Dupont StoneTech Revitalizer

Yes, because marble tends to be softer and more porous than granite. The sealer will help repel water, oils and other minerals

Yes. Granite and marble are natural stones cut from different parts of a mountain so your slab will naturally be different from your sample. This is why, as part of our process, we require that you visit our fabrication plant to view and mostly importantly, approve, the entire slab brought in for you prior to your project proceeding.