We are having our kitchen cabinets refaced and chose a honey oak to coordinate with our Pergo flooring. I had picked out Zeus for the granite but after seeing several websites with a light cabinet and a light top I’m not sure that would be the best route to go. We only have one window in the kitchen with adjacent french doors in the eating area and a little bit of light from the entry way. Any suggestion for a deeper granite without it being too dark. I really like what Hearland has to offer but its so confusing when you look at all the slabs. I’m getting a new stainless steel stove and hood and the dishwasher is black. Want punch and wow without it being too dark. Thank you for your help. - Kathleen

Hello, Kathleen. I recommend you look at a website called www.GraniteStock.com. This Site shows hundreds of granite colors all on one easy to use website. As far as my recommendations, take a look at Solaris and Geriba - a punch without being dark.

Best wishes,
Tom Cordova

I am installing a bathroom vanity top and I just realized it is 1.5″ to long for the space. What is the best way for me to cut it down by 1.5 inches. What tools should I use and are there any tips or special techniques you would recommend? - Walt

You can try to cut the vanity top yourself but you will need a steady hand. You will need to rent or buy a Small 4″ Grinder from a nearby HomeDepot or Lowes and also a 4″ diamond blade(Called a Tile or Stone Cutting Blade). It should look like steel with small diamonds embedded in it. An easier plan might be mark the line where you want it cut with tape and then take it to a small granite company nearby and ask them if they will cut it down for cash (maybe $15 or $20, I would assume). This is very simple for them to do and as long as you have it marked, they will not feel that it is too much trouble.

Best wishes,
Tom Cordova

I purchased a bathroom vanity from HomeGranite.com a while ago and just love it. Hope you can help with a problem I am having with marble that I have in another bathroom on the shower floor with a honed finish & counters that are polished. There are some dulled spots on the polished counters where cleaning solution has left marks. On the honed shower, the finish has either come off or it is completely stained with white. Can you give me an idea of how to deal with this. May we call you and if so, a phone number please. Thanks for any help you can give - Bonnie

Hi Bonnie,

The marble in your shower and on your other countertop have been etched by the chemicals used to clean them. Marble is a Calcium Carbonate based rock which is sensitive to even mild acids and chemicals. You need to stop using those cleaners and have the marble professionally refinished if the damage is too aesthetically displeasing. Remember to use a penetrative marble sealer after the surfaces are refinished. My overall recommendation is to use a marble cleaner in the shower, then seal it after it dries. For the countertop, have it re-polished and then seal it.

Read my article about Maintenance and Cleaning for more helpful information.

Best wishes,

Tom Cordova

I am working on a scope of work covering the installation of granite and marble countertors in the kitchens and baths of our homes. I want to insure that the installation is done correctly and a basis for having the supplier and installer back thier work. Can you steer me towards any such document or national product guidelines addressing this. - Steve

Hi Steve, A famous Architect once told me something that I will never forget. He said, “The success of a project lies not within the warranties, but within the design team”. I say this because no matter what guidelines you establish, you will miss something. You can refer to sources and state, Fabrication and installation methods and tolerances to comply with CTIOA, TCA and MIA standards. However, the best inclusion you could write is, “Installer will participate in a pre-fabrication and pre-installation meeting with the Owner, Architect and Contractor in order to establish the highest quality standards. Also, include, “all Product Data Sheets and MSDS information to be submitted to Owner/Architect for approval prior to installation.

My very best regards,

Tom Cordova

Hello, I just moved into a brand new home and the granite that was put in for us has tiny scratches all over the surface - just about. The fellow who put it in claims that is normal for some stones. I am hoping to get the opinion of another expert to see if this guy is cheating me or telling me the truth. Also, is there any way to fix this. Is this something that you could help me with? Thanks so much, Sara

It is a difficult to comment on this issue without seeing the scratches. However, scratches are not normal in Granite. If they are natural fissures, then that should be acceptable, but scratches come from either poor quality finishing at the overseas supplier or miss-handling of the slabs at the local fabrication facility. A good way to tell is the depth of the scratch. If it is deep and pronounced, then it was caused by mishandling of the slabs overseas or locally. If the scratch is light and circular than it was done during polishing overseas.

Hi Tom, We have had some granite countertops partly installed and they gave us no info on “care of” and we have two grease spots that don’t fade away but if we have a water spot it fades away. Are we supposed to put a sealer on and what is best? Thank you, Kathy F.

Hello Kathy, I have written a helpful article here, about granite sealer, that should be helpful to you. Secondly, to clean a grease stain, try a solution of Ivory soap with a plastic scrub brush. If that does not completely do it, then you should try a commercial degreaser found at a cleaning supply store. You need to treat the stain quickly or it will be too late.