Hi, We had granite countertops installed in our new home. They said the color is indian copper.

Our problem is that the entire surface has rough dull spots in it. When outside light is shining in it looks like water spots all over the surface but they are not water spots it is those rough spots that are dull that reflect the light that way. There are also a couple of spots that are so rough if you run your fingernails across it you can feel the rough spots. Is this acceptable or did we get really poor quality granite. Do you have any suggestions?

Jennifer

Hello Jennifer.

Did you inspect the slabs before fabrication? This granite has softer spots that do not polish evenly with the other minerals in the granite. I don’t believe you got poor quality of that particular granite; but I hope you got what you bought! I know it is too late but please refer to my Home Owner Checklist to see if the fabricator guided you properly during your buying experience.

Best wishes,
Tom Cordova

There is a follow-up to this post under “Choosing Granite“.

Hi Tom,

We are in process of getting bids to install about 63sq ft of Nova Venezia granite in our kitchen. We are also doing ceramic tile backsplashes. One fabicator suggests not templating over our exisiting formica countertops. Although this means we will be with out countertops for 3 weeks, he says the chance for error be be lessened. However, the other supplier we are considering says we can template over without a problem. What is your advice? Many thanks!

Pam

Hello Pam,

Template can be done over existing countertops. This is often done to lesson the displeasure of being without a kitchen while the granite is being fabricated. There are some situations where the template should definitely not be done prior to removal of existing because the chance of errors are very high. For example, if you have a U-shaped kitchen, then the odds of the cabinets being out of level from across the room is very high. This will cause problems on the day of installation and limit the solutions.

Secondly, if you are installing a full-height granite slab splash, it will be very difficult for the template maker to be accurate with dimensions from between the new granite top to the upper cabinets.

Templating before removal is best only under the following circumstance. 1) The original cabinets were installed with the last 10 years. 2) The kitchen is a short L-shaped or Galley style kitchen. 3) The splash is not full height granite slab.

Best wishes, Tom Cordova

I want to install new granite countertops for my kitchen. I have a top mount granite silica double sink.

Because the length of my countertop is 12 ft, I need to introduce a seam on the countertop. Could I have the two pieces join beneath the double sink? This way, the exposed seam would only be a few inches instead of the full 26?.

Do you recommend the pieces be joined underneath the sink? Will the epoxy be strong enough to hold the two pieces together? What installation precautions should I apply?

Thank you for this informative site.

Darren

Hello Darren,

First of all, I only recommend that an experienced granite installer install a kitchen countertop. I’m sure it would cost more, but there are a bunch of things you can do wrong (e.g. leveling, gluing, cutting, seaming). That being said, it is perfectly normal to seam your countertop at the center of the sink, especially with a top mounted sink.

This is often done to avoid large seams at inside cabinet corners, where most of surface is visible. It is very important that you have the right adhesive and enough of it under the front and back strips of granite so that the pressure from the sink places a distributed load of stress on the granite. One more thing, 12 foot slabs are in the marketplace now. Have you looked everywhere in your area? Colors like Tan Brown, and several Indian Granite colors are being produce quite large these days. Check www.GraniteStock.com for a distributor near you.

Best wishes,
Tom Cordova

I have an all glass Sunroom. My problem is: a few of the ceiling seams leak when it rains. Is there a sealent I can apply myself to the seams to stop this?

Thanks,
Geri

Hello Geri,

You need a commercial grade silicone or polyurethane sealant. I recommend Dow Corning 790 Silicone or Tremco Polyurethane (dymonic). Use whichever you can find first.

Best wishes,
Tom Cordova

Hi there,
We purchased some granite and wanted it to have a ‘polished’ finish, instead, it came out with a ‘honed’ finish; but they assured us that they could seal it to give it that wet look we were looking for. So they did that and it did look better. Now, 3 weeks later, it looks dull again but they say they can reapply and that it usually takes a few coats; but will then provided lasting results for the “wet look”.
What do you think?

Thank you,
Rob

Hello Rob,

I’ve never heard of such a practice. No way would a topical seal on granite be long lasting on a countertop surface. If you provide the name of the granite and the product they are applying, then I could give you a more technical response. Bottom line, three coats will just take longer to wear away.

Best wishes,

Tom Cordova

We are in the process of remodeling our kitchen & have looked @ granite countertops @ Home Depot. We are looking @ tropical brown. What should are main concerns be about making this purchase from Home Depot?

Thank you.

Sherry Scofield
Topeka, KS

Hello Sherry,

The following represents my opinions of Home Depot’s Granite Countertop Department.

With Home Depot there are good points and bad points. If your kitchen is very small (less than 50 square feet), Home Depot may be the best price. Also, if you can not find a local granite company that you are comfortable with, Home Depot is a safe place to go. That is it for the good points.

The bad points are that if you have a larger kitchen (over 60 square feet), Home Depot will be usually be about 15% higher than, say www.HomeGranite.com. This is not always the case for every county, but it is very common. Also, your granite color choices and edge details are limited at Home Depot. For example, you mentioned Tropical Brown which comes is shade variations. Wouldn’t you like to see the different shades that are available? Some Home Depots provide this level of service, but most do not. Another major factor is time. Home Depot is notoriously slow. They subcontract the work out and keep there fabricator/installer very busy. You are just another number to them, so don’t expect any custom treatment. Watch out if you change your mind after you sign the contract or need installation on a Saturday! These are not simple coordination issues for Home Depot. I heard once that a new Home Depot store opens every 48 hours, so maybe there are a few that provide quicker and more personable service.

My suggestion is get a Home Depot bid and get one from a company like www.HomeGranite.com. Compare the price and service from both.

Best wishes,
Tom Cordova

Hello Tom; I enjoy reading your articles and your advise and coments. I would like to know if you know about a Granite tile system from Benissimo Granite? I plan on having it installed by a tile installer with a very good history in tile. I will be using the “Fiama Rialto” color. Your advise and oppinion; please on this product and the need to seal this granite. Would the granite tile need to be sealed prior to the “epoxy grout” between tile; or after the tiles are grouted? What type of prep work should be used for the underlayment? The installer has said that he can remove the Laminate counter tops presently in place.. cut off the back splashes.. rough up the laminate surface in to use a certain motar mix to install the Benissimo Granite Tile. Thank you for your time and keep up the fantastic work.

Hello Thomas,

I have watched the evolution of the Benissimo Granite System for some time. They are very good promotions. They should be commended on providing a alternative system to the conventional tile or slab installations. However, I do have some esthetic and technical comments for you to think about. First, you will still have grout joints. I can not see why anyone would upgrade to granite, and still settle for grout joints. This is like buying a luxury car with cloth interior.

Secondly, the Benissimo product is most likely assembled in China for cost saving purposes. All of their granite colors are either domestic to China or imported into China on a regular basis. The granite name you mentioned, ‘Fiama Rialto’, is commonly known as ‘Tan Brown’. It is granite from India. It is inexpensive granite but does have good technical soundness. My greatest concern is the epoxy application at the bullnose edge. This ‘glue’ application requires proper skill and attention and even certain climate conditions to produce high strength results. I have made over a dozen inspection trips to China and conclude the any product with a two-part epoxy application is suspect. If the epoxy work is not properly mixed and applied, the bullnose will fall off….in time. This goes for any pre-fabricated granite products from China.

Lastly, the installation instructions mention setting the tile over laminate with Quick Set Mortar. I believe they mention Quick Set Mortar because it has a Hydraulic binding agent with increases the strength. The other concern would be if the granite is pumped during the final curing process it will permanently de-bond from the laminate. In my professional opinion this is not only, “putting perfume over a smelly body”, this is a very substandard installation and no installer should ever warranty it. This installation will not last, period. Normal thermal and dynamic stresses will cause the mortar to eventually break free from the laminate, scuffing up the laminate just helps it stick a little longer.

So, that is that. I truly recommend getting a slab installation quote for Tan Brown Granite from your local qualified fabricator. You could try www.HomeGranite.com if you don’t already have an installer. You may be surprised at how little more it costs to get the luxury car with leather!

Best wishes,
Tom Cordova

Tom,

I’m looking to complete a fireplace surround project. The original brickwork face has been finished with ceramic tile.

I’m thinking of:

- a granite mantle, 7? wide by 5? 6? long, bullnosed to hide the 1/2? exposed original brickwork behind the tile
- 2 matching granite vertical trim pieces, each 5? wide by 4? long, bullnose facing frontwards
- the granite pieces woul be attached with construction adhesive to the original masonry and the ceramic tile

(1) Is this plan feasible?
(2) Any issue with construction adhesive bonding granite to ceramic tile? Would etching or some other type of roughing the tile surface be required?
(3) The mantel piece will overhang the masonry by about 2-1/2?. Will the construction adhesive be sufficient to hold the mantle securely, or would some other or additional fastening be required?

Thanks in advance.

Kirk Spence
West Linn, OR

Hello Kirk,

Personally, I would remove the tile. Not to do so would be what I call, “Perfume over a smelly body”. Also, the ceramic tile will not be a good substrate to bond to even if you etch it. After your remove the tile at all locations, use a thinset tile mortar with an acrylic additive to bond the granite to the brick. This is the only method I can recommend.

Best wishes,
Tom Cordova