| The following bits of commercial granite folklore have | | | | way... Minuscule amounts of radon gas are emitted by |
| been taken directly from customer comments and | | | | nearly any type of stone found where uranium is |
| questions, pieces circulating on the web, and | | | | present, and trace amounts of uranium can be found |
| discussions with hundreds of homeowners who | | | | nearly anyplace you find stone. Bottom line? There are |
| graced me with the opportunity to service their | | | | no health or safety risks associated with the release |
| commercial granite. Just for fun, I'll give you a little | | | | of radon gas or radioactivity from commercial granite. |
| background on each, where they came from, and how | | | | As a matter of note, concrete, cement, and gypsum all |
| they got started. In case you haven't heard some of | | | | release as much or more radon gas than commercial |
| these before, you'll be prepared when they eventually | | | | granite, and there is no health risk associated with |
| make their way 'round to you! | | | | them, either. It is also believed that a manufacturer of |
| Please note I use the term "commercial granite" | | | | man-made counter top materials started this rumor. |
| throughout this article. This is because we are referring | | | | 4.) I Was Told to Clean My Granite With Just Soap |
| to stones that are sold commercially as granite, rather | | | | and Water - This one has a couple of variants floating |
| than the (very) narrow subset of stones that meet the | | | | around, including specifically using dish detergent (and a |
| scientific definition. | | | | special brand, I might add) or plain water. Will doing this |
| 1.) My Contractor / Granite Salesperson / Internet Guru | | | | harm your commercial granite? No, it won't. Will it |
| (Pick Your Favorite Perpetrator) Said My Granite | | | | impact the way it looks? Yes, it will. |
| Doesn't Require Sealing - Those of you that have | | | | If you were to wash your windows with plain "soap |
| read my previous work are probably sick of me | | | | and water" (or dish detergent, or plain water) and a |
| harping on this, but I (unfortunately) hear this one more | | | | sponge, I guarantee that you will not be pleased with |
| often than all others. It is the most damaging of all the | | | | their appearance. |
| granite maintenance malpractices you can commit if | | | | With this in mind, it is best to perform routine cleaning |
| you rely on this unsound advice. | | | | of your commercial granite with a product that is |
| Interestingly, there are a couple of Internet "experts" | | | | specifically designed for use on natural stone. Using |
| who semi-endorse this fallacy (but will sell you their | | | | soap, dishwashing detergent, or non stone-specific |
| impregnator if you ABSOLUTELY, REALLY insist on | | | | cleaners will leave your commercial granite looking dull |
| having one, and theirs lasts FOREVER... Hilarious!). One | | | | and lifeless. |
| even goes so far as to state that the physical | | | | 5.) Somebody Told Me the Shine Will Wear Off My |
| properties of granite dictate it never needs to be | | | | Granite, and It Will Require Re-Polishing - Unless you |
| sealed (funny, they also have a "lifetime" sealer for | | | | are playing roller hockey on your commercial granite |
| sale two paragraphs later). | | | | surfaces, it is highly unlikely you will need to have them |
| I was in recently in Los Angeles, visiting a property | | | | re-polished. I have seen very isolated instances (all of |
| manager who had stains in approximately 1/3 of the | | | | them on very dark "granite") where the surface |
| 305 commercial granite counters they recently installed | | | | actually deteriorated under normal use and required |
| in their newly renovated luxury apartments. I wish I | | | | re-polishing. In reality, these stones were suspect to |
| could have brought the naysayers with me so they | | | | begin with, as it was unlikely that they met a 5.5 rating |
| could convince the distraught maintenance folks that | | | | (the minimum hardness allowed) on Mohs's Scale of |
| those oil and wine stains were only figments of their | | | | Hardness. Good quality commercial granite, properly |
| imagination... | | | | maintained, will not permanently lose its shine for a long, |
| From the contractor perspective, back in the bad old | | | | long, time - even under heavy (but considerate) use. |
| days, impregnators were primarily based on silicone | | | | If your granite has been waxed, then the "shiny" will |
| derivatives. While fantastic against water, they were | | | | wear off, and you will need to re-wax them. Waxing |
| (and are) poor performers against oil-based stains. | | | | of commercial granite is generally NOT |
| Additionally, if they were over-applied, the impregnator | | | | RECOMMENDED, so do it only if your surfaces were |
| residues on the surface of the stone would also | | | | previously waxed to provide their final gloss. |
| absorb oil. Double whammy. Here's the logic: If it's a | | | | Most shine and reflectivity loss is caused by the use of |
| given that oil stains are the worst to remove, and if the | | | | improper cleaning chemicals, improper cleaning |
| impregnator won't stop them anyway, why bother? | | | | methods, or both. As I mentioned earlier, if you need a |
| That was in the late '80s - this is 2007, and we have | | | | demonstration of what soap and water do to the |
| technology that will stop oil staining dead in its tracks. | | | | appearance of your commercial granite, just wash |
| Like all misinformation, it has a little root in fact, and it | | | | your windows with (fill in your favorite "soap" here), |
| dies slowly. | | | | water and a sponge. "Soap and water" leave residues |
| The Internet folks have different motivations. Either | | | | on the stone that will eventually dull the finish. |
| they are: | | | | The good news is that dulling from surface residue is |
| A: trying to sell you granite slabs by disavowing any | | | | not permanent. It can be removed using a high alkaline |
| faults commercial granite has, or | | | | content cleaner designed for natural stone. In some |
| B: using reverse psychology sales techniques (poorly, I | | | | instances, calcification (mineral deposits from |
| might add) to sell you their impregnator. | | | | evaporated water) will dull surface areas, especially |
| 2.) My Neighbor Told Me My Granite Isn't Safe | | | | around faucets and fixtures. These deposits may also |
| Because it Harbors and Grows High Amounts of | | | | be quickly, easily, and safely removed. |
| Bacteria - This one is still circulating even though it has | | | | I also recommend the weekly (or whenever you want |
| been proven false numerous times by both | | | | to) use of "vanity" products to increase the gloss and |
| government and industry organizations. Please allow | | | | improve the general appearance of your commercial |
| me the opportunity to set the record straight on this | | | | granite. These products provide the additional benefits |
| one, once and for all - it is absolute rubbish. In fact, | | | | of reducing water spotting and fingerprints on polished |
| properly maintained commercial granite surfaces are | | | | surfaces. |
| some of the most sanitary you can buy. Like all other | | | | 6.) Practices & Products |
| food prep surfaces, commercial granite should be | | | | At the end of the day, it all boils down to this: |
| properly cleaned. | | | | - Keep your commercial granite properly impregnated |
| It is widely held that the manufacturers of man-made | | | | (sealed). |
| counter top materials started these rumors, although | | | | - Clean up spills and contamination in a timely manner. |
| no solid proof exists. In summary, The National Institute | | | | - Do not use sharp implements on your commercial |
| for Occupational Safety and Health has given | | | | granite. |
| commercial granite a clean bill of health, as has the | | | | - Do not place extremely hot items on your granite. |
| Centers for Disease Control (CDC). | | | | - Use quality products, specifically designed for |
| 3.) Someone Told Me My Granite Emits Radon Gas | | | | commercial granite. |
| and is Radioactive - A little bent science goes a long | | | | |