Frequently Asked Questions

If you have questions, you're very likely to find the answers right here. We've gathered the questions that are asked most often in one place, to help you find the information you need quickly and easily. If you have a question that is not addressed here or elsewhere on the Web site, please contact us by e-mail and we'll get back to you fast!

• 1. Granite, marble or Silestone®, what's the difference?
• 2. Which one is right for my countertop, granite, marble or Silestone®?
• 3. What's all this discussion about sealing the granite or marble?
• 4. Is it OK to cut on my countertops?
• 5. Can I place hot pots and pans directly on my countertops from the stove or oven?
• 6. Will my countertops ever crack on their own?
• 7. Will I see the seams on my countertops?
• 8. How thick are my countertops?
• 9. How large of an overhang can I have on my countertop?
• 10. What happens if I chip, scratch or break my countertop?
• 11. What goes into determining the price of my project?
• 12. What is the procedure for placing an order with your company?
• 13. Other companies have told me I will be without my countertops for several weeks, is this true with your company?

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1. Granite, marble or Silestone®, what's the difference?

Granite is an igneous rock that is formed deep within the mantle of the earth from molten lava. It is composed of elements of quartz, mica and feldspar in varying amounts. It is naturally hard, stain resistant and scorch resistant. The material is quarried in large blocks then sliced into slabs. The slabs are then polished and some of the slabs surfaces are filled with a resin to smooth out the natural pits and fissures that occur. Slabs come in two varieties referred to as either speckled or flow patterns. These refer to the look of the material. Speckled materials have a more uniform look in terms of color and pattern while flow materials have a more varied appearance in terms of color and pattern. Marble and its cousins, onyx, travertine, limestone and Jerusalem stone, is a sedimentary rock. This is formed under pressure by a combination of materials such as silt, plant deterius, animal skeletons and sea shells that accumulate and solidify under bodies of water over millions and millions of years. Its main component is calcium which is much softer than the materials found in granite. It is quarried and cut in much the same way as granite. It is graded on a scale from A to D which does not refer to its rarity, but rather to its content or lack of content of natural fissures and veining. The group A has the least amount of fissures while group D has the most. Group C and D marbles will generally be reinforced on the back of the slab with a fiberglass mesh screen embedded in a coat of resin. This give the slab greater structural integrity than it would otherwise possess. During the fabrication process, many marble pieces are further reinforced with metal rods to give them added strength. Silestone® is a natural quartz product. Quartz is the hardest non gem mineral in the world. Silestone® is 3 times harder than granite and has four times the flexural strength. It is made by combining quartz crystals, dyes and resins to achieve a material that exhibits pure brilliance. The material has the highest degree of stain, heat and scratch resistance available in any countertop in the world. Silestone® is the only countertop in the world available with Microban® anti microbial product protection. The surface is never sealed so it never needs re sealing.

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2. Which one is right for my countertop, granite, marble or Silestone®?

All three have a variety of features that lead to their appearance, functionality and maintenance characteristics. Depending on the balance that you wish to achieve between these three elements will lead to the answer to this question. Appearance: both granite and Silestone® have highly polished surfaces which exhibit natural beauty. Some marbles have highly polished surfaces while some have a more natural appearance. Granite and marble generally have a more unique look to each stone while Silestone© has a more uniform appearance. Veining in some granite and marbles will make the seamed joints stand out more than the seamed joints of Silestone®. Granite and marble surfaces have naturally occurring pits and fissures which appeal to some consumers while these same characteristics are viewed as flaws by other consumers. Silestone® surfaces are naturally smooth which will appeal to those consumers who view the pits and fissures of granite and marble as a flaw. Functionality: Silestone® has the highest degree of scratch stain and scorch resistance followed by granite and then marble. Due to its high calcium content, marble is particularly susceptible to etching from common kitchen items such as lemon juice, ketchup, vinegar, etc. and therefore we do not recommend its use in the kitchen. Silestone® is the only surfacing material with the availability of Microban® anti microbial product protection that inhibits the growth of molds, mildews, etc. Maintenance: We recommend the use of Badolato Granite's 3 in 1 cleaner, polisher and protector for your granite and marble countertops. Since Silestone® is not sealed, the use of this product is not necessary and is therefore virtually maintenance free. As a rule of thumb, don't use anything on your countertop that you wouldn't use on yourself and you should be fine. Granite and marble may need periodic re sealing to help maintain their stain resistance. For a complete discussion of the maintenance of these products click on the following links (insert links to Silestone and granite maintenance.)

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3. What's all this discussion about sealing the granite or marble?

Both granite and marble are somewhat porous by nature meaning they have the propensity to absorb liquids which may lead to staining or discoloration if not properly sealed and maintained. Silestone® is completely non porous meaning that it will not absorb liquids and therefore is naturally resistant to staining and discoloration. When we install your granite or marble countertop, the last step we take is to install a liquid sealant that is absorbed into your countertop and provides a barrier against liquid absorption much as a coat of wax applied to your cars finish does. Depending on how heavily your countertops are used and which products are used to maintain them, this sealant can either be washed out or enhanced. Frequent use of common household cleaners will tend to wash out the sealant while use of our 3 in 1 cleaner, polisher and protector will enhance the stain barrier. If you notice that liquids are being easily absorbed into your countertop, wipe them off immediately and call us to schedule a service call to apply a new coat of sealant.

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4. Is it OK to cut on my countertops?

We always recommend that you use a cutting board when using your countertop as a cutting surface. While cutting directly on your Silestone® or granite countertop probably won't leave scratches, it probably will dull your good cutlery blades. Since marble is much softer, the risk of leaving surface scratches is much greater.

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5. Can I place hot pots and pans directly on my countertops from the stove or oven?

Placing a very hot object directly on top of a cold surface results in a condition referred to as thermal shock. Imagine what happens to a glass of ice cubes when you pour boiling water into it. Under most conditions found in the kitchen, your countertops will be fine if you take a hot pan off the stove or a casserole out of the oven and place it on them. However there have been instances of countertops cracking when the conditions are just right. For this reason we always recommend the usage of a trivet or thermal pad between the pot and countertop. Furthermore there have been instances of cracking when counters are exposed to prolonged periods of low heat such as when cooking with a crock pot. We recommend placing a trivet or thermal pad between your crock pot and countertop.

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6. Will my countertops ever crack on their own?

Under normal household conditions this is not a concern. There have been instances of houses shifting and settling where countertops have cracked.

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7. Will I see the seams on my countertops?

In short, yes! It is necessary to put seams in your countertops for a variety of reasons such as the layout of your project relative to the size of the slab, the access to the jobsite and the work area, the ability to physically carry the material due to its weight, and the necessity to minimize waste in the fabrication process in order to deliver the product to you at a reasonable price. The fabricator always reserves the right to determine the placement of the seams based on the above considerations. When we come out to make a template of your project we will discuss seam placement with you. Also in certain materials seams will be more visible than in other materials. Variations in color and pattern in certain granites and marbles will make seams appear more obvious than other materials such as Silestone®.

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8. How thick are my countertops?

Granite and Silestone® are produced in various thicknesses of 1cm, 2cm and 3cm. These correspond roughly to 3/8", ¾" and 1 ¼". In the mid atlantic market 3cm material is the accepted standard. Other thicknesses are available by special order.

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9. How large of an overhang can I have on my countertop?

Silestone® weighs about 15 lbs per sf and may have an unsupported overhang of up to 12 inches. Granite and marble weigh about 18 lbs per sf and may have an unsupported overhang of 10 inches. No unsupported overhangs should ever be placed in such a way that they would be susceptible to tipping if excessive weight were applied to them such as sitting or standing on the edge of a countertop. Care must be taken to insure that the mounting surface is firmly secured to support the weight of the overhang.

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10. What happens if I chip, scratch or break my countertop?

Repairs can be made using a variety of techniques involving ground up chips, resin or polymer fillers, wet sanding with various grit polishers, and bonding with two stage adhesives. In most cases you will be able to find the repaired area however it will be a marked improvement over the original damage.

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11. What goes into determining the price of my project?

Every project differs in some respect. Therefore we quote individual jobs by a proposal. The following information will need to be provided in order to obtain a proposal: a drawing showing the dimensions of the project, the color of the material chosen, the edge profile chosen, the type and height of backsplash chosen, the number and types of cutouts for sinks, stoves or other appliances, the radius of any corners, and any dimensions of diagonal base cabinets. Once we have the information we will provide you with a quote within 48 hours. This free quote is an estimate only and is subject to change based on the actual measurements we take at the time of template. Click here to get a free quote.

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12. What is the procedure for placing an order with your company?

Along with your proposal you will receive a copy of our "Valued Customer Form." This form is designed to educate you about what to expect from us in delivering your countertop and what to expect from your countertop in terms of performance. Read through this form carefully, then sign it and the proposal and return both with your deposit. We will call you within 48 hours of receiving both and begin the scheduling, fabrication and installation process. It takes about 3 weeks from start to finish. You will need to make the following preparations:

• The cabinets must be completely installed and leveled.
• All of the appliances must be on location including your sink (unless ordered by us), cooktop, range stove or slide in range, faucets, dishwasher, refrigerator, etc. In some instances we may need to bring your sink back to our shop to program its dimensions into our computer.

Once we have physically been to your job site and templated the countertop, our template will be compared to the estimated amount and any difference must be accounted for before we can begin production of your project.

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13. Other companies have told me I will be without my countertops for several weeks, is this true with your company?

We have the ability to make a template over your existing countertop so you do not have to have your existing top removed until the day prior to your new top's installation. It is your responsibility to make sure that the old countertops and plumbing are removed before we arrive with your new countertops. Also you must make sure that the cabinets are level before the installer arrives. If the installer arrives and the old countertops have not been removed or the cabinets are not level, he will not be able install your countertops as scheduled. You will be required to pay a trip charge before we will re schedule your installation. You should schedule your plumber to return the day following installation to re install your plumbing. We do have a company available in the Baltimore metropolitan area that can take care of removing your existing countertops, disposing of them and take care of your plumbing for an additional charge.

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