FAQ
Fissures and Cracks
The different between Fissures and Cracks. From the experts at Capitol Granite. For more information visit our learning section.
Questions You Should Ask
“The bitter taste of poor quality lingers far longer than the initial sweetness of a cheap price.” You will wake up to your kitchen and bathroom countertops every day, usually to start your day. Make it right. We continually aspire to be the value proposition for hard surfaces. These questions will help you know what [...]
Is there an industry standard for the maximum lengths allowed for 2 cm and 3 cm countertops?
No. Due to the numerous amount of variables in each case, a prescribed industry standard limitation does not exist. Many companies set their own dimensional limits in their own shops and use soundness, thickness, strength, and stock availability in making a decision.
What is the difference between a fissure and a crack, are they the same thing?
Within the stone industry both of the terms are used without consistency. In science the word fissure is used to describe a major crack, break or fracture in the rock. In contrast, when used in the stone world, the term refers to a very slight separation, visible along intercrystalline boundaries. Mostly the differential is recognized [...]
Q: What’s the difference between granite, marble, and Silestone®?
A: The main difference between granite and marble is that granite is a highly dense material composed deep inside the earth’s core while marble is formed from sediments under the seabed. Both solidify into stone after millions of years but the mineral composition of the two stones makes marble and granite react different to various [...]
Q: How is Radon measured?
A: Radon is measure in units called picocuries per liter (pCi/l), which is one trillionth of a curie. A curie is the amount of radioactivity produced by a gram of radium. The United States Environmental Protection Agency has determined 4 pCi/l to be the standard for air indoors. Typical radon readings on natural stone countertops [...]
Q: What is Radon?
A: Radon is a gas that occurs in nature and created by the decay of small amounts of uranium found in the Earth’s crust. This gas dissipates in the air because it is unstable and breaks down easily.
Q: What is the big deal with maintenance?
A: Many people overlook the importance of maintenance after the stone is installed. It is important to understand what is required to maintain the color and finish of the stone for years to come. Generally, sealing is all that is required, and the length of time between sealings is typically determined by the cleaners used [...]
Q: How does a price quote change for larger projects?
A: Large projects typically yields a more efficient use of manpower to template and install. This may be true of material selections as well.
Q: What other factors affect the price?
Affordable Cost? A: A multitude of factors come into play when determining the cost of a particular stone at any given time. Market demand, quality, ease of extraction, availability, and transportation are a few notable variables. The advantage to making cost an issue is that it opens the door to exploring alternatives based on the [...]
Q: How does the size and thickness of the stone relate to the cost?
A: The size and waste factor of the slabs are used determine the finished project price, as does the thickness of the stone, typically 3 cm. Some 2 cm material is available for clients who use it in bathrooms, or laminate it to 1 1/2″ for the kitchen, sometimes call “2+2″. Laminated edge treatment typically [...]
Q: What goes into pricing a stone job?
Stone is affordable! A: The price of a project is generally a major factor in the selection of the stone. In part to new technology, stone is bountiful and therefore competitively priced. The budget for the entire project includes the design, installation, and the stone itself. In the phase of considering the stone only, the [...]
Q: What are Promotional Samples?
A: These samples are small pieces representing the proposed material of use. These should be used for the consideration of color only; however it must accurately represent the color and finish in the sample. The promotional sample supplied will probably be small in size… 4″ x 4″. Please contact the plant or your sales representative [...]
Q: What criteria should be considered for interior applications?
A: The selection begins by focusing on vertical or horizontal planes. Interior vertical surfaces factor in highly used areas, mainly in commercial buildings, which lead to stones that are dense, resistance, and easily maintained and in variably prove to be a better choice in long-term investments. Water resistance becomes important in areas such as fountains [...]
Q: What does wastage have to do with design?
A: In terms of the stone industry wastage refers to materials that are damaged, out dated, reduced, or unsaleable, and for the most part destined to be thrown away and many times written off as a complete loss. It is important to make sure there will be enough material to complete the project at hand [...]
Q: What should be considered in regards to design?
A: Design elements should be taken into consideration in addition to aesthetic, strength, and durability, especially in terms of interior applications. The Fabricator or Supplier guides the Designer in helping them understand the capacity of the materials as they integrate these limitations, or possibilities, into their imaginative creations. Most design considerations are around allowable overhangs. [...]
Q: What are sealants and why are they important?
Sealants are typically solvent-based, a small sized carrier molecule that gets the sealer deep into the stone. Once dry, it prevents water and oil from penetrating and absorbing into the surface for a period of time of exposure.
Q: What are some common finishes?
A: A polished finish has sharp reflections and is considered a mirror gloss. A honed finish means the stone has been textured with abrasive heads making for a dull sheen that can vary from light to heavy. Flamed or thermal finishes change the color of the stone as the plane surface is finished at a [...]
Q: Why is choosing a finish important?
A: Deciding on a stone finish is an essential in the selection process and can include anything from saw cut to high polish. It can drastically change the interpretation of the stone, particularly in regards to color. Color will appear lighter with a textured finish, whereas with each degree of polish more light is reflected, [...]
Q: What are some of the factors that affect the appearance of stone?
A: Variegated or veined stone, like marble, is “faulted” by nature and although it makes for a remarkable aesthetic, the material is not usually used for exterior use and has a greater value when applied to interior installations that highlight the decorative element. With extremely light colored marbles and onyxes the crystal composition creates translucence [...]
Q: Does all stone look different?
A: Each extracted block is different, and in turn each slab is also different. The idea of each and every stone having its own uniqueness is often times a selling point. When applied to natural stone the term “uniformity of material” is an understood relative value. Direction of cut from block to slab will also [...]
Q: Where does stone come from?
A: Stone is a natural product and cannot be manufactured. Blocks of stone are removed from a quarry, a type of open-pit mine, and from those blocks slabs are cut. The slabs are then fabricated into the final stone to be installed. Natural stone generally comes from all over the world except the United States [...]
Q: Why stone?
A: Through the ages builders and architects have selected to use stone because of its durability and aesthetic value. Today, with the discovery of a growing number of options in stone, the selection process has become more intricate, requiring the consideration of many factors. It is green, sustainable, and more affordable now than ever with [...]
