Our new condo has granite countertops everywhere. I'm curious about something. I wipe my counters down constantly during the day. I'm fussy. I like things sparkly :)
You would think the counters would be as smooth as a baby's bum . . . but they aren't. If I trail my finger tips across them tomorrow moring they will feel almost like they have a very fine grit on them. I don't get it. Where the heck is the gritty stuff coming from? One minute it's smooth, the next minute it's gritty.:confused:
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A friend of mine explained to me that for some reasons, minerals do come out from the stone, makes give a grit feel of the surface. If that happens, you should seal your granite or try to wax your counters every six months, depending on its usage. It is better if you call a trained professional to give you the right product. http://www.myinstalledcountertops.com/granitewax.html
Our person came by to see our granite, and unfortunately he said that's the type of granite. Because our granite has alot of fissures (I think that's what it is), that's why it happens.
I am too not sure about the reason. Whatever you do i advice not to use any acidic cleansers. Because acid betrays the polished layer and makes to feel like gritty.
I am so happy to have come across this thread because I have GO granite and I thought it was always "dusty". LOL I'm sure glad to know that it's not dust, but in the granite itself. So this is what I get for having cheap granite. Who knew? I didn't, till now.
I'm sorry, I do not know the kind of granite we have so I can't help much. It's now a year since we moved in ... still ALWAYS has the fine gritty feel to it. The surface of the actual granite does feel smooth ... the grit has settled on top of the smooth finish.
We have this problem too. I don't think they are granite was sealed properly...you can feel where the pits/fissures are in some cases, and overall it is just not smooth. We are waiting for someone to come by and look - we made this complaint in July, and so far, we are still waiting. I didn't read your posting trail, but which granite did you get - do you remember the name??
the year is almost up. My granite is as gritty as it ever was. No change whatsoever.
What kind of sealer do you use? Did your installer tell you what he recommended.
I was in our clubhouse the other night and I trailed my fingers across the granite counter. It is a much better quality than what we got. It is very smooth. No grit.
I have decided that some things in life just aren't worth fretting about. I'm still loving our condo ... grit and all!:)
[QUOTE=whalingfamily;229766]Eliza - you mention a Google search showed some information - can you post the links ... i have not found much information except your posting here
[COLOR=Red]I just type into Google toolbar gritty granite and several sites come up.[/COLOR]
The guy who installed all the granite in this development came to our place and listened to me blather about the grit on my granite. He dragged his big, rough paws over the granite surface and basically looked at me like I was missing some marbles. His english wasn't very good and he droned on [I]forever [/I]about how he'd polished and sealed all the granite personally and if I wanted him to he would go down to his truck and bring the equipment up and re-polish the counters just to make me happy. Frankly I just couldn't be bothered. He talked so long I almost nodded off. I've decided to wait 18 months and then have him come back and seal and polish all the counters. I don't want to do it myself.
I've had my girlfriends feel my so-called clean and polished counters and there is no question that they [I]are [/I]"gritty." Both my neighbour across the hall and the gal below me have the same thing ... they just weren't aware of it till I mentioned it. Like me they thought they must be imagining it.
Do you ever get to the point that you just accept that something is not quite right but you simply can't be bothered to fuss about it any longer?
I hate complaining.
Met with our Granite Warehouse supplier at our house
He explained how the grit we are experiencing should not be from the granite exfoliating itself because the granite is sealed with a epoxy right at the quarry under a vacuum which drives the expoxy deep into the granite. Then it is posihed.
But ... what may be occurring - because he felt and understood the grit also ... is that the fabricator who custom cuts the granite usually has to flood the surface with water to keep everything cool while the diamond wheel cuts the stone. The water is laden with tiny bits of burnt rock shavings. If the surface is not thoroughly flushed with clean water immediately after the cutting process, the shavings may settle into the little crevices on the surface. When the fabricator / installer then seals the surface, the little bits are held on in the crevices. Then when you polish or clean the surface, the bits of grit are released from their hiding spots a little at a time. The bits are very hard so even when they are tiny, you feel them with your skin.
The installer is returning to try to flush the surface with acetone to remove all the sealer and hopefully float any remaining fabrication grit. Then thoroughly clean and reseal.
It is a believable theory at least.
Eliza - you mention a Google search showed some information - can you post the links ... i have not found much information except your posting here
We installed countertops in our house just last week
Granite Uba Tuba in one section
Granite Giallo Ornamental in another section
the Uba Tuba is smooth and glassy
The Giallo has the fine grit you speak of ... looks to be the dark minerals flaking up out of the stone (dark brown, splinter like and very tiny)
What type of Granite did you have installed that you are also finding issues with ?
yes ... apparently I'm not alone ... good luck getting our builder to do anything.
Are any of your neighbours having the same problem? You should get some results with the builder as it sounds like some kind of a defect.
I've sent off an email to our builder. I'm not holding my breath.
Never had this problem with granite. Discuss this with your installer/retailr.
so this is a common problem and a sign of cheep quality granite countertops?
anyone else have this problem?
Apparently I'm not imagining things. This [B][I]IS [/I][/B]a problem with granite countertops ... both the pitting and the fine granite grit.
Now I just have to decide who to believe as to how best to deal with it. I have a feeling that part of the problem will be the fact that it's likely not great granite to begin with. :rolleyes:
Why I didn't Google this question in the first place!
Apparently I'm not imagining things. This [B][I]IS [/I][/B]a problem with granite countertops ... both the pitting and the fine granite grit.
Now I just have to decide who to believe as to how best to deal with it. I have a feeling that part of the problem will be the fact that it's likely not great granite to begin with. :rolleyes:
I am fairly confident that though all of your suggestions are good ones, they aren't the right ones. This "gritty" feeling is ONLY on the surface of the granite. It's not on anything else.
We have in floor heating. There are no vents.
As for the question "is it polished or honed?" I have absolutely no idea. Knowing all the discrepancies around here I can only assume it would be the cheapest method of finishing!
I have not put anything on the granite to clean it other than my constant damp wiping like I've done for years. No chemicals.
The surface is definitely never smooth as glass like other counters I've felt. I wonder if it just needs some kind of re-sealing.
I suppose the logical thing is to call a place that makes granite countertops and ask them. I'll let you know if I solve the mystery.
I never use anything on my granite I just wipe with a clean cloth never any cleaners. I am guessing it from the vents more than any place else.
Any chance that grit is coming from your vents? If it's new construction there may be drywall dust in the vents or dust coming in from outside construction. When I lived in a new development it amazed me who much dirt would come in an land on things until they finished with the building in the area.
Otherwise I would suspect something in any cleaner you might be using. Have you tried just using water and seeing what happens?
i doubt its cause of the granite countertops. dust or plaster must be falling from your ceiling. what i would do is get a black piece of paper and put it on your countertop and leave it there for a day. when you look at it after a day, i bet you'll see that stuff is falling on the paper aswell.
You would think the counters would be as smooth as a baby's bum . . . but they aren't. If I trail my finger tips across them tomorrow moring they will feel almost like they have a very fine grit on them. I don't get it. Where the heck is the gritty stuff coming from? One minute it's smooth, the next minute it's gritty.:confused:
Mine are never gritty are yours polished or honed.