Granite & Quartz Countertops in San Antonio, TX

Given proper care and maintenance, granite countertops rarely crack. There are some steps you can take to ensure granite chips or cracks. One of the easiest ways to avoid granite from cracking or chipping is to avoid sitting on the very edge. Additionally, use a trivet or pot holder when placing hot cooking pans or pots on your granite countertops. While granite is very heat resistant, the shock of a hot pan on a cold countertop could cause it to expand, which eventually leads to cracking. If you do see a crack in your granite countertop in San Antonio, reach out to the experts at Fox Granite as soon as you can. Cracking on a granite countertop tends to spread, and without immediate repair, it’s possible that an entire portion of your countertop could break off. 

Cleaning stains off of granite countertops is no different than cleaning stains off a standard countertop. Using a mix of mild soap or water, as well as ammonia-free window cleaner, wipe down your countertops to keep them clean and shiny. If your granite countertops are well sealed, they should not stain, so having to clean stains off of your granite countertops should be a rare occurrence. 

Granite is formed underneath the surface of the earth over a period of millions of years. When molten materials crystalize under extreme heat and pressure over this massive period of time, they turn into granite. As this molten material cools, larger crystals of granite become visible, which is then harvested for tables, countertops, and other granite-using furniture. 

Thanks to the crystalline structure of granite, they may sometimes have natural fissures that look like cracks but are not defects. These naturally occurring fissures do not impair the durability and functionality of the granite whatsoever. Some granite experts often seek out stones that have these fissures, as it’s considered an attractive feature on exquisite slabs of granite. 

Natural granite that is sold by companies like Fox Granite cannot be scratched using a standard kitchen knife. This is because granite is one of the earth’s hardest minerals. The Mohs Hardness Scale exists to identify and measure the hardness of a naturally occurring mineral. This scale scores diamond, earth’s hardest mineral, a 10. Granite is scored as a 7 on the Mohs hardness scale. Based on the Mohs Hardness Scale, standard kitchen knives can only scratch items with a hardness of 5.5 or less. 

While granite countertops will not be damaged by using them as a cutting board, your knives will be severely dulled and damaged. Imagine that the Mohs Hardness Scale functions as “which material wins?” granite will easily beat out a standard kitchen knife, resulting in you damaging your favorite cooking tool. That’s why we always recommend using a cutting board instead of cutting food directly on your countertop. 

Quartz is a popular alternative to granite for countertops for several reasons, but the most important of these are price and availability. Quartz is almost always produced in a factory, while granite is almost always mined and processed directly from the earth. Since it’s produced in a factory, there’s an almost endless supply of quartz. This high availability is the main reason that quartz is so much cheaper than granite. But there are other reasons apart from cost that may urge homeowners to go for quartz countertops instead of granite, including 

• Quartz is Nonporous: Since quartz is a nonporous material, it does not harbor bacteria like porous materials will, such as granite. 
• Color Options: Quartz is available in just about any color you can imagine, from bright reds to sky blue and everything in between. Most often, people choose quartz countertops that best match their surroundings, opting for neutral colors like brown, black, or cream. 
• Stain-resistant: Quartz is far more stain resistant than granite since it is nonporous. Oils, juices, wines, and coffees will not affect the color of your quartz countertops whatsoever. 

Quartz is a crystalline form of a silicon diode and is the second most common mineral on the earth. As a mineral, quartz is durable and readily available, and this availability is why it’s often used as an alternative to granite for countertops. Quartz is also used in electronics, as well as several different construction applications. 

Due to how common the mineral quartz is, it can be found all over the world. But, the two largest natural quartz mines are found in Arkansas and Brazil. The world’s largest piece of natural quartz was found in Brazil, weighing in at a whopping 44 tons. Quartz can also be readily found on beaches, in rivers and deserts, and on mountaintops anywhere in the world. 

Quartz is much more heat resistant than other countertop materials like wood and Formica. But, when compared to granite, quartz is far less heat resistant, meaning you’ll need to take extra care when placing hot pans and pots on your countertop. Due to the resin components of quartz, the countertops are more vulnerable to direct heat. Make sure to always use hot pads, pot holders, and trivets when placing hot cooking tools on your quartz countertop. 

Window sills, coffee tables, shower edges, fireplaces, and kitchen and bathroom countertops are all appropriate places for quartz construction. In commercial settings, quartz is commonly used for food service counters, conference tables, and reception tops. Quartz is not recommended for use outdoors as the UV rays from the sun can discolor and fade the stone.