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Poor Quality Granite Worktops?
About 2 months ago, we replaced our wooden counter tops, in our kitchen, with some dark granite ones.
We used a local company which were recommended to us by family and friends who had also used them who loved their work.
Before we took the plunge, everyone was raving to us how 'indestructible' granite work tops truly were. Some family members were even saying that you could drop a cup on it and although the cup would obviously smash, the granite work top would remain unscathed. One person even said that whilst she was trying to separate 2 frozen pieces of meat, she drove a big bread knife in between the 2 pieces of meat, with so much force, that it went right through the meat and the point of the knife hit her granite worktop and it actually bent the tip of her knife - again, her granite remained unscathed.
Not that we have been trying to 'test' how 'indestructible' our new granite worktops are but last night, as my wife was preparing a nice dinner of spag bole, as she took out some spaghetti from a long glass jar, she accidentally clipped the bottom of the jar against the edge of one of the granite counter tops (where our hob is where we cook), and took out a piece of the edge of the granite top?:o:(
Its a good few millimeters of a chip and is right on the edge of the counter top (where the top meets the side!). Now, to me, a glass jar vs a granite counter top - surely the glass jar should not have survived ?
But instead, we now have a chipped counter top which was caused by a glass jar - it doesn't make sense?! She didn't even hit the jar that hard.....?
Now I am wondering if we have had some kind of poor quality granite installed instead of the real thing - is this even possible??? It just doesn't seem hard wearing at all - our previous wooden counter tops were stronger than this....?!?!?
We used a local company which were recommended to us by family and friends who had also used them who loved their work.
Before we took the plunge, everyone was raving to us how 'indestructible' granite work tops truly were. Some family members were even saying that you could drop a cup on it and although the cup would obviously smash, the granite work top would remain unscathed. One person even said that whilst she was trying to separate 2 frozen pieces of meat, she drove a big bread knife in between the 2 pieces of meat, with so much force, that it went right through the meat and the point of the knife hit her granite worktop and it actually bent the tip of her knife - again, her granite remained unscathed.
Not that we have been trying to 'test' how 'indestructible' our new granite worktops are but last night, as my wife was preparing a nice dinner of spag bole, as she took out some spaghetti from a long glass jar, she accidentally clipped the bottom of the jar against the edge of one of the granite counter tops (where our hob is where we cook), and took out a piece of the edge of the granite top?:o:(
Its a good few millimeters of a chip and is right on the edge of the counter top (where the top meets the side!). Now, to me, a glass jar vs a granite counter top - surely the glass jar should not have survived ?
But instead, we now have a chipped counter top which was caused by a glass jar - it doesn't make sense?! She didn't even hit the jar that hard.....?Now I am wondering if we have had some kind of poor quality granite installed instead of the real thing - is this even possible???
It just doesn't seem hard wearing at all - our previous wooden counter tops were stronger than this....?!?!? 0
Comments
I have the quartz sparkly top and you can't drop anything on it or cut directly on it
It needs to be polished with a special solution and cloth as well
So I would recommend you called the company to see if they can repair the chipped area..
My mum caught hers with a pan several days after their kitchen was installed, the company involved did sort it for her...
Your family member scenarios are not what to do..
Don't drop stuff on it and never cut meat directly on it without a board
Crazy
My parents had it done a few months back. When installing, they often leave the original kitchen surface in place and wrap/heat/bend the faux-granite into place on top of it (it's only a cm thick or something).
Although I feel sorry for the OP - granite is notoriously problematic and often more hassle than it's worth. Lost count of the number of scarred/gouged granite surfaces I've seen over the years. Personally I think it should just be used for ornamental stuff like fire places, mantle pieces, etc. But maybe that's just me.
Definitely worth contacting the company who installed it and mentioning the minor contact knocking a chunk out, they may offer to repair for free.
I was just amazed that the bottom of the glass jar would be strong enough to take a chip out from the edge of the worktop, and the jar was totally unscathed?!
Then firm that fitted mine gave me a kit consisting of rainbow clean, a squirty bottle and a cloth
I would guess the quartz it contains actually does produce a certain weakness in the material.
The cheaper the granite, the softer and more prone to chipping, scratching, etc it is likely to be. Look closely at the chip and make sure it is granite that has come away and not some coloured, reconstituted stone that has been used to fill a spot where there was already a flaw.
Hope your installers manage to fix it to your satisfaction.
If you'd dropped the glass jar on the flat surface of the granite, it would have been unmarked, but the edge is very delicate and prone to chipping.
If its manufactured granite, its almost equal to glass on the MOHS scale anyway, with real granite being a tad harder,
The harder things are the more brittle they become, with exceptions of course.
Talc
Gypsum
Calcite
Fluorite
Apatite
Orthoclase
Quartz
Topaz
Carborundum
Diamond