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Andy Hill

wrote:
We will be installing new countertops and after doing some
research regarding my options, I've found that different websites have
different information so I was hoping someone who has had actual
experience with these materials could help me.

Originally we wanted granite because I was under the impression it was
low-maintenance but the more I read, the more I am finding out it
stains easily. Is this true? I cook with olive oil a lot, and we have

kids who are constantly spilling juice etc.. Is granite not a good
option for me? Doesnt the seal protect the granite from stains? How
much does it cost to reseal and how often do you do this?

I'm also looking into silestone (there are other similar brands). I
understand that while it resembles granite a lot, it does not have the
same depth and gloss that granite would have. On the flip side, it
doesnt require the same maintenance and it is nonporous and wont stain.

It has a lot of the same hardness qualities of granite but the heat
resistance is less (I never put hot pans on the counter anyway).

Personally, I don't like the engineered stones -- I think a natural stone with
lots of flow is way more interesting than an ES (OTOH, if you like the look of
the fine-grained granites, then maybe ES would be OK for you esthetically).

IMHO, the stain thing with granites is seriously overblown. Just don't get
some cheap-o "granite" that is so porous it might as well be a sponge (do the
lemon juice test on a sample before you commit to a slab). As far as
impregnating the stone goes, the majority of granites (80%, I think the number
is) imported these days are resined slabs, which is already a damn good seal.