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Q: What is granite?

A: Granite is a crystalline igneous rock composed primarily of quartz, mica and feldspar. It forms from slowly cooling magma that is subjected to extreme pressures deep beneath the earth’s surface.

Q: How strong is granite?

A: Granite has greater strength than sandstone, limestone and marble. It is an important building stone, and is extremely resistant to weathering. Diamonds, the hardest natural material, are used to cut, shape and polish granite. Granite measures a seven to eight on a scale of ten for hardness, so that even stainless steel cannot scratch its surface.

Q: Are there differences in hardness between stones?

A: Yes. Generally, Limestones, Sandstones and Soapstones are the softest. Next come marbles and finally granites. There are also hardness variances within each individual stone category. Among granites, generally, the lighter colors tend to be 'softer', and the hardest tend to be blacks and reds. However, even the 'softer' granites are extremely hard.

Q: Can marble be used in a kitchen?

A: Yes it can, but it is not advisable. The shine on marble is achieved with a final acid step. Thus, if you spill anything acidic [soft drinks, orange juice, tomato juice, etc.] and it sets for a few moments, your shine will be gone. We can bring the shine back up, but it is tedious and time consuming, as well as expensive. It will stain. There is no doubt about it, it is just a matter of when and how much. Some accept these inherent limitations because they love the beauty of the stone, and that is just fine. But, we will make you aware of the pitfalls.

Q: What about Quartz products?

A: Most Quartz surfaces are 93% quartz and 7% polyester resins. Stone Projects is an authorized fabricator for all major quartz brands including Silestone, Caesar Stone, LG Viatera, Zodiaq and Hanstone. We believe that like the natural stones, the quartz countertops have their beauty and their own characteristics. The quartz customer is different from the natural Stone Customer. Despite the big debate from both sides advocating which product is the best, we prefer to respect the customer’s preference, and give them the product they want.

Q: Doesn’t granite require a lot of care?

A: Caring for granite is simple. There are many products on the market that can be used for caring for your countertops, but you can’t go wrong with just a little dish soap and water (3 drops in a sink full of warm water). Dry the top after cleaning with a soft rag. Never use abrasive cleaners.

Q: What about maintenance? I keep hearing granite needs to be sealed frequently.

A: At Stone Projects, we seal all our tops with a new imported sealer that claims a 10 year life span. Most fabricators use a sealer that lasts three to four years. It is considerably less expensive. The problem with conventional sealers is that they break down with repeated use of cleaning products, especially those containing ammonia. Every time you use it, you're breaking down your sealer's effectiveness. With our new product, the molecular structure is completely different and much smaller, so, you may safely use almost any cleaning product. If the Sealer-Squealers have gotten to you, ask us about the long list of natural stones that require no sealers whatsoever.

Q: Is natural stone a good investment?

A: Natural stone is a tremendous investment. Two things sell homes: Kitchens and Master Baths. Nationally, the payback for remodels on Kitchens and Master Baths is over 90% return on your investment. If you are trying to sell an upscale home that has existing tile or laminate tops, you will most likely hit market resistance. Installing new natural stone countertops will be a long lasting investment for you to enjoy and for future resale value.

Q: Will my kitchen have seams?

A: A typical slab size is about 65 inches tall by 114 inches long. If you have counter runs that exceed these dimensions, you will have seams. Clever builders and designers will take this into account in the design phase of a kitchen. When we layout the kitchen, we consider several factors in determining the very best placement of seams. Our preference is to avoid a seam, if at all possible. When you have a seam, it is filled with a polyester material, colored to match the stone as close as possible. Our fabricators and installers are trained to minimize seams, but when they occur, we strive to make them as clean as possible.

Q: What type of sink applications are used for granite counters?

A: The most common are undermount sinks. Stone Projects has a full line of undermount sinks in stock at our showroom, and we will be happy to assist you on your selection.

Q: What makes one granite color more expensive than other?

A:Supply, demand and acquisition cost of the material basically determines the stone price. Exotic stones and materials with movement are usually more expensive. We try to maintain a good selection of affordable, attractive stones for our clients. We also stock some unique stones that are only available through Stone Projects. Since we import most of our inventory directly from the foreign factories, we are able to offer some really attractive materials at very reasonable rates due to our enhanced buying power.

Q: Is it safe to buy stone by looking at a 4" by 4" sample?

A: No. The pattern and color variations of granite cannot be represented in a small square. It’s like buying a car by looking at only the hubcap. We are a stocking fabricator. You see the entire slab in our yard, so that you can better determine what the finished product will look like. We write your name on the batch from which your slabs will be taken. That way, you know that what you’ve selected is what you’ll see installed.

Q: Why else is granite a superior choice for countertops?

A: Besides its strength and durability, granite is available in thousand of colors. New quarries are being discovered and every quarry produces a unique palette. Unlike synthetic material, the colors and textures of granite can change every few feet and vary from slab to slab. Every countertop is basically unique and nothing compares to the beauty of nature.

Q: What makes Stone Projects different?

A: Stone Projects offers many advantages, including:

• Wide inventory
• Superior service and quality
• Competitive pricing
• Sophisticated fabrication technology
• Outstanding customer satisfaction
• Prompt production turnaround
• Dependable installation schedule
• Free estimates

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Stone Projects is a leading custom fabricator of natural stones and quartz surfaces for Kitchen countertops, vanities, fireplaces and Jacuzzis. The name Stone Projects has been associated with high quality craftsmanship since 2005. The company provides services in the New England area from Connecticut to Maine.

Stone Projects is an authorized fabricator for these suppliers of fine countertop materials:


MA Location: 325 New Boston St. Woburn, MA 01801
ME Location: 55 Bradley Drive, Westbrook, ME 04092
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