On Sat, 10 Sep 2011 08:11:41 -0700 (PDT), ImStillMags >
wrote:

>On Sep 9, 9:04*pm, wrote:
>> On Fri, 9 Sep 2011 14:06:06 -0700 (PDT), ImStillMags >
>> wrote:
>>
>> >I think the prices are comparable to granite and the ones I've seen
>> >wear better, and need far less TLC.
>>
>> Really? You've seen granite countertops that show wear?
>
>Where did I say wear?....

Ummm, right the "the ones I've seen wear better[than granite]..." This
clearly implies that you've seen granite that shows wear. I'm sure granite does
wear, but I've never seen indoor granite that shows visible wear in a human
lifetime.

>...granite has to be cleaned with a special
>cleaner and 'sealed' , depending on
>the type of stone you buy.

Which has nothing at all to do with the question of visible wear.

You can clean granite with pretty much any cleaner that doesn't contain ammonia.
We find that Simple Green works well in the kitchen.

Normal kitchen countertops only need to have a sealer applied once a year.
Assuming you have the counters cleared, gthat takes about ten minutes. Many
people don't bother even with that.

Supposed "lifetime dealed" granite has been sold for several years now, but I
have no experience with it.

-- Larry

On Wednesday, September 7, 2011 6:53:36 PM UTC-5, sf wrote:
> On Wed, 7 Sep 2011 12:59:19 -0700 (PDT), Bryan
>
> wrote:
>
> > The workspace and bar are http://www.stonecontact.com/picture/...hunder-62B.jpg

Here are pix of the ones in my kitchen:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/36178182@N08/6132989413/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/36178182@N08/6133018163/

>
> Oh, I really like that one! I think your bathroom floor tiles look
> nice too.

This is my bathroom floor, including the shower curtain I sewed:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/36178182@N08/6132995587/

I'm making curtains for the kitchen too, and I took a pic of the fabric, but the camera went dead before I could upload it. It is similar to this:
http://eclecticrevisited.files.wordp...-com.jpg?w=466 or this:
http://www.designerfabricsource.com/...91a_1_56_1.JPG

I putting black valances on top:
http://www.amazon.com/Waverly-Countr...dp/B0041OKSVC/
I got them on clearance, and they look pretty good together with the curtain fabric, and putting on valances means I don't have to fuss over getting the tops of the curtains perfect, since they'll be behind the valances.
>
--Bryan

On Sat, 10 Sep 2011 10:21:58 -0700 (PDT), Bryan
> wrote:

> On Wednesday, September 7, 2011 6:53:36 PM UTC-5, sf wrote:
> > On Wed, 7 Sep 2011 12:59:19 -0700 (PDT), Bryan
> >
> > wrote:
> >
> > > The workspace and bar are http://www.stonecontact.com/picture/...hunder-62B.jpg
>
> Here are pix of the ones in my kitchen:
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/36178182@N08/6132989413/
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/36178182@N08/6133018163/
>
Very nice! I prefer an overall pattern for my own kitchen because the
seams match better, but I never object to strong veining in other
people's kitchens.
> >
> > Oh, I really like that one! I think your bathroom floor tiles look
> > nice too.
>
> This is my bathroom floor, including the shower curtain I sewed:
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/36178182@N08/6132995587/

You're a man of many talents.
>
> I'm making curtains for the kitchen too, and I took a pic of the fabric, but the camera went dead before I could upload it. It is similar to this:
> http://eclecticrevisited.files.wordp...-com.jpg?w=466 or this:
> http://www.designerfabricsource.com/...91a_1_56_1.JPG

I used to have a toile wallpaper as an accent wall in my living room,
but didn't like it after it was put up. It stayed for years (with me
secretly not liking it), then we bought a huge serigraph that no how,
no way could be hung over that wall paper - so I finally had the
perfect excuse to take it down.
>
> I putting black valances on top:
> http://www.amazon.com/Waverly-Countr...dp/B0041OKSVC/
> I got them on clearance, and they look pretty good together with the curtain fabric, and putting on valances means I don't have to fuss over getting the tops of the curtains perfect, since they'll be behind the valances.
> >
Now I want to see the rest of your kitchen!

--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

On Sat, 10 Sep 2011 00:04:05 -0400, wrote:

>On Fri, 9 Sep 2011 14:06:06 -0700 (PDT), ImStillMags >
>wrote:
>
>>I think the prices are comparable to granite and the ones I've seen
>>wear better, and need far less TLC.
>
>Really? You've seen granite countertops that show wear?

Granite wears. Naturally in designer kitchens where little actual
cooking is done because it's mostly for show granite wears
imperceptively. There's very good reason why granite isn't used in
commercial kitchens, it doesn't hold up well to heavy service.

On Thursday, September 8, 2011 10:30:48 AM UTC-5, sf wrote:
> On Thu, 8 Sep 2011 07:08:53 -0700 (PDT), Lucille
> > wrote:
>
> > I also need my kitchen redone. It's not very big but I've been
> > putting
> > it off because I'm afraid of the price. I get these ads in the mail
> > from
> > Sears to get it redone. I really should call and find out what the
> > cost would be.
>
> Go out and price it yourself. We found our kitchen contractor
> accidentally when we were pricing the granite countertops.
>
You could hire a handyman off of Craigslist, and buy the cabinets at Lowes. The granite places have installers. Go directly to the granite shops. If your kitchen is small enough, you might be able to do it with the remnants of a single slab. I mixed mine, and saved a boatload. The sink counter already had the sink hole cut, and another customer had rejected it. I got a thousand dollar counter top for $300. Shop around, or you'll likely pay too much.

--Bryan

jmcquown wrote:
>
> "Jean B." > wrote in message
> ...
>> sf wrote:
>>> On Wed, 7 Sep 2011 12:36:57 -0700 (PDT), Helpful person
>>> > wrote:
>>>
>>>> On Sep 7, 12:33 pm, "Jean B." > wrote:
>>>>> Hi,
>>>>>
>>>>> I have granite counters in my new kitchen. It is relevant to add
>>>>> that this is antiqued granite, and it has many beautiful mica
>>>>> inclusions. The pro is that the counters are gorgeous. The con:
>>>>> it is unforgiving. One has to be very careful when putting
>>>>> breakable things down. Also the inclusions make this counter
>>>>> somewhat fragile. I don't know whether I would do this over
>>>>> again. I get great pleasure from looking at the counters, feeling
>>>>> them, but having to be really careful is kind-of a pain.
>>>>>
>>>>> I know you only asked about counters, but is your neighbor working
>>>>> with a professional designer? I did, but I also selected
>>>>> appliances, working with measurements she gave me. There are
>>>>> things your neighbor should be aware of in this regard.
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Jean B.
>>>> Very strange. Granite is certainly not particularly fragile. Does
>>>> yours have a particular problem?
>>>
>>> She said: "Also the inclusions make this counter somewhat fragile."
>>> I imagine that if she has "to be careful when putting breakable things
>>> down", that she must really whack the counter with her unbreakable
>>> items.
>>>
>> I don't. I have NEVER whacked things down--probably much less than
>> almost anyone here or anywhere. BUT I have to be ultracareful
>> now--and that is so breakable things don't break. The granite is
>> another issue, and its problem is that the mica makes it relatively
>> fragile.
>>
>> --
>> Jean B.
> ******************
> When I watch HGTV (fairly often) and they're redoing a kitchen, they
> often specifically point out how pretty the mica makes the granite
> countertops look. Pretty, yes. Sparkly, even. But it's basically
> another element contained in the stone... some consider it a flaw.
>
> Jill

I think such things are fine if the surfaces have the normal
glossy finish. Mine don't have that, which undoubtedly adds to
their vulnerability.

--
Jean B.

On Sun, 11 Sep 2011 13:28:27 -0500, BubbaBob
> wrote:

>I guess that alpha particle emission from a surface that you prepare food
>on is pretty much a con, as is radon creation from the breakdown of
>uranium, particularly in the yellower shades of granite.

Yeah, they are. You can always read the National Safety Council literauture on
the subject if you're concerned.

-- Larry

On 9/11/2011 5:02 PM, wrote:
> On Sun, 11 Sep 2011 13:28:27 -0500, BubbaBob
> > wrote:
>
>> I guess that alpha particle emission from a surface that you prepare food
>> on is pretty much a con, as is radon creation from the breakdown of
>> uranium, particularly in the yellower shades of granite.
>
> Yeah, they are. You can always read the National Safety Council literauture on
> the subject if you're concerned.
>
> -- Larry

I wonder what the cancer statistics are in the Scottish city of
Aberdeen? The radioactivity from the widespread use of granite for
buildings there is higher than normal.

--


James Silverton, Potomac

I'm *not*

BubbaBob wrote:
>
> Granite counters will probably have the same long-term effect on America's
> upper class that lead water pipes had on the Romans', except that instead
> of lead poisoning they'll have lung, stomach, esophogeal, intestinal and
> colon cancers. Ingested alpha particles are bad news.

You know people who sand down their granite counters and eat the
resulting dust? It doesn't seem like you are aware that alpha particles
do not convert atoms into radioactive isotopes. You need to shallow the
pitchblend to get any lasting effect.

Then again granite counters do need to be sealed. It's part of why I
would rather have Silestone or Zodaic or similar.

Kalmia wrote:

> I think ppl fall for the latest in kitchen decor - they're afraid
> someone will come in and think "Oh, an 80s kitchen". I would NEVER
> go for stainless myself - gives that morgue feeling to me too.

LOL, actually, the first morgue I once worked in was an old Luftwaffe
morgue in Germany lined in what looked to be subway tiles. It was kinda
neat looking. No stainless anything left by the time I worked there.

I like my stainless and the metallic look of it along with my metallic
bronze backsplash tiles which are both picked up in the granite. It
doesn't seem to require any extra attention except for the microwave
door over the range. And that is because we tend to shut it with our
hands instead of using the door handle.

I also like my granite, especially as sf said for baking. It cleans up
and I've never broken anything on it. I have chipped it in a small spot
over the dishwasher though. I think I let the wand of the cannister
vacuum drop against it.

ImStillMags wrote:

> Where did I say wear?....granite has to be cleaned with a special
> cleaner and 'sealed' , depending on
> the type of stone you buy.
>

Mine came pre-sealed with a fifteen year guarantee.

On Mon, 12 Sep 2011 18:22:06 -0400, Goomba >
wrote:

>ImStillMags wrote:
>
>> Where did I say wear?....granite has to be cleaned with a special
>> cleaner and 'sealed' , depending on
>> the type of stone you buy.
>>
>
>Mine came pre-sealed with a fifteen year guarantee.

Guarantee against what? I think you'd have a better chance of a
guarantee against damage to an engagement diamond... which of course
no one guarantees. You can buy _insurance_ against particular damage
under particular contingencies but no one can guarantee natural stone
against anything... that's like Michelin guaranteeing you will never
get a flat tire... you can have a _warantee_ that they will
repair/replace, but there are no guarantees that a stone counter won't
chip, crack,stain, etc... anyone gives you such a guarantee then you
were gyped, means your counter is not natural stone. Did you know
that granite head stones in cemeteries split all the time, water gets
into tiny fissures and first freeze the stone splits. Tyically the
stone maker sells insurance that covers certain damage (even
vandalism) but no one can _guarantee_ a natural granite head stone
won't become damaged.

BubbaBob wrote:
> Doug Freyburger > wrote:
>
>> You know people who sand down their granite counters and eat the
>> resulting dust? It doesn't seem like you are aware that alpha
>> particles do not convert atoms into radioactive isotopes. You need to
>> shallow the pitchblend to get any lasting effect.
>
> Alpha particles are emitted from the granite. If there is a piece of food
> on the surface, they go into the food and you ingest them.

Helium is not toxic and does not cause cancer. That's what alpha
particles are, helium. Alpha particles are only a problem when you are
touching the source (as in nude sleeping on the counter) or inside your
body (as in dust from griding down the counter).

> My father and about 100 of his co-workers who worked for Sandia Corporation
> at the Nevada Test Site, died of an array of cancers very shortly after
> retirement. They worked down in instrumentation tunnels that were re-used
> after shots. They wouldn't let them go to the surface to eat lunch, they
> had to eat in a dangerously alpha-high environment. Sandia only tested them
> for gamma & x-ray exposure and never did the required urine and feces tests
> for alpha ingestion. They all died horrible painful deaths because Sandia
> wouldn't spare the time or energy to let them eat on the surface.

They were in a place were radioactive isotopes could enter their body.
Most particularly radon but they also had dust exposure into their
lungs. Your example has zero to do with granite counter tops. Do you
have a point or do you actually have no idea why your statement is not
relevant to granite counter tops in kitchens?

What is important is for all workers who cut and grind granite to wear
their respirator masks and to vacuum out your house after installing a
new granite countertop. Get rid of the dust and you're done.

On Thu, 15 Sep 2011 21:09:51 +0000 (UTC), Doug Freyburger
> wrote:

> What is important is for all workers who cut and grind granite to wear
> their respirator masks and to vacuum out your house after installing a
> new granite countertop. Get rid of the dust and you're done.

I think that's at least partially why they do the fabricating outside.

--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.