Fiction - If a glass or plate is dropped on a granite countertop the top will break. Fact - If a glass or plate is dropped on a granite counter the glass or plate will probably break, but the countertop will not. Fiction - Granite scratches very easily, Fact - Granite is a rock, it is second only in hardness to diamonds. Normal use of a granite countertop will not scratch the top. If you took the tip of a knife or an ice pick and worked at it, you could scratch the surface but normal use will not scratch the surface. Fiction - A hot pan set on granite will cause the top to crack. Fact - You can take a pan straight from the oven or burner and set it on a granite counter and it will not scorch or crack the top. Fiction - Granite is much more expensive than other solid surface countertops. Fact - Prices on granite vary greatly depending on the thickness and the color of the granite you select. While some granites are more expensive than other solid surface countertops, some are actually cheaper. Fiction - If a granite countertop gets stained you have to replace the countertop. Fact - Often what is perceived as a stain is actually just moisture that has been absorbed into the stone. Given enough time this spot will usually dry out and go away. If however, you do actually get a stain in your granite countertop that doesn't dry out there is a stain removal paste that you can apply that will remove most common stains. Fiction - All granite countertops should be sealed to avoid stains. Fact - Granite is a rock and as rocks some granites are porous and some are very dense. The dense granites you can not get sealer in, which doesn't matter because they do no need to be sealed. The porous granites do need to be sealed. You can tell by putting a small amount of water on the granite and if it absorbs then it needs to be sealed. Q. - A. - Q. - A. - Q. - A. - Should I seal my ceramic tile and grout? We do not recommend this. It is not necessary to seal ceramic tile and sealing grout gives you a false sense of security. Sealing the grout will help to keep it clean for a while, but it does not last forever. It will need to be resealed, how often depends on the amount of use the tiled area receives. Nothing you do to the tile or grout will make cleaning the tile unnecessary. If you want to keep your tile looking like brand new, just clean it on a regular basis. What is the best thing to use to clean my ceramic tile? Mr. Clean or Spic and Span. When the people that laid my tile, they left my tile looking like it has a haze over it. How do I get this off? You have a thin grout haze over your tile. Wash your tile with mild white vinegar. Continued..... on the next page Continued..... on the next page