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Italian Marble and Granite

Call Us: 716-741-1800

The Pros and Cons of Stones

We are here to make your home renovation easier; that is why we compiled a list of pros and cons for stones. We hope that this helps you choose the perfect stone for your home. 

Here are a few things to keep in mind as you read: 

  • Stain-resistant does not mean stain-proof. Stain-resistant means that it is harder to stain the stone. If you properly care for it, you will not deal with staining. 
  • Heat resistance does not mean you should constantly place high heat objects on the stones. High heat can remove sealer or polish layers, eventually damaging the stone. Try to use a trivet or hot pad as often as possible. 

GRANITE

Granite is a natural stone. It is formed under the Earth’s surface by magma that slowly cools and crystallizes over time. As a result, each slab is unique and full of different colors and patterns.

Pros of Granite: 

  • One of the hardest substances on Earth, making it very durable
  • Heat resistant
  • Scratch-resistant
  • Can be repaired if broken, unless shattered

Cons of Granite: 

  • Needs to be sealed; otherwise, there can be staining
  • Is porous

 

QUARTZITE

Quartzite is a natural stone formed by crystallizing from molten magma. Many slabs have marble-like colors and veining.

Pros of Quartzite: 

  • Resistant to etching
  • Low maintenance
  • UV resistant
  • Durable
  • Can be repaired if broken, unless shattered
  • Scratch resistant

Cons of Quartzite: 

  • Some varieties need to be sealed
  • Can stain

 

MARBLE

Marble is a natural stone. It’s created by the metamorphosis of a combination of rocks under intense pressure and temperatures.

Pros of Marble: 

  • Are beautiful and timeless stones
  • Can be repaired if broken, unless shattered
  • With proper care, they can last a long time

Cons of Marble: 

  • Porous
  • Can stain or etch. To prevent etching we recommend a honed marble. Honed marble is marble that has not gone through the polish process, which leaves it matte.
  • Delicate and can be damaged easier than other stones

 

PORCELAIN

Porcelain is a ceramic material made by heating clay-type materials to high temperatures.

Pros of porcelain:

  • UV Resistant
  • Heat Resistant
  • Essentially scratch resistant (ceramic knives may scratch)
  • Stain-resistant

Cons of porcelain: 

  • Can crack if hit by a hard object (ex: hammer).

 

DEKTON

Dekton goes through a high-tech process that mimics the metamorphic change that natural stone undergoes over thousands of years.

Pros of Dekton:

  • Scratch Resistant
  • Heat Resistant
  • Stain Resistant
  • UV and ice resistant, making it the perfect stone for outdoor use

Cons of Dekton:

  • Difficult to repair if broken

 

 

QUARTZ:

Quartz is an engineered stone made up of natural components.

Pros of Quartz: 

  • Is not porous
  • Does not need to be sealed
  • Stain-resistant
  • Same durability as granite

Cons of Quartz:

  • Not heat resistant
  • Can be damaged and stained by chemicals, ex: nail polish remover or high pH cleaner

 

Outdoor Entertaining Areas

Outdoor Entertaining Areas

Your outdoor entertaining area can start off as a dream. With the help of Italian Marble & Granite your backyard can be turned into the private retreat you have always wanted. From fireplaces, BBQ pits, countertops, tabletops, and fire pits you could turn your backyard dream into a reality.

With summer coming up quickly, we all dream of a relaxing place to spend our beautiful summer evenings. One of the best ways to achieve this dream is by creating your outdoor entertaining area out of our wonderful selection of stone. With the help of our amazing staff we can help guide the process of turning the slab of stone into a beautiful and well-crafted piece of work.

The type of outdoor countertops that we can create here at IMG depends on your liking. You are able to customize everything about your granite, from the edges to the style, shape, and color. Our fireplaces, BBQ pits, fire pits, table tops, and countertops are our ways to get your backyard patio looking it’s best.

Below is a list of the most common applications and the types of stone we would recommend.

  • – Outdoor kitchens/BBQs- Diresco Quartz, Granite, Soapstone, Dekton, Geolux, Porcelain slabs/Sapienstone
  • – Outdoor tables- Diresco Quartz, Granite, Soapstone, Dekton, Geolux, Porcelain slabs/Sapienstone
  • – Fireplaces/Firepits- Dekton & Geolux

     

      

 

News from the Quartz Industry

News from the Quartz Industry

In light of the current uncertainty in the market regarding the price and availability of quartz, we decided we should reach out with a statement that shares our thoughts and feelings with you.

As many of you already know, there are tariffs set to take effect that will greatly increase the cost of any quartz imported from China.  Cambria has argued that the import of Chinese quartz has been unfair for American businesses.  Cambria’s president says that he is merely seeking to level the playing field for his company.  We feel that rather than leveling the playing field, this will deal a huge blow to the industry as a whole.

In the past, we reached out to Cambria’s headquarters and expressed an interest in fabricating their product.  We were told that they already worked with someone else in our area and they weren’t interested in working with us.  Luckily we are able to carry a variety of other quartz lines because it seems Cambria isn’t interested in us or our clients. We do our best to accommodate all of our clients, but we fear we will not be able to do so if quartz prices continue to increase.

We are not talking about a small increase in prices. In case you have not already heard, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced on Wednesday the preliminary antidumping (AD) determination on quartz surface products from China.  The AD preliminary duty rates are very high, ranging from 242%‑ 342% depending on the supplier.  The AD duty will be imposed on quartz surface products from China in addition to (1) the 34.4% countervailing duty (CVD) rate (or higher for certain exporters), and (2) the 10% Section 301 tariff (scheduled to increase to 25% at the end of 2018)—both of these taxes were imposed back in September.

We feel that we have finally reached a point where quartz products have become affordable for the average consumer.  With these duty rates, quartz will once again be out of reach for many of our clients.  A lot of the quartz that replicates marbles are going to be effected, which is unfortunate because this is the look many of our clients are looking for.  Unfortunately many of the other lines do not carry quality marble imitations including Cambria.  We strongly feel that Cambria’s insistence on these outrageous tariffs will be harmful not only for us but for our customers.  This may be good for Cambria’s bottom line, but the industry as a whole is going to suffer.  We do not want to see our clients and our fellow businesses harmed by increasing prices.

The following quartz lines that we carry will be effected: Q-Stone, Daltile, Corian Quartz, Aurea Stone, Zeal, Colorquartz.

The following quartz lines will NOT be effected:  Caesarstone, Silestone,

To hear more about it check out this interview with MS International.

https://www.stoneworld.com/articles/90406-tariffs-and-the-fabricator-a-discussion-with-rupesh-shah-of-msi

Dishwashers and Solid Surfaces

Over the years the way dishwashers are attached has changed.  This is primarily due to the fact that many of the counters people are having installed are granite, quartz, or marble.  When formica tops are installed the dishwashers can be attached directly to the  formica tops, by being screwed in.  With granite, quartz, and marble this cannot be done.  Therefore many of the dishwasher companies are making their dishwashers side mountable.  If you have a relatively new dishwasher it probably has to the ability to be attached to the side of your cabinet.  If you dishwasher is older, or in the rare occasion not side-mountable then we can attached a metal strip under the surface and the clips can be attached to it.

The easiest way to determine if your dishwasher has the ability to be side mounted is to look at the installation manual.  It should give you two different options, and one will explain how to attach it to the cabinet rather than the counter.    Below is an example of how a dishwasher can be attached to the side of a cabinet.

side mount instruction

Buffalo Home and Garden Show

Buffalo Home and Garden Show

home show
Recently Italian Marble and Granite had the privilege to work on the Buffalo Home and Garden Show with the Interior Design Association of Western New York. The Interior Design Association completed an entire 1000 square foot pre fabricated home that was staged on the second floor of the Buffalo Convention Center. The home was decorated beautifully by many of the designers and strategic partners of the Interior Design Association. The bedroom furnishings were supplied by Ethan Allen. The living room and dining room was completed by Kittinger Furniture. Italian Marble and Granite completed the kitchen with Creative Storage. The countertops were a white quartz from Q-Stone, a Quartz supplier. Creative Storage supplied white cabinets that were innovative and maximized the space and storage.

The Buffalo Home and Garden Show is a great way to get ideas for your home and see some of the latest trends. Make sure to check it out next year!