Welcome to Our
Frequently Asked Questions . . . . .
The photos that are presented on our website show different types of headstones. Some have just the headstone and some with a base and headstone. The ones presented with a base are included. Our representatives are available to discuss in further detail on prices and selections.
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| Example 1: Shown Without a Base |
Example 2: Shown With a Base |
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Sealants should be applied directly after installation followed by once a year or as necessary.
In order to determine if your stone should be sealed, sprinkle a few drops of water on the surface. If the water pools on the surface, your stone does not need to be sealed. If the water soaks into the surface, sealing is recommended. We always advise sealing natural stone after installation. |
Granite: Polished
 Miracle's 511 Impregnator is the original penetrating sealer designed for the protection of all medium to dense porous surfaces. It forms an invisible barrier that is resistant to moisture and stains while allowing vapor to escape. 511 Impregnator is not a surface coating and will not alter the natural look. It's excellent for interior & exterior projects while providing weather resistant superior coverage. Use it on Sanded Grout, Quarry Tile, Ceramic Tile, Glazed Tile, Porcelain Tile, Polished Granite & Marble, Terrazzo, Concrete, Brick, Stucco, Slate, Quartz, Travertine and Agglomerate.
Granite Unpolished, Limestone, Marble, Onyx, Slate, Quartzite, Travertine
 Miracle's 511 Porous Plus is a penetrating sealer designed for the protection of the most porous surfaces. It forms an invisible barrier that is resistant to moisture and stains while allowing vapor to escape. It also is weather resistant, U.V. transparent and is ok for food areas. Use it for your interior & exterior projects. 511 Porous Plus is not a surface coating and will not alter the natural look. Use on sanded grout, limestone, terra cotta, cement, brick, slate, saltillo tile, concrete tile, flagstone, polished marble & granite, pre-cast concrete, cantera/adoquin, flamed & honed granite, honed/textured marble and sandstone.
Independent tests show 511 Porous Plus out performs competitive products. (Test results are available upon request from manufactuer). |
Today’s consumer is offered a wide range of surfacing materials for use in countertop applications. Once in service, these countertop surfaces will be exposed to a variety of contaminative substances. The key safety issue to the consumer is the degree of cleanability of the surface material, that is, how easily any contaminants can be removed using normal and reasonable cleaning practices.
The following study by Dr. O. Peter Snyder of the Hospitality Institute of Technology and Management (http://www.hi-tm.com/Documents/Countertops.html) used E. coli bacteria as its contaminating agent. The findings of the report show significant cleanability advantages of natural granite countertops over almost all other commonly found countertop surface materials.
The study included 6 countertop surfaces, which were washed and rinsed after exposure to the bacteria. They were later cleaned with a 10% solution of white household vinegar (1 part 5% vinegar, 9 parts water). Bacteria counts were taken after both cleaning methods.
Granite Ranked 1st in Cleanability
After washing and rinsing, the granite tops provided the greatest reduction in bacteria counts of all the countertop materials tested:
Granite: |
36,000 to 1 |
Stainless Steel: |
4,000 to 1 |
Concrete: |
2,400 to 1 |
Tile: |
900 to 1 |
Wood: |
500 to 1 |
Plastic Laminate: |
285 to 1 |
When Dilute Vinegar Solution Used: Granite 2nd Only to Stainless Steel
Counts taken after the application of the dilute vinegar solution showed the granite having a bacteria count reduction second only to stainless steel, but 160 times better than the next closest material:
Stainless Steel: |
230,000,000 to 1 |
Click Here to download
a copy of this article
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Granite: |
80,000,000 to 1 |
Plastic Laminate: |
500,000 to 1 |
Tile: |
233,000 to 1 |
Concrete: |
30,600 to 1 |
Wood: |
2,000 to 1 |
We have reprinted Dr. Snyder’s report in its entirety herein for your review (click here). |
1. |
Granite is absorbent. Granite qualifies as impervious to water and is actually less absorbent than some solid surface (plastic) products. Granite is commonly used as building material for high-rise buildings due to its ability to withstand gale force winds and rain.
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2. |
Granite stains easily. Granite is resistant to stains. Generally, any liquid spilled on a granite top, if wiped up within a few minutes, will not stain. However, even water can soak into a granite countertop and leave a dark colored spot but this will evaporate in minutes. Liquids that do not evaporate, such as oils will cause stains if left to soak into the stone.
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3. |
Stains in granite are permanent. Most stains can be removed. Even oil stains can usually be removed using a poultice or paste that will draw out the oil from the stone.
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4. |
Granite will lose its polish over the years. While this may be true of marble, granite will shine years from now just as if it was brand new. Granite is highly scratch resistant and will not show wear from daily use.
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5. |
Granite requires a lot of maintenance. Routine cleaning with mild soap and water is all that is generally required. Once a year, a re-application of a penetrating sealer should be performed, which only takes about 15 minutes—less time than scouring a solid surface countertop with a cleanser to remove scratches.
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6. |
Heat will cause granite to chip and crack. Granite is heat resistant and can withstand the heat of hot pots and pans without damage. Impact from a heavy object may chip granite but heat from anything short of a blowtorch will not affect your countertop.
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Granite is heavy. At 16 pounds per square foot (3cm) and the average kitchen having 65 square feet of countertop space, a kitchen full of granite would weigh over 1,000 pounds. That’s why we do the installation for you.
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8. |
Granite’s tiny pores and fissures harbor bacteria. Bacteria are found everywhere. If it is on a granite top, then it can also be found on a laminate or solid surface top. Use an anti-bacterial soap to wash your countertop if you are concerned.
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9. |
Granite and marble are essentially the same. Besides the fact that they are both natural stones and can be polished, they are otherwise very different. Marble is generally a calcious stone, formed from oceanic deposits and then compressed under pressure (metamorphosed). Granite, however, is an igneous rock, essentially molten magma, which is cooled and then hardened below the earth’s surface.
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10. |
Granite is expensive. Granite is usually competitively priced compared to other high-end surfacing materials. You will be amazed when you compare the price of granite to other popularly famed “luxury surfaces”. Granite offers you an unmatched value with its natural beauty, elegance and longevity.
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Please email us any questions that you may have!
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