1. How many Canadian stones does Maple have?
Several, such as Deer Brown, Atlantic Green, Prairie Green, Abyss Green, Cambrian Black, and Nordic Red.

2. What makes certain granite colours more expensive than others?
Which part of the world the stone comer from, availability of colour, and where the stone is finished.

3. Where does granite come from?
Granite is quarried from all over the globe, certain types of granite are found in specific regions. Such as Nero Assolutto comes from South Africa, Azul Bahia comes from Brazil, Emerald Pearl and Blue Pearl come from Finland.

4. Will my granite scratch?
Granite is made out of many different mineral cemented together by millions of years under pressure and great heat. As a matter of fact granite is an igneous rock that formed under great heat and pressure and was in a liquid state just like the lava from volcanoes, and as it cooled over millions of years the minerals formed and grouped together to give us the look we see and enjoy now. The minerals that make up granite are very hard. Other granite or minerals that are harder than it such as diamond blades can scratch granite. A knife made out of steel will not damage the granite, but if you use a knife on your granite top the knife will dull very fast.

5. Why does granite have pits?
Granite is composed of natural minerals that vary in hardness. Granite sheets are polished with diamond polishers and as it takes longer to polish some minerals, the other minerals will be over polished and if they are near the surface these minerals will flake off and the appearance of pitting occurs. This occurs mostly in but not restricted to brown and yellow granites.

6. Can I put hot stuff on my granite?
We recommend that you always use a trivet to rest pots on. While you will not burn the granite counter top, the granite will absorb the heat and retain it for a longer period of time.

7. Does granite chip?
Granite is stone, if it is abused it will chip and break off.

8. Does granite burn?
No, the temperature will have to be much higher than what you get out of your stove and oven.

9. Does the fissure open up with time?
No, fissures are the natural lines between the different minerals that make up granite.

10. What should I do if my granite has a crack on the surface?
If you think your granite top has a crack, you must call our customer service hot line and representative will set up a service call to assess the best course of action.

11. Can counter top crack on its own?
No, most cracks that we have serviced have been the result of exterior pressure such as shifting of cabinets and sink replacements.

12. Where will we place the seams?
Seams are located at every corner of L-shape counters and where the counter is longer than the granite slab. Most granite slabs are about 5'X8'. If your kitchen design includes an island that is longer than 8' there is a great possibility that there will be a seam introduced somewhere on that top. This decision will be discussed with the homeowner at time of measuring the counter top.

13. Can I see and feel the seams?
Yes, you will be able to both see and feel the seam.

14. Is the seam the same colour as the granite colour?
Great care is taken to try to match the most dominant colour in your granite counter top you have chosen. There is no guarantee that the match will be exact.

15. What size would the seam be?
Seams range in thickness from 1/16" to 1/8".

16. Would the sink be mounted flush with my granite?
No, the lip of the granite will be overhanging the sink.

17. Why does the granite overhang my sink bowl?
The silicone sealant used to glue the sink to the granite will not be as visible to you when you are working at the sink area.

18. How come the sink manufacturer shows that granite back from the sink lip?
Most sink manufacturers sell sink accessories to be used with their sinks. Please note that if you are purchasing such accessories it is YOUR RESPONSABILITY to advise us and have the actual units at your home when we come out to measure for granite top.

19. Why can I not use marble for the kitchen counter top?
Marble is a different type of rock; it is much softer than granite, absorbs liquids and scratches very easily. It is not recommended for use as a kitchen counter top.

20. How messy is the installation?
As any renovation project, there will be dust and dirt associated with the installation. Maple's installers will clean up after themselves, but the final clean up must be done by the homeowner.

21. Will my granite stain?
Granite will absorb liquids temporarily because of it's nature. We recommend that all spills be wiped off immediately and have the effected area exposed to air. All liquids will evaporate off the surface in time.

22. How do I clean my granite?
Granite is quite easy to keep clean, warm water, soap and a clean rag will do the job. You may use a vinegar/water solution as disinfectant or regular basis. Please note do not use vinegar base solutions on other stone products such as marble or onyx since these materials will be permanently etched from the acid content in vinegar. For tough dirt you may use warm water, soap and fine steel wool to dislodge the dirt, then rinse well and towel dry.

23. Is my granite sealed?
Yes, a penetrating sealer is applied as the last step here in our shop prior to delivery to your home for installation.

24. How long does the sealant last?
It os recommended to clean and seal your granite counter top every 6 to 12 months depending on the amount of use. Please refer to the packaging and the instructions of the product you purchased.

25. Can I use the polisher without the cleaner?
No, you must clean the top prior to using the sealer. Please refer to the instructions with the product you purchased.

26. Can I buy the cleaner without the sealer?
No, it is a multii step process. Please refer to the instructions with the product you purchased.

27. What is the extra cost for book matching?
Matching lines and colour from piece to piece at the seams is called book matching or butterfly effect. The cost will vary due to the layout of your kitchen and the material slab size you selected. On average it could triple the quote you received.

28. Is the AKEMI base visible?
AKEMI products are used to glue the seams on your counter top together. Your seam will be visible and the glue will also be visible.

29. What do you use to glue my counter top with?
The actual granite counter top is glued to the top of your cabinets using clear silicone base glue. The weight of the granite counter top and the glue will be sufficient as to not move the top once it is in place.

30. Can I get granite brackets?
No we do not fabricate them.

31. Do I need a plywood sub-base to support the granite?
The requirements for your granite counter top will be assessed at the time of measure and you will be advised accordingly by the sales person handling your project.

32. Is the plywood going to be visible?
The thickness of material you have chosen and the type of cabinets you have will determine if the plywood would be visible or not. This item must be discussed with Maple representative at your home at time of measure.

33. Does Maple install the plywood sub-base?
No, the cabinet installer must complete that for the homeowner prior to the granite counter top installation.

35. Can Maple template with the existing counter top on?
No, the existing counter top must be removed prior to the template/ measure appointment. If the counter top is not removed, an extra trip charge will be added to your cost and another date will be set up for the measure at a time when the removal of the existing counter top has been done.

36. Can Maple do a built up edge with the thicker 1 1/4" thickness?
No, it is not recommended for kitchen counter tops because of many design considerations. For example the build-up would interfere with opening the top drawers and the cabinet doors. If a plywood sub-base is used then the final height of the counter top will be too high for the average person and working in the kitchen will be uncomfortable.

37. What causes the granite to have different colours?
The chemical reaction within different minerals that make up the granite creates the different colours.

38. What if I get a permanent stain in my counter-top?
Please contact our Customer Service Department at 1-800-268-2190 for information about poultices to release stains.

40. Should I elevate Crock Pot and Slow Cocker when in use?
Yes, the radiating heat should have an "escape route" so that it is not absorbed in the granite counter-top.

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