Granite Choice

davetazz · 01-09-2007, 04:56 PM

I'm looking at Santa Cecelia or New Venitian Gold for my countertops. I was told both are very porous.

Any suggestions for alternatives that have similiar coloring/pattern that will not have staining issues these ones do.

Topshop · 01-09-2007, 05:31 PM

I would not worry about Santa Cecilia if it is resined. Most resined stones are stain resistant. I have not seen any New Ven resined yet so I always sway my customers away from it.

Koessler · 01-09-2007, 06:28 PM

Hi Dave

I'm with TopShop on this one. I think we have New Venetion Gold Resined in my neck of the woods. I haven't dealt with either one resined thusfar, but that's the way to go. If you don't have them available, getting them properly sealed is critical.

Maurizio Bertoli · 01-10-2007, 07:50 AM

Dave:
Allow to give you a list of the best granites and "granites" on the market:

A good, reputable fabricator - End of the list.

Get the right man and you will automatically get the right stone. It never happens the other way around.

Ciao and good luck,
Maurizo Bertoli

davetazz · 01-11-2007, 11:02 PM

How do you know if you are getting a good fabricator. I have several choices where I live (pittsburgh, PA) and have no clue how to select the best one.

Topshop · 01-12-2007, 01:28 PM

Visit their showroom and see the work in it, get their refferences and actually call them, and ask if they polosh their seams. Most hacks will not even care if the seams look bad. A quality minded fabricator will polish his seams. Always remember that the lowest price is not always the best thing.

Maurizio Bertoli · 01-12-2007, 02:30 PM

Dave:
You may want to consider visiting: Marblecleaning.org - the Natural Stone Consumer Advocacy and Information Site and look their literature library up.

Ciao and good luck,
Maurizio Bertoli

Huligar · 01-12-2007, 09:23 PM

Maurizio, it looks like we would have to pay for that infor. on this forum we like to share information freely. can you please help us out with the answer rather then making a sale. education before any sale.

Maurizio Bertoli · 01-13-2007, 09:44 PM

Jo:
Like I explained in a different and comprehensive thread, marblecleaning.org is part of the ISC, which is a nonprofit organization designed to support and help consumers of natural stone. Like your NSRA it needs revenues to support and promote itself, and I can hardly consider the promotion of a $12.00 piece of literature as a blatant advertisment of anything. Besides, I do not own the ISC. Nobody does, being nonprofit.
The ISC is open for membership, but I do believe that the main support should come from the consumers and consumers-to-be of natural stone that it's set up to help.
I can volunteer my work - and I gladly do so. But that's all I can be expected to do.
"Education before any sale!" is my corporate motto - not ISC's, because marblecleaning.org does not sell anything but a few pieces of literature and occasional one-on-one consultation services. It also has a comprehensive and totally free section of Helpful Hints, not to mention that most of the queries posted in its forum are answered at no charge.
The article in question is an 8-page document and everybody who's interested pays marblecleaning.org a "big" $12.00. Marblecleaning.org has on file testimonials about that article, which confirm its inherent value, especially in consideration of the fact that whoever can benefit from it is A) no welfare mother, and B) they have a few thousand $ at stake and the article will help them a big deal chosing somebody who will end up smiling all the way to the bank with the customer's money.
I do not have the authority to post that article in here for free; and, quite frankly, even if I did, I wouldn't do it.
My personal advise to get the best man was given already. Topshop shortly listed what to look for.
I believe that's good enough.
Why do many fellow posters mention products of one company or another, or a store where to buy them?
Isn't that advertisment?
Of course, that's allowed because nobody is making any money by suggesting an inquirer to buy product XY and the Home Depot or something.
Well, by occasionally sending inquirers to marblecleaning.org I don't make any money, either.

Ciao and good luck,
Maurizio Bertoli

Huligar · 01-14-2007, 02:48 AM

Maurizio, all i asked of you was for the answer. no one call your post a blatant advertisment. Trust me MB, if myself or anyone else with the power to remove post felt that it was a blatant advertisment, your post would have been remove.