New Black Galaxy Granite...Nitpicky Concerns?
by Kate
QUESTION:We had Black Galaxy granite countertops with an ogee edge installed this week. And while the overall look is glamorous, I've been disappointed to find some minor flaws:(1) The surface 'shine' looks, I dunno, mottled maybe (the installer says that they seal all granite installations, so ours was 'sealed'). (2) The ogee edge is a bit dull - not as 'polished' or shiny as the tops, and... (3) I have found an itty bitty scratch and a couple of etched spots - including a really rough patch in an ostensibile portion of the eating counter. Am I expecting too much or were mistakes made? Can any of these be corrected? Can I apply a mineral oil to restore/create luster to ogee edges (and/or other areas)? (Also, tho I take responsibility for the miscommunication that resulted in the erroneous placement of the individual soap and lotion dispensers, I wonder if there is any recourse? Can one of these holes be aesthetically plugged??). Happy to have found your site... Kate ANSWER:Maybe you're being a bit nit picky on one or two things, but a couple others you mentioned sound like significant problems.Mottled Surface: This could be because a sealer was applied and not removed effectively. Black galaxy is very dense... essentially stain-proof and does not need sealing. The installer should know this, but unfortunately many don't. No real excuse because all you have to do is perform a simple test to determine if sealing granite countertops is appropriate. So, often when people apply a granite sealer to black galaxy all that happens is the sealer dries on the surface leaving a dull haze or other weird looking residue. Try using acetone or methylene chloride (stronger) with a soft scrub brush on a small mottled area and see if you can remove the mottling. If so, sealer was improperly applied and the rest of the countertop will need stripping. Edge Shine: It can be difficult to polish a complex edge design like ogee to as glossy a shine as the flat countertop surface. The original slab was polished on a big specialized machine. The edge was polished by the fabricator using a different process, so there can be some difference in appearance. However, black galaxy polishes real well, so there shouldn't be a real noticeable difference. If it's truly obvious, then they may (but may not) be able to improve it some by additional polishing by hand. Don't use mineral oil. It will just attract dirt. Use DAZZLE Polish, which is made to enhance the shine on stone and actually improves "cleanability." Itty bitty scratch... I'd forget about it. Installing a granite countertop can be tricky. Very heavy, difficult to move, use of sharp tools, etc. So, rarely is an installation absolutely flawless perfect. A visually obvious scratch... okay... have them polish the area, but "itty bitty"... doesn't sound like it's worth complaining about. Unlike some of these other issues. Etch Spots/Rough Patch: Is it actually rough to the touch or does it just look rough, dull or unpolished? Black galaxy does not etch, so a dull spot that looks like etching is most likely the sealer again. Some granite sealers can etch especially if they have dried on the surface rather than absorbing into the pores as they should. However, if the spot truly feels rough then somehow that area was not polished as well as the rest of the surface, which would be odd. My bet is the granite sealer or some other residue on the surface. Again, strip the area with acetone or methylene chloride and see if the rough etch spot disappears. Plugging Holes: Yes, it can be done, but it won't look good. A plug has to be glued in, so you'll see the glue seam around the plug. Usually it looks better to just put something in it... like a plumbing vent or soap dispenser even if it isn't functional. Regards, Ryan P.S. Get all the facts, answers, explanations and simple solutions with step-by-step instructions for any issue, problem or question with our Granite & Marble Maintenance Manuals.
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