Scratches In Black Pearl Countertop
QUESTION:We recently had Black Pearl countertops installed and now I am seeing various surface scratches. I was under the impression that granite does not easily scratched. I was wondering if the scratches could possibly be in a sealer or coating applied by the installer and not the granite itself.If it is a sealer/coating problem how can I remove the scratches? The countertop is also very easily smudged and requires constant cleaning/buffing to keep it looking reasonably well. I have heard that black pearl is very dense and does not require sealing. ANSWER:Black Pearl is very dense and does not need sealing, however, it is not technically "granite" in geological terms.One thing about natural stone that most consumers don't know (and many stone professionals too) is that many stones that are called "granite" are in fact a different geological classification and can have a variety of characteristics. Now, for the most part these different geological classifications are similar enough that they are all called and sold as "granite". Also, there can be a lot of mixing among the geological "breeds" so to speak, so any one sample or slab may be more or less of one type of stone, but could have a different mix of minerals and show some differences in performance. Black Pearl is more akin to gabbro than granite. A little bit softer, so light surface scratches are not unheard of especially with ceramic cook ware. Of course, if every stone were accurately categorized their would be 10 times the confusion that already exists about types of stone, characteristics, maintenance, etc. The basic characteristics are boiled down to generalities and actual performance of any one slab may vary. That's the deal with products of nature. So, "granite" and all the various stone grouped in with granite are by and large very scratch resistant. Much more so than any other stone or surface, but it's not impossible. Also, your installer could have been somewhat careless handling the stone and caused some scratches too. And black countertops will show smudges, scratches, etc. much more readily than any other color. Just the nature of how light reflects off a dark shiny surface. Repairing the scratches would require hiring a stone pro to re-polish the surface. Good Luck, 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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