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New Hampshire's benchmark for kitchen durability. Everything worth knowing before you choose Granite for a kitchen, bath or vanity — from the crew that templates, fabricates and sets it.
Granite is an igneous rock — it forms as magma cools slowly underground, locking quartz, feldspar and mica into a dense, interlocking crystal structure. That structure is exactly why it has been the benchmark kitchen material for decades: the minerals are tightly bound and genuinely hard, not just hard-looking.
On the Mohs scale granite runs 6 to 7 — harder than a steel knife blade — so ordinary use essentially never scratches a properly finished slab. Because it formed under real geological heat, hot pans are a non-issue. It is naturally somewhat porous, so an annual seal (a quick, inexpensive job) keeps oil and wine from staining. Between seals, mild soap and a soft cloth is all it needs — skip ammonia and acidic cleaners.
Most granite benefits from sealing about once a year, but it depends on the stone's porosity and use. The water-bead test tells you exactly when: if water stops beading and starts darkening the stone, reseal.
Direct heat from cookware isn't a practical concern for the stone. The bigger risk is thermal shock at a weak point like a seam or thin overhang, so we still suggest trivets for anything straight off the burner.
Yes — granite is one of the most reliable materials for uncovered outdoor kitchens here, handling freeze-thaw and UV without the concerns that affect some engineered surfaces.
Each has a maintenance personality rather than one being easier. Lighter granite hides dust and flour but shows oil sooner; darker hides crumbs and grime but shows water spots. Finish and how the kitchen gets used matter as much as color.
Granite, quartz, quartzite, marble, soapstone and porcelain all live here. Full slabs on the racks at 104 Emerald St — bring your cabinet door and compare in real light.
Tell us the room, a rough budget range and when you'd like to start. We'll come back with next steps and a realistic timeline — no pressure, no mystery pricing.
