Granite: Harmful or Helpful? Effortless or High Maintenance?

Evelyn from Royston has asked about the health risks associated with granite. As the use of granite countertops has grown in popularity, the question has been raised of the possible unsafe levels of radon present.

 

According to a study commissioned by the Marble Institute of America, granite is a minor contributor to radon emissions in homes. The radon concentration is 300 times lower than outdoor air, 1000 times below the concentration found in American homes and 3000 times less than the EPA’s action level for indoor air.

 

Now that we know that granite countertops are perfectly safe, let’s take a look at its other positive characteristics.

 

• Natural beauty
• Wide variety of colors and patterns
• Impervious to heat
• Resistant to staining
• Scratch resistant
• Natural resistance to bacteria

 

Once you have granite countertops, there are a few guidelines for care. According to Bella Maria, a local granite fabricator, their granite is installed pre-sealed and only needs to be sealed once a year. Sealing your granite is a very simple process. Start off with a quality sealer, best found at your granite supplier. Most instructions are as simple as wiping the liquid on, similar to any cleaner, and letting it dry. It dries very quickly and then is ready for use. The best everyday cleaner for granite is hot, soapy water.

 

In the end, granite is a wonderful and very beautiful choice for a kitchen or bathroom. It is hard to beat the natural beauty that nature produces.