Soft Granite?

IamMrsG · ‎08-29-2010

DH and I are having a bathroom built from scratch in our basement. If you remember, a week or so ago, I was here asking for your help on mixing metal finishes. Well, we're going with the oil rubbed bronze I initially wanted, but now there is a new hurdle:

We went to the stone yard today to choose granite for the vanity counter top.

As the man was pulling a piece out for us to get a better view, he cautioned that, "This one is soft." Soft granite?? I've never heard of such a thing! As he pointed out there is mesh applied to the back of it, he repeated, "Soft." "As in chip-able?," I asked. "Yes."

Then the sales rep returned to us. I asked her opinion about it, and she said, "It's fine." When I pressed further, asking what makes granite soft, she said, "more sand content."

The problem is this piece is gorgeous and the only one in the yard DH and I both really liked. So, here I am again, asking for your opinions and experiences. Does anyone out there have mesh-backed granite? If so, I'd really, really appreciate 'hearing' your guidance on the matter.

This is not a long expanse of granite, just 45," with one under-mount sink bowl. The bathroom is to be an auxiliary one, so will not get a lot of use. Am I trying to assuage unnecessary concern, or should my concern be real?

Thanks, Everyone! Y'all are a great bunch to be willing to come forward with guidance. --Mrs. G.

Strive for respect instead of attention. It lasts longer.

Kachina624 · ‎03-10-2010

If you had a bunch of rough housing kids tossing baseballs in your bathrooms, I'd be concerned about breakage. If you and DH are more genteel, I'd go for what I like best.

New Mexico☀️Land Of Enchantment

mousiegirl · ‎03-09-2010

@IamMrsG wrote:
DH and I are having a bathroom built from scratch in our basement. If you remember, a week or so ago, I was here asking for your help on mixing metal finishes. Well, we're going with the oil rubbed bronze I initially wanted, but now there is a new hurdle:

We went to the stone yard today to choose granite for the vanity counter top.

As the man was pulling a piece out for us to get a better view, he cautioned that, "This one is soft." Soft granite?? I've never heard of such a thing! As he pointed out there is mesh applied to the back of it, he repeated, "Soft." "As in chip-able?," I asked. "Yes."

Then the sales rep returned to us. I asked her opinion about it, and she said, "It's fine." When I pressed further, asking what makes granite soft, she said, "more sand content."

The problem is this piece is gorgeous and the only one in the yard DH and I both really liked. So, here I am again, asking for your opinions and experiences. Does anyone out there have mesh-backed granite? If so, I'd really, really appreciate 'hearing' your guidance on the matter.

This is not a long expanse of granite, just 45," with one under-mount sink bowl. The bathroom is to be an auxiliary one, so will not get a lot of use. Am I trying to assuage unnecessary concern, or should my concern be real?

Thanks, Everyone! Y'all are a great bunch to be willing to come forward with guidance. --Mrs. G.

@IamMrsG All I can say is that regular granite chips and can get scratches, so I use a cutting board, not the granite, and if soft is liable to chip more easily, I would forget it.

There is formica that looks exactly like granite. I had a counter in the rec room and in the pantry downstairs covered in this, and it is difficult to tell the differnce, unless I touch it. You may want to consider this, so much less expensive and very durable.

CAMOGIRL · ‎09-14-2010

I have never heard of a granite being soft .. I find that odd. Soft granite (?), that makes no sense to me...

-Texas Hill Country-

ccassaday · ‎10-21-2010

Some granites are softer then others. Some need sealed every year some only once every ten years.

sabatini · ‎06-29-2015

Hi G!

Would this happen to be the counter that you'd previously painted to look like marble? Just wondering...

As to your question about soft granite, I'm no help, as it's news to me too.

Depending on what others say, maybe you ought to harden your heart to it, even tho it'll be in a light usage bathroom.

Perhaps it's just a pretty face w/ no real substance?

But gee, don't you just hate it when the one thing you're drawn to comes w/ a caveat?!

I hope you'll get some solid advise here. Good luck!

Muddling through...

sandraskates · ‎06-26-2014

I don't have any granite but my thoughts are this:

If you love it and you said that it's not going to be in a high-traffic area, then I think you should buy it.

And when you get this bathroom done, post a photo because what you're buying sounds fabulous!

Sooner · ‎03-10-2010

When you look at granite in a stone yard, some are true granites, some are not. Especially some of the lighter colors are more "sandy" and not as hard.

You can feel the back (not polished) side of the stone and it will tell you a lot about the texture. You can also take a penknife and scratch the back. Does it scratch easily? Does it peel off little sandy grains? Is it tighter grained and therefore harder?

We have had dark granite counter tops for almost 25 years and have hardly ever sealed them. We LOVE them. They are as beautiful as when we put them in. A friend has light granite and it is one of the "sandy" ones. Water sitting around the faucets will soak in a little but it does dry fine after awhile. It would take a stain where our dark one is hard, slick and wouldn't.

I would put in granite in a heartbeat again.

Junker2327 · ‎03-11-2010

My son is a granite fabricator. He has been doing this for 13 years. When I first got my granite he had never heard of that. I went in, picked thee most beautiful slab of granite in the place (also high dollar). ANother couple bought the matching piece for the same reasons. My granite was installed in my kitchen. It is darker in color, lots of crystally sparkle in it. It is what I would call soft. It has chipped all the way down the edge. Not on top but just down the edges. Im ashamed of it. We have since learned that some are softer than others and more prone to chip. I also had a different granite put in my bathroom at the same time and it is absolutely still perfect to this day. Not even so much as a nick. Do not touch that granite if they say its soft. Go pick out another slab. Mine was a gift from my son and at the time he had no clue, otherwise I would have tried to replace it at their cost. I would have 100% faith that a good piece of granite will last a lifetime. My slab was considered exotic which made it expensive and not very available. It was brought in for a home show. I want mine replaced now. It is still very beautiful but I can't handle to edges feeling chipped. You can also have the edges purposely chisled to feel that way. Maybe thats what I need to do. Hope this helps

Beckyblu

NicksmomESQ · ‎08-19-2014

When I redid my kitchen I wanted a granite countertop.But my son was young & both he & DH were not the careful type.With the kitchen being the gathering spot in our home I decided to go for a laminate countertop that looks like granite.

It came out gorgeous!! It looks just like the real thing.It wears like iron.Everyone who has been in my kitchen mistakes the countertop for granite!! A few of my friends replaced their chipped/scratched granite countertops with the laminate imitation.