Dimension Stone Design Manual 1.02
Dimension stone has its own unique qualitites that not only distinguish it from man made materials but also should be considered in selecting it for a particular project. Stone is not manufactured; it is a product of nature. Blocks are removed from quarries, slabs are cut from these blocks and the slabs are further fabricated into the final stone to be installed. Each block is different. Each slab is different and unique. In contrast to the repetitive sameness of material produced by machine or assembly line, dimension stone's naturally varied appearance has wonderful character. It is the uniqueness and difference that makes granite so popular today.

Durabilty
Next to diamond, granite is the hardest natural stone available. Because of its low absorbtion rate, granite is less prone to staining and is also heat resistant making it ideal for surface tops. The grain of one stone is never equal to another which means the texture of granite is like a fingerprint. Granite surface tops have a smooth high gloss finish that exacts the elegance and beauty of the material while maintaining its duribility.

Countertop Sanitation - Marble Institute of America
Today's consumer is offered a wide range of surfacing materials for use in countertop applications. Once in service, these countertop surfaces will be exposed to a variety of contaminative substances. The key safety issue to the consumer is the degree of clean ability of the surface material, that is, how easily any contaminants can be removed using normal cleaning practices.

The following study by Dr. O. Peter Snyder of the Hospitality Institute of Technology and Management (www.hi-tm.com) used E. coli bacteria as its contaminating agen. The findings of the report show significant clean ability advantages of natural granite countertops over almost all other commonly found countertop surface materials.

Granite ranked #1 in clean ability
After washing and rinsing, the granite tops provided the greatest reduction in bacteria counts of all the countertops tested

When Diluted Vinegar Solution used - Granite only 2nd to Stainless Steel: