Why Choose Granicrete or Aurastone?
The Key Advantages of Granicrete and Aurastone™ Compared to Marble or Granite
- An eco-friendly alternative to natural stone that out-performs granite or marble.
- A system that can be applied over existing substrates- Granite cannot, and in many cases an upgrade would require an entire support system for reinforcement.
- This system has limitless color possibilities and can have custom edges; i.e.: rope, quarry, bull nose, chiseled, flat, ogee, just about any profile you can imagine.
- This system is completely imprevious to any moisture, granite is extremely porous and absorbs moisture and bacteria.
- Absolutely not going to accept a stain, Granite stains easily with fruit, peanut butter, olive oil, bacteria, etc.
- Phenomenal tensile strength, Granicrete and Aurastone will expand and contract to its environment. Granite has zero flexibility and is considered a brittle substrate.
- Completely food safe and Radon free, most granite has at least trace amounts of radon, Radon causes cancer.
- Our topcoat is rated at 500 degrees F. indirect heat, providing exceptional heat resistance, Pro Protector NT has a hardness rating of 8, making it more durable than granite.
- The Granicrete and Aurastone systems are USDA approved, granite is not! You will never eat off granite at a restaurant.
- Our colorants will not fade; extremely colorfast, as they are earth ground pigments.
- This is a completely seam-less system, granite always has seams.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of using Granicrete vs. any other countertop material out on the market?
All of our counters are seamless, durable, lightweight, repairable and the color will never wear off. There is no resealing or maintainance necessary. They are also a fraction of the cost of Granite or other stone and other solid surfaces such as Corian. Since everything we do is custom, you can choose from any possible edging and colors. You can also modify your counters to better suit your space without added cost.
Are Granicrete Counters Heavy since they are made of Concrete?
When people think of "Concrete Countertops" they think of the 2" thick slab that cracks easily and is extremely heavy. Although out counters do contain concrete, there are other materials used as well, so there is no need to reinforce your floors or cabinets to accomodate heavy counters. The weight of our counters are comparable to formica counters. Also, the concrete we use has slightly flexural strength to it, which means it will move and flex slightly withought cracking, as opposed to traditional concrete and other material types.
Can my existing countertop be resurfaced or will it have to be built from scratch?
It depends. We can build countertops for new constructions or just resurface your existing surfaces. We can also just rebuild part of your countertop to fit a new undermount sink.
Are the Granicrete Countertops suitable for Commerical Kitchen use?
Absolutely! Granicrete has been USDA approved; "Crystal Top Epoxy will mee the performance requirements to the USDA as a sealer and top coat for floors, countertops or walls." Also, Crystal Top Epoxy will stand up to rigorous cleaning and dampness and is grease and acid resistant. Unlike Granite, Granicrete is not pourous and will not hold germs and does not need to be resealed.
Research has shown real Granite to outgas Radon at unhealthy levels...Has Granicrete been tested for outgassing of any type of chemicals?
Yes, there has been extensive testing on Granicrete and all testing performed shows it is impervious to moisture and contains no known carcinogens, mutagens or tetragens classified as hazardous substances. This is not a pesticide nor does it have any known pesticide characteristics.