Exotic Vs Non Exotic Granite
 

What are the advantages of exotic over non exotic granite? Are there problems with the sun changing the color of the granite? Also has anyone installed cement countertops and what do you think of them? Would love for anyone with cement countertops to PM me pictures. Anyone used Granite Solutions for their granite install and comments?

Do a search on granite here and you will find 100's of comments, recommendations for installers and where to buy and other information.

Yes I did. I am curious however about the two different types of granites and the sun's effects on granite as well as info on cement countertops. I did not find much on those two specific topic areas.

I have had granite in three homes now and the sun poured into the kitchen of the first two. One had Uba Tuba, one had Black Galaxy and the third in our new house, I don't know it's name. I will call it Hazel.

No sun fading..

Do not know of anyone using cement here or anywhere but see it used on HGTV.. I think of cement as a contemporary element and we have more traditional styling in our homes.

Exotic is the category given to granite with a lot of "movement." The more color and movement in the granite, the more the cost. Most "special" prices you see advertised are for the non-exotic granite... nothing wrong with that, except you have to like the choices.

Granite characteristics
 

I am a granite lover. None of ours ever faded, cracked, chipped, etc. It's on my list of upgrades to replace the Corian in our TV home. Do be careful where your granite comes from, though. Some of it emits radon. For a report on this, see the NYT article http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/24/ga...pagewanted=all

We always stuck with Italian granite.

I like my granite exotic like I like my dancers!

Interesting article on the radon in granite. Makes you pause and think. I am also looking at samples of a new "green product" the total opposite of granite, called GEOS, which is a recycled glass product. But I did just come home from a granite store in Seattle looking at colors and found some beautiful ones! Thanks for all the feedback.
Just wonderin', to JoeC 1947, do your exotic dancers dance on your exotic countertop? I just had to ask.

Well, that was an eye opening article on granite and radon. Yikes. Is nothing safe these days? It isn't possible to test it prior to purchase unless you have a professional which runs from $100 to $300. Once you pay to have it put in, then you can buy the home kit for $30. I just don't see us arriving at the granite yard with a radon inspector going through all the slabs. :)

Wake up. Radon is everywhere, always was and always will be.

Of course radon is everywhere. But do you want to knowingly install it in your home in a room you inhabit a good part of every day? It's not like the radon that might be in your basement, where you rarely go. I'm just sayin'... if you have a choice, do your research and go the safe route.

Maybe you live in a cancer-free family. I have two family members who have died of lung cancer, and that's just a start. I would not blithely blow off a radon concern.

Joe, of course radon is everywhere. It depends though on how concentrated in an enclosed area. No one would expect to put in counters that significantly exceed acceptable levels. That was the point of the article. And that is why part of an inspection process is to test for acceptable levels of radon.

You have to remember Granite is just an old rock. And it is a very popular and expensive old rock. Those that make other surfaces may be encouraging these kind of articles.

I don't think all granite emits Radon...not for one second.

It can easily be tested.

No it appears that not all granite is created equal. But the only way to know which ones are higher in radon is to test them. I gather from the article that it appears to be a higher incidence in the exotics but I didn't quite understand why. Are exotics deeper in the earth? I am not very knowledgeable about geological happenings.

As granite as became so popular, it has been imported from more and more countries, and like everything else, the quality can be questionable. I don't believe this article stated that all granite is emitting radon. I don't believe that this article even stated that most granite is emitting radon. It's just advising you of something to be aware of. And I don't think that's a bad idea at all. Awareness is a good thing.