Often times clients are wanting to update a bathroom that has a plastic laminate countertop. To keep it affordable – they can select a small granite remnant from our scrap pile that was left over from another project by Portland Marble.
Call Portland Marble (503) 235-9240 to update your bathroom inexpensively.
A common question about black granites is “Why is the deep black in my granite seem to be fading?” The best way to prevent this is to go through a reputable supplier that only buys first-quality material, which means they will not be doctored in any way. It is important to view the slabs in person and not purchase based on price alone.
Some vendors buy the cheaper blacks with more “white graining,” and they dye them to hide the defects. Chinese Blacks are becoming very popular due to their low prices, but can be prone to “shakes and vents.” They may also have a grainy appearance, but are oiled or dyed to hide the defects, which will eventually fade, slowly revealing uneven color.
If you suspect it is dyed, you can perform two tests:
1) Take a clean white cloth with acetone on it, and wipe the stone to see if any residue comes off.
2) Take acetone and apply to a different section and wipe the stone with a white cloth – if there is any color transfer, the stone is dyed
Black Granites from India such as Absolute Black, Absolute Black Premium, and Absolute Black Super Premium, are all first-quality, dense black granites, not dyed or oiled. Black Galaxy has an extremely dense black background with bright gold specks which are due to the presence of Bronzite. This is very important to view in person so you can see the quality of the black to make sure it was not dyed.
South African Blacks, common name Zimbabwe Black, have a tight “rice-grain” effect, but are not as dense as Indian Blacks. Nero Impala is also from Africa, but should be categorized as Gray, not Black due to the coloring and grain structure.
Canadian Blacks such as Cambrian Black and Mesabi Black have a “rice-grain” effect with a silvery reflection. Atlantic Black has a slightly larger pattern also with a silvery reflection.
Call Portland Marble (503) 235-9240 or email us for any further questions you may have regarding countertop materials.
info@portlandmarble.com
Portland Marble is very proud to that we have been an authorized fabricator of CaesarStone Quartz Surfaces since 2000. Of the many brands of engineered quartz there are, CaesarStone is the leader in quality and reputation. We like CaesarStone for its ease of fabrication and warranty service. Designers and Architects like it because it is versatile and functional with endless design capabilities and is available in a large palette, rich in color and texture – including a collection that emulates limestone and marble. Most importantly to us, CaesarStone stands behind their product with great customer service. That’s why we feel this is a great fit for us at Portland Marble.
This beautiful Island stone top was created with Plato Granite, an igneous stone quarried in Brazil. The granite gives a beautiful distinctive look with its varying flecks of minerals and distinctive patterns.
The other countertops were custom fabricated out of Stormy Sky Pental Quartz. These materials both will be strong and durable for this homeowner as they are scratch and heat resistant.
Call Portland Marble today to create your dream kitchen (503) 235-9240
Photo credit: McCall Design
Complete kitchen remodel!
This homeowner client used Engineered Caesarstone – Ocean Foam Quartz for their counter tops and kitchen table.
They then tricked it out with Custom Recycled Glass Slab Nook Counter and Backsplash.
Photo credit: McCall Design
Photo credit: McCall Design 
Photo credit: McCall Design
