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Kashmir White or Piracema White Granite?

13 years ago

I know there's been lots of GW postings about white granites, and I've studied them all! My kitchen remodel will include white cabinets, glass-front uppers, stainless steel appliances, white subway tile backsplash. My home is 1925 Old Spanish in Florida; outdoor setting very green and tropical. So for the lightness, I'm considering Kashmire granite. But I just saw my neighbor's remodeled kitchen, also a historic home, and she used Piracema White granite with white cabinets, white tile backsplash. It looked lovely.

Anyone that has Kashmire White--are you happy with it? And do you have pics? Anyone have Piracema granite and if so, pics would be much appreciated!

Featured Answer

friedajune

13 years ago

I have Piracema granite (though not Piracema White, which is slighly lighter than mine). I have had it in place for 6 years, and I still love it like the day it was installed. It still looks like the day it was installed too. My Piracema granite (aka "Wave") was sealed when it was installed, but I've never re-sealed it since. I have spilled all kinds of stuff on it like tomato sauce, wine, lemon juice, and nothing has stained or etched.

I don't have experience with Kashmir White. However, I do know that Piracema has a very low absorption rate. That means it is very dense, and won't stain or etch. Piracema's absorption rate (per the findstone.com website) is 0.1-0.3%. There are a few granites with lower absorption rate, like Absolute Black, but not many. By contrast, Kashmir White is 0.3-0.5%, i.e. around 2-3 times as absorptive. If you love Kashmir White, you will have to make sure to seal it every year, which is not that big of a deal.

You should really take your cabinet sample--a door if you can, to the granite yard with you. Furthermore, you must take samples home with you to see how they look in your kitchen. Although you like your neighbor's counter, you may find that with your cabinets, floors and light, it will look completely different. If you are trying to stay historically accurate, you shouldn't use granite at all. If you are more interested in something that looks beautiful, and not historical accuracy, then go to the granite yard with your cabinet sample and see what strikes your eye, including the two you've mentioned.

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Comments (8)

elizabeth7
Original Author
13 years ago
akchicago--Many thanks! Your response was really helpful! I've been to several stone places and seen Kashmir granite and brought home samples. I haven't, as yet, found Piracema at some of the local stone sources. But as I said, I'm intruiged by my neighbor's Piracema counter and I'll try continue to try and find it in my area. I've been all over the place with countertop choices, from soapstone, marble to quartz, and I've finally settled on granite for its durability.
Thanks again for your comments.
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We had originally put a couple slabs of kashmir white on hold and were setting up to have it fabricated for our kitchen. I loved it and went home to look up photos of kitchens with this granite and instead I found site after site of people complaining about staining. It really freaked me out and I brought up my concerns with our fabricator. They doubled sealed a sample of the kashmir white for us to take home and I did some testing with it. I put a few different things on the granite for about 10-20 minutes. Tomato sauce, oil and juice. All 3 stained horribly after I cleaned them off. I have read there are things you can do to get out stains but I certainly did not want to deal with a high maintenance granite like that, especially with 3 young children. We ditched the kashmir and went with something darker. I do like the look of the kashmir better though.
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We chose Kashmir White for our 2007 kitchen remodel (we've since moved). We had it with natural maple floors and cherry cabinets. We enjoyed it, but learned that it is definitely one of the more porous granites, which means that you'll get a temporary dark patch where it gets wet. The stains fade away after the slab gets a chance to dry, but it can take a day or two. This was particularly noticeable around the sink, which never really has a chance to dry out. After we purchased ours I did some online research and learned that that some granite professionals consider KW too porous for kitchen use at all (!) and that others say that if you're going to use it, you need to seal it with a product designed for porous stone (like limestone). We used "511 Porous Plus" from Miracle Sealants, which made a big difference. Here is a link that might be useful: 511 Porous Plus from Miracle Sealants
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Typical! You must be disappointed and frustrated. I assume you can't use a different stone yard. Well, there are lots of beautiful stones. I hope you're able to find another you like as much - maybe even more!
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I have Kashmir White and I had it sealed upon install last spring. Other than that, I haven't done any other maintainance, though now that I think about it I should probably re-seal. I'm not particularly careful with it. I have spilled blue food coloring, droped and broke a bottle of olive oil, and left plenty of glasses out overnight. I han't had any problems cleaning and there are no stains. I have noticed that it takes several hours for the condensation rings to fade, but everything goes back to normal.
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friedajune
13 years ago
Your welcome. Piracema granite is not as common as some others, though it can be found. As I mentioned, it is also called "Wave" so when you are searching, look for it under that name too. I have to say that the Wave pattern in the stone is gorgeous. It looked a little busy when I saw my slab hanging, but when it's horizontal on the counters, it's serene.
friedajune
13 years ago
I am sorry I don't have pictures of mine, but I am linking Jan_jan's, in case you haven't seen hers. She lives in a tropical climate too, Her Piracema though is not as swirly as mine, hers is more of a spread out pattern. I'll also link a pic of a slab I saw online, which is more similar to mine, with a tight wave pattern, though it's darker than mine. The slabs do differ, something to keep in mind when you are shopping.

Jan_jan's Kitchen

{{!gwi}}
elizabeth7
Original Author
13 years ago
Thank you again!!! Jan jan's granite looks very similar to my neighbor's, who also said the same thing about the wavy pattern of the granite reminding her of the beach!
noellabelle
13 years ago
I don't have either of those, but I have valley white, which is similar in color to kasmir but has more of a pattern like the piracema example (which is gorgeous!)

Here's a pic of mine:

slab
elizabeth7
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks! Your Valley White is beautiful!
gerretteb_att_net
12 years ago
Loved your feedback. I am so enamoured with carrera white for my kitchen choice but a/ it is extremely expensive and b/ it is super hard to maintain and very absorbent. In your opinion what would be the closest white granite that could match the patterns and colors ?

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