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Kashmir White Granite-- Hard to Maintain?

11 years ago

Yikes! I just put a hold on 2 slabs of Kashmire White and now find reports of possible issues with staining and etching.

If you have Kashmir White counters, please let me know the good, the bad, and the ugly (or not) while I still have time to change my mind (though I don't want to).

Thanks!

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Comments (8)

mydreamhome
11 years ago
We have Kashmir White in laundry & master bath and it's "cousin" River White on the island. The only issues we have had are oil based--I didn't know that rolling out pie dough would cause a big pie shaped darker area.(I did roll out 10 crusts in a row in the same spot.) On the bright side, no one but me noticed the spot & it's been 3 months now and it's nearly undetectable. I could have applied a poultice, but I didn't have the time to do the research on it. So basically, as long as you don't roll out your pie dough directly on the stone or leave something dripping with oil on the counter, you should be fine. I have heard that red wine, Kool-Aid, cherry juice (basically anything colored-especially the reds) can stain any light counter tops if allowed to sit--oil can too. So a good rule of thumb would also be to wipe up any spills promptly and definitely don't let any spills sit overnight.

Overall, we are really happy with our Kashmir White & River White countertops--it just would have been nice to have a better heads up on how to care for it.

Hope this helps!
MeMcG
Original Author
11 years ago
Thank you for responding. I am glad (for us both)that you are happy with your Kashmir White (& River White). I guess we'll just have to be better about cleaning up after ourselves! I understand the darker granites are less prone to staining (or it doesn't show as much) but, even though I like the look, that would have been too dark for our kitchen.
Thanks again and continued good luck with your counters!
Anyone else?
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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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breezygirl
11 years ago
Can you get a chunk of your slabs or at least one of others in the lot to do your own testing? That's really the only way to know for sure if what *you* are getting is prone to staining and etching. Not all slabs labeled with the same name will perform the same way.

Good luck with your beautiful stone.
MeMcG
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks, breezygirl~
Anyone else, please?
funnysunny
11 years ago
we have had kashmir white in our kitchen since last nov. no problems w staining or etching yet. if water puddles on the countertop for awhile, then a dark mark will appear. that mark disappears as the counter dries. i've rolled pie crust and oily pizza dough on the counters, and haven't had any problems. but i usually clean the counter right after i'm done, and i haven't rolled a ton of pie crusts in a row.

our counters were sealed twice, before and after install, by our installers. we plan on resealing them as needed (thinking this may turn out to be a yearly thing).
MeMcG
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks Funnysunny. I am encouraged. We have decided to go ahead with the kw and will try to be more careful. We are replacing tile that I have hated but it hasn't had issues like staining.
Thanks again for responding.
cakelly1226
11 years ago
I have a lighter toned granite and also found only oil really stains. But even they fade over time if you were to leave say a dish with bacon grease on the bottom overnight:) I did apply a poultice and it helped a bit. It is now faded away two months later. All other things like red wine, coffee wiped right up even after a 24 period.
MeMcG
Original Author
11 years ago
Thansk CKGM, I'm feeling a little better. I can live with not leaving things overnight. I just don't want to have to run with a rag everytime a friend sets a glass down on the granite. They would think the real "me" had been abducted by aliens and replaced with a stranger!
Thanks again.

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