This forum is here to help people with problems to help correct the problem with products or tools etc. Many in the kitchen and bath industry answer questions to help homeowners in this forum and suggest certain products. Freely people in the stone industry answer questions including people associated with DuPont and Stonemark and suggest certain products that can correct problems on this forum. I am also in the real estate business that come across many problems associated with problems with granite and man made countertops and yes I'm in the stone industry. I'm associated with Granite Shield and even own a granite fabrication shop and 6 kitchen and bath interior design showroom. I come across many men and women seeking advise to correct problems and two of the problems is pits and fissures and edges from presealed granite and resin filled granite that once the edges are done the color and polish doesn't match the top of their granite. People are free to purchase granite anywhere they want or do want granite but can't afford the prices some fabricators charge then have problems so they want to correct problems they do have. In the case of the two problems I just mentioned I know of a product that can correct the problem. The problem is with some assocated in the stone industry they only want the public to know of certain products available instead of letting the public know what is all available and then let them make that choice. It's not a sales pitch I know for a fact that Granite Shield's process can correct this problem easily and she's free to choose which direction she wants to go. I don't understand why many in the stone industry want to keep Granite Shield a secret when it can help so many and won't let people freely talk about Granite Shield. I do get asked that question by the public all the time why Granite Shield can't be freely talked about on forums because if they do they are attacked or their questions and responses are deleted on the forums. I can say Granite Shield will soon be taking stone samples of Dupont Certified Granite, Stonemark granite, Sensastone and Artisan Stone Collection. Half of the stone samples will be sealed with Granite Shield the other half left alone and it will show the improvement Granite Shield can do to those stones seal, color and polish. Another stone sample from a slab yard will be half sealed with the Granite Shield process. Granite Shield will soon be presenting these samples at home and garden shows and video taping responses and presenting it on You Tube. Here is a link that might be useful: www.DebbieBurton.com

So just so I have my details clear - quartzite and granite are the best choices for durability in a kitchen correct? Did I read that quartzite can still etch, but doesn't scratch and that granite doesn't etch or scratch? We spoke with the owner of the granite place and they will replace our stone. As much as I love the super white look I need something that won't cut when the pizza cutter rolls off onto the counter and that won't etch badly if things like fruit juice are spilled on it. Any suggestions on what type of stone is best as well as any more specific suggestions on a light color that has a similar look to super white? Thank you all so very much for your help!

Antartide quartzite slabs - do you know anything about this type of quartzite? I can't find information anywhere on line. The slabs show alot of mineral and have some sparkle; ranges in color from white/gray/tan to faint greens, blues and deep burgandy. Thanks.

I'm sorry to say but stone etches. Even granite. A dog's saliva may be pH neutral but it still has STUFF floating in it. It isn't water. There are food particles, skin particles, stomach contents, etc floating in saliva (which happens to be a DIGESTIVE ENZYME = EATS away at stuff before it gets to the stomach). The water will evaporate from saliva (anyone's saliva) but the rest (all the particles listed above + bacteria living off of the stuff floating in the saliva) are left behind. And that stuff turns white. And it etches BEFORE it evaporates. And a HIGH GLOSS finish = SUPER EASY to see problems. Like "Ridiculously easy". A mirror shows you your face very nicely. A mirror-finish on a stone floor will show you the same clarity. Add in BLACK and you have one of the toughest stone finishes to maintain. Actually maintenance (basic cleaning) is super easy. What I meant to say is it is INTENSELY DIFFICULT to keep it looking GOOD. Anyone can keep these floors clean (as in free of bacteria = steam mop). The difficulty is the APPEARANCE after they are cleaned. Sigh. I know you don't want to hear this but your floors do not suite your personality. An impeccable high-gloss black stone floor is a BEAST to keep looking beautiful. It is a housekeeper's worst nightmare. If you insist on keeping it (even for the next 5 years) I highly recommend you send your housekeeper/cleaner to a stone maintenance course. Pay for the course, the airfare, etc. If that isn't something you are willing to do (for yourself and your sanity) then please get rid of these floors. You will obsess over them until they are gone. Ask yourself: Are these floors WORTH losing sleep over? Are they WORTH your mental health? Or ask yourself the reverse: Is $20K worth the next 5 years of sleep? Is $20k worth the next 5 years of my mental health?