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Around the HOUSE
No-Stain Stone - By Amy R. Hughes
New granite countertops that don't require sealing
PUT DOWN A HOT SKILLET, scale a fish, shatter a glass; your granite countertop can
take it. But forget to wipe a little spilled red wine or fail to rinse a peanut-butter
slathering knife before setting it down, and your precious stone can stain. Untreated
granite - impervious to heat, bacteria, and chipping - is notoriously vulnerable
to discoloration from dark or oily foods. But not anymore. New stain-resistant granite
called Stonemark® debuts this summer. Before the polished stone even reaches
the home center, (let alone your kitchen), it's impregnated with a water-based solution
that's guaranteed to ward against unsightly marks for 15 years. Until now, the best
defense against staining has been to catch spills before they penetrate the porous
stone. Periodic treatments with a surface sealer extend that response time and make
the cleanup easier, but homeowners often fail to keep up with the maintenance, says
Fred Hueston, director of the National Training Center for Stone and Masonry Trades.
"Granite is one of the most expensive countertop materials," says Hueston. "You
don't expect to have to treat it." Stonemark® is currently sold at 500 Home
Depot stores in 12 states; stay tuned for more locales. It comes in 60 colors and
looks and feels the same as other granite. And at $50 to $90 a square foot installed,
it costs about the same, too. Visit www.stonemark.com for details
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