Helpful Information About Barre Granite

Barre is one of the names of granite you will find in our gallery. This is one of many different types of natural granite that people use for kitchen countertops and other surfaces. As with most granite, there are some specific features that Barre possesses. Additionally, there are some traits that make this granite unique. In this article, we won't go into too much detail about the unique qualities of Barre. We will mention some brief comments about the composition or the visual appearance or both, but the majority of this article will talk about working with Barre and how to take of it.

Why Barre Granite

One of the first things to contemplate when considering any granite surface is why people choose it. There are many reasons people select natural granite for kitchen countertops. Barre Granite has many of the benefits that virtually all natural granite offers. It does however, have some characteristics that make it what it is. And like many other stone surfaces knowing a bit about the composition can be helpful. The following quote was taken from the description of a photo written by a geologist about Barre.

This rock sees widespread use in America as a "gray granite". The name is pronounced "berry". This material comes from the Barre Granite (Barre Pluton) of Vermont. It's actually a granodiorite, derived from a calc-alkaline pluton formed by partial melting of Silurian-Devonian sedimentary rocks that had been folded & regionally metamorphosed during the Acadian Orogeny in eastern America.

In addition to those basic comments, many other important facts about Barre are helpful to be aware of. We'll consider some additional helpful information about this remarkable natural stone.

What Barre Granite Is Made Of

As with most natural granite, Barre is a composition of primarily natural quartz and/or feldspar. It can contain other materials, but the main minerals are those in most cases.

The minerals that make up a Barre Granite slab give it some qualities that people are drawn to. Some of these qualities translate into practical properties for daily use and care.

Barre Properties

One of the big advantages of natural granite over other hard countertop surface materials is that it is very hard. Materials such as Barre Granite are scratch resistant because of the hardness of the material. Barre is also heat resistant. Unlike some engineered stone, granite can resist heat and does not burn or discolor.

Barre natural granite is also very unique. Not just unique from other stone, but it is also distinct from other Barre slabs. Choosing your specific slab is encouraged since each stone can vary one from another.

Barre Stone Fabrication

Fabricating Barre Granite can be easy or it can be a challenge. The difference in difficulty come from the different degrees of knowledge, skill, and equipment that the one doing the work possesses. So, the easiest way to work with Barre natural granite is to pay a professional to do the work. The knowledge of the industry and the quality equipment can really make a difference in the results.

One piece of equipment that fabricators use is polishing pads. These abrasive discs are available in various styles, sizes and types. There are wet polishing pads as well as polishing pads that used in dry environments. A polished finish is only one kind of finish that Barre can have though. There are others. One example is a leathered, or antiqued finish. Again, achieving this kind of finish depends on using the proper tool; a set of Finishing brushes for granite. The result is a stone that is not as glossy or shiny as a polished finish but has just as distinct of a look.

Barre Granite Care

Even though Barre Granite surfaces are durable and tough, to keep the natural beauty for which you invested in the surface, a plan for taking care of the stone will be necessary. There are two main aspects of caring for your Barre surface. Let's take a brief look at each of these aspects.

Keeping Barre Sealed

Your Barre surface will arrive with a sealer applied to keep it from readily absorbing liquids. Sealers are applied to natural granite because of the porous nature of natural stone. Maintaining the sealer on your surface is the first way to care for it. Barre Granite benefits from periodic testing to see if it needs resealed. every so often, 6 months to a year, simply put a few ounces of water on the surface to see if the stone is "thirsty". If the slab readily soaks up the water, then it is in need of being sealed.

There are a number of natural stone sealers available for all sorts of materials. If you are sealing a kitchen countertop, we offer a food safe stone sealer designed for use on surfaces that come into contact with food. Again periodic testing of the surface will reveal how much sealer it needs.

Cleaning Barre Surfaces

In addition to sealing your Barre surface, regular cleaning plays a major role in caring for the stone. In fact, there is more than one facet to cleaning a granite surface. The first is daily cleaning using a natural stone cleaner that is formulated to clean without dissolving your stone sealer. Doing this will ensure that you are not resealing your Barre} surfaces more frequently than you need to.

Another type of cleaning that you may need to perform is a stain removal. There are various kinds of cleaners for stone surfaces. And when a stone's pores are exposed because of not being sealed or from the use of the wrong kinds of daily cleaners specific cleaner may be needed. For example, if a stone is stained from olive oil, a stain remover may be needed to draw the oil out of the stone. By cleaning daily using the proper cleaner however, your Barre Granite surfaces (especially countertops) will be in the best position to repel stain-causing liquids.

About Maintaining Barre

It really just boils down to putting together a regular routine of cleaning and sealing your natural Barre Granite surface. Once you get the routine into full swing, it just becomes second nature. A good routine for maintaining natural granite, including Barre, basically involves the following:

• Use a pH neutral cleaner to keep the sealer from breaking down and clean any debris from the surface.
• Reseal the surface of your granite surface when it gets "thirsty"*.
• Using a fortified stone polish periodically gradually maintains the sealer on the surface of the natural stone.

As with many other project types, Barre is a natural stone that is best fabricated and installed by a professional with both experience and the right equipment. And once the material is installed and initially sealed, maintenance is needed. As we have seen, Barre Granite is not a chore to maintain if the proper products are used in the proper manner. Doing so effectively will no doubt provide you with years of performance.