Helpful Information About Midnight Sun Granite

Midnight Sun 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 Midnight Sun 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 Midnight Sun. 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 Midnight Sun and how to take of it.

Why Midnight Sun 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. Midnight Sun 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 Midnight Sun.

Provenance information for this material is not available. Midnight Sun is an attractive decorative stone. Large slabs show foliated texture with moderately large, crystalline-textured enclaves. I would tentatively categorize Midnight Sun as a gneiss. The most obvious minerals present are quartz (grayish), biotite mica (black), garnet (dark red), and kyanite (mostly bluish). Little kyanite is present in this shot, but click on the photo to zoom in & look around.

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

What Midnight Sun Granite Is Made Of

As with most natural granite, Midnight Sun 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 Midnight Sun Granite slab give it some qualities that people are drawn to. Some of these qualities translate into practical properties for daily use and care.

Midnight Sun Properties

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

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

Fabricating Natural Midnight Sun Granite

What goes into working with and fabricating Midnight Sun Granite? Well, for most of us the project is bigger than we are equipped to take on. This is because Midnight Sun is such a hard material that ordinary tools aren't the best suited for working with it. For example, just drilling a hole in a Midnight Sun kitchen countertop slab will take a diamond core bit designed to cut through rock. Stone fabrication professionals have all this equipment. Therefore, the project is not only easier for them, but they have more experience actually working with granite. So, cutting, drilling, and installing Midnight Sun is much easier for them than it would be for a novice.

Even transporting Midnight Sun natural granite can be a challenge for the average person. Even handy individuals and do-it-yourselfers could find moving a piece of Midnight Sun Granite form point A to point B. Since Midnight Sun is heavy, it requires more than one person to move, lift, and adjust it. That doesn't even take into consideration the material handling equipment that one needs to transport it. Additionally, installing Midnight Sun will require a specific formulated and colored granite glue. These are all supplies that fabricators are familiar with and even already have.

Midnight Sun Granite Care

Even though Midnight Sun 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 Midnight Sun surface. Let's take a brief look at each of these aspects.

Sealing Midnight Sun Granite

You may have heard that natural stone needs to be sealed. You also may have heard that you need to check with the fabricator to find out. Both of these statements are true. One of the two main ways that you can care for your Midnight Sun surface is to periodically reseal the surface using an appropriate stone sealer. There are many kinds and we even offer a stone sealer that is food safe for kitchen countertops (both indoors and outdoors). Keeping up with resealing your Midnight Sun surface helps protect it from oil and water-based liquids that could get into the pores and stain the surface.

Resealing a granite countertop is not a difficult task and it does not have to be done all that often. It all depends on how much wear and tear the surfaces experiences through household use. About every 6 to 12 months it would be good to do a water test on the Midnight Sun surface. This simple test lets you know how absorbent the stone is at that time. The test is easy. Just put som water on the stone in various places and see how fast it absorbs the water. The more absorbent, the more needed the sealer is.

Cleaning Midnight Sun Surfaces

In addition to sealing your Midnight Sun 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 Midnight Sun} 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 Midnight Sun Granite surfaces (especially countertops) will be in the best position to repel stain-causing liquids.

About Maintaining Midnight Sun

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

In conclusion, granite surfaces like Midnight Sun make very durable surfaces for the home and can ber a challenge to install yourself. Having your Midnight Sun Granite countertop installed by a professional with the proper tools and equipment will yield the best results. Additionally, how you care for the surface after the installation will go a long way toward years of performance from your Midnight Sun kitchen countertop surface.