Helpful Information About Orinoco Granite

Orinoco 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 Orinoco 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 Orinoco. 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 Orinoco and how to take of it.

Why Orinoco 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. Orinoco 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 Orinoco.

The rock shown here is a commercial decorative stone of undetermined provenance ("Orinoco Granite") The light-colored bands are quartz-rich. The yellowish-brown coloration is iron oxide staining. The dark-colored areas are rich in mafic minerals. The dark red spots (click on the photo to zoom in and look around) are garnets.

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

What Orinoco Granite Is Made Of

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

Orinoco Properties

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

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

Orinoco Stone Fabrication

Fabricating Orinoco 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 Orinoco 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 Orinoco 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.

Caring for Your Orinoco Surface

It's true, Orinoco Granite is a natural stone that came to be from intense heat and perhaps pressure. However, your Orinoco surface has undergone some treatments to prepare it for its place in your finished project. As a result, there are some basic facets of taking care of your Orinoco surfaces. They are not difficult and they will keep your Orinoco natural granite looking its best. There are two main methods for caring for your granite. We'll discuss them next.

Keeping Orinoco Sealed

Your Orinoco 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. Orinoco 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.

How to Clean Orinoco

Another aspect of caring for your granite surface is to use a cleaner formulated for use on natural stone. Orinoco countertops and other surfaces are natural stone and sealing them is only one part. Not every household cleaner is made for use on natural stone. In reality, some cleaners actually break down natural stone sealers. So to maintain the seal that you are replenishing every-so-often, be sure to use a natural stone cleaner that will not degrade sealers. This is true of all sorts of natural stone cleaners. Let's look at some basic ones now.

One type of natural stone cleaner is the daily cleaner that is designed to remove the spots, smudges, and food residue that inevitably ends up on your Orinoco kitchen countertop. Another type of cleaner that is not as frequently needed is a stain remover. If your sealer breaks down and and an oil based liquid or a water based liquid gets into the pores of the granite, you may need this type of cleaning agent. These products are formulated to draw the stain out of the stone. But once again, keeping the sealer replenished on the stone reduces the need for these types of stone cleaners.

About Maintaining Orinoco

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

Orinoco Granite is a unique natural stone that will result in your design being truly unique. Your kitchen or other area will not only be appealing, but it will also be functional. Additionally, how you care for your Orinoco surface will play a role in how long it looks its best. However, for the best results, the install will most likely need to be handled by a professional fabrication company.