Unfortunately, it would appear that Your fabricator did not take the time
to explain to you that this is a normal thing for this kind of stone - OR -
He DID tell you about this - and you weren't listening. I don't know because I wasn't there.
My intuition is that he did not properly explain to you this particular quality
of Kashmir White......... it IS a porous stone when compared
to other granite species....

This info would have been very helpful to you when you were deciding IF this
was something that you could "live with" - kind of like owning a Black Corvette
and living in a dusty desert... most people would opt for a different color that
does NOT show the dust as bad as BLACK would...

THIS is why I always say to Fabricators -
"IF Your Customer KNOWS What They are Getting -
They Won't be SHOCKED once "it" gets Installed in Their Home"....

The point is - is that you SHOULD have been given the info BEFORE you
made your buying decision - so that YOU could have decided if the situation
that you are now faced with - was something that you could live with - long term....

As far as a remedy - you should find out IF the stone was sealed at all - it
sounds to me like it wasn't. IF this is the case, get some Miracle 511 Porous Plus
or
Surface Treatment Technologies Sealer and apply one or the other to your
stone. You MAY have to apply multiple coats in order to get optimum sealing
of the stone.

Once it is properly sealed, your issues will be reduced, but you'll still have
to be careful with staining agents like oils and fruit juices like grape and red wine.

Wipe up all spills as soon as they happen, and the issue will be minimal....

hth

kevin

"kind of like owning a Black Corvette and living in a dusty desert... most people would opt for a different color that
does NOT show the dust as bad as BLACK would"

no, no, no black cars in the desert!!! if you see a black car here, think - 'visitor' or 'just moved here from midwest, back east, etc'!!! lol!

or even - 'so rich it doesn't matter. gotta car guy to wash it every day'

I have been hanging around these forums forever and have drooled for granite but now I am rescinding my wish list! I had no idea that granite could "stain"!

If you were looking for one that didn't stain where would you start? I live in the mountains of SW Virginia and I truly only know one home that has granite so I might be dreaming anyway.

Speaking of black cars, my dh's family will only buy white cars! They say they show less dirt so I let them talk me into a white Tahoe. I must have been crazy!
Thanks
Alicia

oh dear! will a poultice help to draw out the oil stain? and then you can seal it?

StoneTech makes an oil stain remover - might be worth a try. and then seal it.

good luck and please let us know how it comes out!

"they're wearing SHORTS & T-SHIRTS this weekend"

nooooooooooo - again! i'm in sweats with furry socks - that I wear with my vinyl birk slip ons. and I've worn a sweater over my sweat top at night! I've thought it cold enough to snow! well, I've been away from snow for almost 20 yrs now...thankfully we only have this cold for a short time!
lol - I've been bringing my dog in at night lest she freeze!

How do we know all about this granite? Is there a website that can educate one on granite choices? I'm a dummie about that and I think there should be a book out called "Granite for dummies". lol! My kitchen is still a couple of years down the road, and I really want to know.

"Granite For Dummies" ...... I LIKE the sound of that...

Since I already write for three of the National Industry Trade Magazines
for Countertops and Natural Stone -
I could...... do...... "the" book..... "Granite For Dummies".......

hmmmmmmmmmm.........

goodbyekitty - You've just given me a GREAT challenge ang provided
me with my "New Year's Resolution - FINALLY - Write THE Book!!!

I'll keep everyone posted on my progress.... at NaturalStone101.com

kevin

Camarodreamer, go to a granite yard, get samples of the ones you like, take them home and put stuff on them to see if they will stain. I used mustard, olive oil, ketchup and lemon juice on my samples. Other people will also use red wine and fruit such as strawberries. I left the stuff on over night and then checked them. The three samples I had didn't stain at all. They were Yellow river, Star Beach and I believe Santa Cecilia. I chose the Star Beach and though I think it is a resined granite, it has been bullet proof. It has to be around here with messy DH who isn't particularly careful but does almost all of the cooking. The only downside to this granite is that you have to put your hands on the granite to find the dirt and know where to wipe. I love what I got but followed the info here to help me choose something I wouldn't regret. HTH

definitely do an ammonia poultice before sealing! i installed polished carerra backsplash in my last kitchen. i was told no need to seal b/c it was polished. yes. but the grout need to be sealed. fatty milk splashed onto the grout, seeped into the stone from underneath the polished surface and two *very noticeable* spots were left which bled and spread out. i used an ammonia poultice (re-applied multiple times over a couple of days). it did not completely remove the stain but did reduce it considerably.

good luck. i know how painful it can be when you spend so much money and have an experience like this!

Here is a link that might be useful: not a useful link...just my blog

Kevin, I hope it is okay that I posted your link to the
recipe for stain removal could this work for Maya's mom?
~boxerpups

Hi Mayasmom,

I am sad that you do not like your counter. I guess
because I love the look of Kashmir white. Despite this
annoying stain and the trouble you are having I would
bet that it still looks beautiful.

In Greece and Italy many people have white marble in their
kitchens. White Marble is far cheaper and more plentiful
than carrying it across the ocean to America.
And Yes, these white counters stain. Imagine cooking with
Olive oil, Tomato sause, prosciotto, red wine vinegar,
black olives and rolling out butter potato gnocchi on the
counters. Would there be stains?

You bet. The Mediterranean cooks view these stains as a
true testament to the love, healthy food and joy the
kitchen creates. They could care less about the tomato
stain Tia Maria made 5 years ago or the constant knife
etchings Antonio makes when he slices the lanb. Those
stains are memories of the happy family who uses the
kitchen.

In the US we view our kitchens as show pieces. Places to
look fantastic and have that clean, hospital polished look.
Shiny, white, perfect... but who really has the time or
energy. If we have kids, eat or even want to rela, our
kitchens will rarely look magazine perfect. We wind up
being so hard on ourselves to make it look magazine perfect.

Be good to you.

Remind yourself (it is so easy to forget) that our kitchens
are a place of happiness, good food, love, cooking,
laugher, and a pure reflection on the messyness of life
around us. Sure you worry about selling your house one
day. Let it go! Before you go to sell your house you can
have the counters replaces, fixed, repaired or even sanded
down to hone or repair. For now enjoy them. You deserve
the beauty of white counters. Let the stains happen, sit
back and be good to you. Because trying to keep a white
counter clean is going to be like wearing a white silk
suit daily to play in a pig farm. You might have fun with
the piglets but the suit is never going to stay white.
And beating yourself up to keep them looking beautiful is
not fair to you. And the suit even with a few mud stains
still looks stunning. You deserve the silk suit and
the laughter you get from holding a little piglet.
(View Charlotte's web)

Be good to you!
~boxerpups

GWebbers chime in about white granite.

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg0221583628661.html

This is info from GW about Kashmir granite. I know it is
to late for Maya'smom but perhaps it can help a future
granite shopper. And if you love white go for it, just accept it is never going to be perfect.

http://www.thathomesite.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg0822170514477.html?17

Here is a link that might be useful: Garden Web: Kevin's recipe to remove stain on granite

I have Kashmir white in my kitchen and on floors in kitchen,foyer three baths and have to comment. Can the reason be the difference in both the origin of the stone and quality of the sealer that is used for the stone. My counters are from Italy and have never stained for the one and a half year we have had them ,but the floor tiles come from China and we have to seal them every other year and had to do so our selfs after they were installed. You can see in one of the showers that we need to seal that floor again cause there is a difference in the color after we take a shower, but it fades when the floor dries.
just my 0.02

I kinda get sad when I hear the someone is not happy with Kashmir white cause I love mine so much.

Svava

Thank you for that Boxerpups. Great perspective.

Azstoneconsulting; I hope you weren't making fun of me! I look forward to buying that book =)

Boxerpups - Yes you can post my recipe - I hold you in the very highest regard !!!!

And Goodbyekitty - I was definitely NOT making fun of you AT ALL!! I AM DEAD
SERIOUS about writing that book - "Granite for Dummies" - Like I said
last night (and I was NOT drinking at all at the time) I will let everyone know
how it's coming here, and on my naturalstone101.com web site.

I write for three of the four major Stone Industry Trade Magazines on a monthly
basis, so it's a natural fit for me to write "the" book.... couple that with the
trade shows that I am a featured speaker at, and all of the disaster jobs I
get called on to inspect and render an "Industry Professional's Opinion" on
the scenarios - I'm sure that there will be lots of good juicy "stuff" I can
include in my book!!!!

Once again Goodbyekitty - Thanks for motivating me!!!

Boxerpups - keep up the good work - you are one of my heroes!!!

kevin

Here is a link that might be useful: Natural Stone 101.com