Yes. There have been studies to prove that Stonemark granite does not harbor bacteria, as some man-made surfaces do. Gourmet chefs around the world use granite counters for food preparation.

When you order your Stonemark countertop at your local Home Depot?, you will be given the contact information of a certified fabricator in your area.

Yes. Every Stonemark granite slab is treated by Innovative Stone's proprietary anti-staining PermaShield technology. This technology, combined with decades of experience, allows Stonemark by Innovative Stone to provide an unprecedented 15-year limited warranty against staining.

Yes. Stonemark granite is scratch resistant. Composed primarily of quartz, granite is one of the hardest natural materials on Earth.

Due to the layout of some kitchens, seams are sometimes necessary. The certified fabricator will make every effort to limit the amount of seams based on kitchen layout, support needed and material usage.

Your Stonemark granite with PermaShield by Innovative Stone is heat resistant. However, placing a hot saucepan directly from the stove onto any countertop is not recommended.

Yes, especially since Stonemark by Innovative Stone countertops do not require sealing for 15 years after installation. Normal use and regular cleaning with approved products will ensure that your countertop maintains its natural beauty for many years. Abrasive or acidic household cleaners are to be avoided. Any spills should be wiped up as soon as possible. Details about the Countertop Care Program will be provided with your purchase of a Stonemark by Innovative Stone countertop.

All Stonemark granite is rated with the Innovative Stone Classification System. Please refer to the Material Gallery for details. All Stonemark materials are carefully selected and inspected prior to installation in your home. Only the highest quality of stone will be used to ensure years of use and enjoyment of your stone countertop.

It is usually recommended that a cutting board or protective surface be used, if not for the countertop at least to protect your cutting blade edge.

No. Every Stonemark granite slab is treated by Innovative Stone's proprietary anti-staining PermaShield technology, which protects granite from staining for 15 years subject to the terms and conditions of the limited warranty.

No. This can be dangerous because the temperature will vary according to the accuracy of oven regulators and circulation of heat. Dry heat is very slow in penetrating into jars of food. Also, jars explode easily in the oven.

Often people think that they can save money by buying larger containers of canned food, transferring the contents (or leftovers from the first use) to smaller jars and re-processing it. Others wonder if this is a way to save leftovers from any size can for a longer time than they will keep in the refrigerator. We have no safe tested processes to do this.

Use your common sense. My understanding and impression is that the food industry is tightly controlled by health authorities, who regularly take probes for germs and bugs. I've never been sick from eating out except for cases when I overindulged. Most food poisonings are, of course, due to meat and as a vegetarian you don't have much to fear. I mostly eat on the street, and have been doing so since '94, and seem to be alive and well, physically at least. Lucky you are to have come here.

Yes, we supply and install worktops in granite, Corian, Starron, and other solid surface materials. Lead times for these worktops vary according to machining complexity and the surface finish chosen. For all granite and solid surface worktops a templating visit is required once all base units are installed, in position, and available for measuring, a second visit is then made to site to install the new worktops.

There are several finishes that you can have with Granite. The highly polished surface is the most popular. There is a process called "honing" that gives the stone a smooth feel but a more matte finish. You can also oil a honed finish prior to sealing to bring out more intensity in the colors.

No. Many types of granite contain pits and fissures that are natural characteristics of granite. Some granites exhibit these characteristics more than others, and the lighting of the room can make these marks more or less visible. These characteristics should be pointed out to the client prior to deciding on a particular material.

In a word, yes. There has been some misinformation circulated by competing industries attempting to raise concerns about issues such as bacteria and radon. We would be pleased to share the research that shows that these concerns are not only unfounded but granite actually ranks second to stainless steel in a study measuring the bacteria resistance capacity of six common countertop materials. More on granite safety.

All five of our North American feed plants are certified under the Animal Feed Industry Association's (AFIA) Safe Feed/Safe Food Program.

A - Food services are available Monday -Thursday from 7:30 to 6:30 PM and on Friday from 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Vending machines are also located throughout campus.

Relax and wait a little bit. As the food releases it own juices while cooking it usually comes loose all by itself.

A.: Yes, we only show our best selling granite colours but if you have seen a colour that you like elsewhere ask us and we will be more then happy to give you a price.

A : If granite has not been sealed correctly, it can become stained and may collect bacteria. Granite sealed countertops are also difficult to keep clean. Meganite? is nonporous with a smooth, seamless surface that is more impact-resistant than granite, and easier to fabricate. Unlike granite, Meganite? is also repairable and comes with a 10-year limited warranty.

Innovative Stone? offers a 15-year limited warranty against staining and a 15-year limited warranty for material integrity. Please refer to the warranty information for further details.

In the rare occasion that your granite does stain, Innovative Stone will work with you to help remove the stain.

In broad geological terms, granite is an "igneous" rock formed by intense heat, which liquefies rock deep in the Earth and which solidifies upon cooling. Marble is a "metamorphic" rock resulting from the re-crystallization of limestone under intense pressure and high temperatures within the Earth. Stones falling within the same geological class share the behavioral characteristics, which determine the appropriate application.

Surface mining is an operation which involves the winning of shallow coal deposits from the ground through the removal of overlying rock by excavators and dumptrucks.

Probably not. While you are in Ghana , food safety should be the major factor in your decision to abstain. You can hardly resist the tempting novelty of street vendors and their food variety. Our suggestion is to avoid eating on the streets until you get familiar with the general situation. The food will likely taste quite different than anything you have had before. Food safety problems can range from chemicals and contaminants, to bacteria as well as some other diseases.

Many health experts agree that using a process called irradiation can be an effective way to help reduce food-borne hazards and ensure that harmful organisms are not in the foods we buy. During irradiation, foods are exposed briefly to a radiant energy source such as gamma rays or electron beams within a shielded facility. Irradiation is not a substitute for proper food manufacturing and handling procedures.

After analyzing more than 400 scientific studies, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Academy of Science (NAS) both separately concluded that meat and milk products from animal clones and their offspring are as safe as foods from conventionally bred animals.

At the ASPCA we know that there are many nutritional/dietary options for pet parents to choose from. However we generally do not recommend raw food diets, as current scientific research supports the idea of feeding well-balanced, high quality commercial foods. The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA) published an article on Raw Food Diets in March of 2001. Homemade and commercial raw food diets for dogs were analyzed for nutritional and bacterial content.