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Newly installed Granite Countertop - Powder from underside

12 years ago
I have just had new granite countertops installed in my kitchen. It's 3cm, so there is no board underneath. The underside is just rough cut. I've read this is normal. However, the dust coming off the bottom is getting into my cabinets. I have wiped the bottom with water and cloth about 10 times now. The first few times the cloth became very dark. Now, the cloth remains white. However, just a simple little flick with a nylon brush (on the rough-cut underside) creates a white cloud of fine granite dust. This cloud lingers in the air for a long time and I feel I am constantly getting it into my lungs. Is this normal for granite? I can't stand this constant smell of granite dust. The fabricator recommended 511 sealer. But I've heard granite needs to "breath". So sealing would be a bad idea. Also, there are lots of 511 sealants, so I am not sure which to get. I haven't been very impressed with this installer, and not sure I can trust him. Has anyone else experienced this? Any recommendations?

Comments (19)

  • 12 years ago
    last modified: 12 years ago
    Here you see the polished side, the underside before massive scrubbing effort, and the underside after massive scrubbing effort. That white powder is just never-ending. It doesn't just "wipe" off. Literally more than 10 times over the same area and now the cloth stays "clean" after wiping, but the white residue just flicks off into a dust cloud with a nylon brush. I've taking the nylon brush attachment on our vacuum cleaner and scrubbed the area while vacuuming, and it just keeps coming.
  • 12 years ago
    last modified: 12 years ago
    Mica dust will continue to shed for quite sometime. Keep vacuuming and it will eventually dissipate.
  • 12 years ago
    I've not heard of this before. Our granite was polished along the cabinet overhang edges and about 6 inches of the 12" overhang. The part not polished isn't flaking or dusting off at all.
    Brian Book thanked pegjustpeg
  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Hi. I realize this is an old Post but I am experiencing the same problem. We're you able to solve it?

  • 8 years ago

    Us too! Any resolution? We just bought a new home and having the same problem. I keep wiping, it keeps dusting. I don't want to breath or accidentally ingest as it's getting all over everything in our cabinets. TIA

  • 8 years ago

    I have not found a resolution yet. I was hoping to hear back from someone with experience on this issue.

  • 7 years ago

    We have the same problem in just one of our drawers. It was installed 6 years ago and the granite "dust" just keeps showing up.

  • 6 years ago

    Same problem here! Just seems to be over 1 drawer/cabinet but it's been 6 months since install and it hasn't stopped. Thinking I'll call the installer and see if it's something covered by the warranty. I'm sick of white powder showing up all over my clean silverware!

  • 5 years ago

    I'v had my counter top for 3 years and am still seeing the dust inside 1 drawer. Very annoying! Has anyone found a solution?

  • 5 years ago

    We installed a gorgeous granite countertop 8 months ago. The top keeps shedding a soft, chalky white dust. We wipe it down every day but it hasn't stopped so, before preparing food we wipe it down first. Disappointing to say the least.

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    Try some Tenax Proseal please.

  • 5 years ago

    I was having the same problem with my 2 year old granite counter top. It was so annoying! This is what I did to resolve the issue. I emptied out the cabinet to investigate. I realized that the mesh lining was crusted with a white substance like powder. I took a stiff brush and brushed it all out then vacuumed the area. It was a messy job and got a lot of dust in my kitchen, but that cabinet no longer has the problem. My drawers are now dust free.

  • 5 years ago

    Me too. One drawer. White powder in the drawer on the silverware. When I run my fingers underneath, the powder is all over my fingers. I was going to attach video, but only photos allowed.

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    Same problem here. Powder on my fingers when touched. I wiped it with water around 10x one spot because it took so long so the sponge was not dirty. Now when I touch it I dont see dust on fingers, but I still think if you rub it or scrub it with something more rough, or just with any vibrations it will just shed powder forever since its not sealed. I am thinking of installing extra shelf right under it. Let me know if anyone had some good idea what to do. I would not vacuum the dust because it will get through your vacuum into air and thats bad for your lungs. Maybe just with Hepa vacuum, but wiping with water is much safer. I personally think that leaving the dust there after installation should be illegal, because its a carcinogen. I totally dont get it why they didnt wipe it, because I am spending now 1 day to clean just one cabinet, as I am taking everything out and wiping and i have 10 of them. Some I cant even do because I cant reach there. I also wish we would not buy kitchen with quartz countertop because 1. I am sure its not healthy to eat and breath silica dust 2. its radioactive 3. you should not wipe it with dish soap. So anyone reading this thinking of new quartz countertop, don't do it. Not worth it at all. I wish I knew this before. Or if you do it, makes sure they wipe it before instalation, they put shelf right under and open your windows often for the radioactivity gas. I hope in the future there will be some laws about this, bc there are laws about silica dust how dangerous it is in work place but to have it and breath it everyday in the kitchen is not a big deal?

  • 4 years ago

    Wish I had seen this post earlier. Just installed. Dust through entire home. It’s everywhere. To top of ceilings. How do we get rid of it.

  • 4 years ago

    Experiencing the same issue with never ending dust in my kitchen cabinets.

    Has anyone tried gluing a protective lining of some sort underneath the granite? I’m thinking something like shelf liner / contact paper or anything else to serve as a protective barrier inside my bottom kitchen cabinets

  • 3 years ago

    Any resolutions???

  • 2 years ago

    Same problem with my granite countertops. Gray dust falling into all of the top drawers, so frustrating and concerning!