Truth be told, even the name of the stone isn't enough. Because there is no regulation of this and stone yards label and name slabs whatever they feel like. Most "granite" Isn't even granite. Marble gets labeled quartzite. And on and on. I highly recommend the countertop geology threads here for solid information from a geologist on how to figure out what you are getting for your money.

http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2692150/countertop-geology-part-six-lets-talk-about-rocks-some-more?n=578

My old counter looked perfect after 18 yrs of abuse and never sealed. My mom scrubbed them with bleach and my dad used to pour boiling water over them to disinfect.

I find them extremely durable. And I also never sealed again after the first time seventeen years ago. But in the middle of a redo and not using again.

My Typhoon Bordeaux counters after 6 years looked like the day they were installed.

20 years - granite. Have some dulling scratches where we set plates on the eating island, that probably would look better buffed out some, but other than that.... I've sealed it a couple times but usually just wipe with soapy water and dry....

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Had St. Cecelia granite (a lighter granite) at my last house and did not keep up with the sealing. After less than five years, the counter adjacent to the side of the range top I used most was grease stained and very dark!! Besides that, there were no other issues with staining or chipping and it looked great otherwise when I sold the house.

Mine are about 5 years old, and after daily cooking and 4 kids, they are absolutely shiny and perfect!

I have a friend with Alaska White granite counters. That is one stunning hunk o' stone. I admired it, and she told me that her teenagers have all their friends over and hang out in the kitchen, and are not careful whatsoever, spilling soda, salsa, their Starbucks, etc. on the counter, and of course not cleaning up. She seals once a year (she told me an ordinary sealer from HD), and her counters continue to look brand new after several years. However, this granite has lots of mica in it, which makes it gorgeous, but also has some roughness to it where the mica bits are. She shrugs her shoulders at it, but some people who are nit-picky might only want an ultra-smooth stone. Just another thing for you to think about.

Great info and thanks @frieda. There's SO many stones and names and styles, good God. You can do a lifetime study on granite or any countertop for that matter and still never buy anything.

Having said that, is there a list of granite with lower absorption rates or ?

Color wise, our cabinets are all white with the exception our prep island and dining island will be sage green.

Based on y'alls experience can you recommend a good color palette for these colors and a stone with the lower absorption rates?

I can sift through information on boats, computers, motorcycles and the like pretty quick.

When it comes to counter tops, I am lost and can sure use all the help I can get. It's going to either be a good granite or quartz. I've got a line on a good fabricator from a friend who is a builder within a 2 hour drive. But I'd like to zero in on a few general ideas first or we'll end up camping out there.

TIA and CP, we sure hope your home weathers the storm. I've got friends down that way and it's pretty nasty and friends in the keys and they got slammed very hard.

there used to be an excellent granite site done by (I think) a professor in Europe, had pics, absorbency, etc. Last time I looked it had been taken down because "Google used his pics without permission" is what he said. Too bad, it was a wonderful place to see granite samples and their 'facts'.

That said - you probably should simply visit the granite yards that your chosen fabricator wants to use. Get a picture and the 'name' of the granite that you like, then come back here and let the folks that love granite talk with you.

PS, my last home I put in a granite from India, name is Raw Silk (the pinkish version). Sold that house seven years ago so I can't tell you how it has held up - I did love it though.

Yes, you should search and read that series of posts on types of stones. While it's quite a read, it is HIGHLY INFORMATIVE.

This is kind of like Granite 101, but I'm going to throw it out anyway: When you're ready to choose, you want to go to the stone yard yourself and pick THE STONE you want. These aren't items that come off an assembly line and all look alike. Someone mentioned Alaska White granite, which I happen to love. You might go to the stone yard and find half a dozen Alaska White stones -- some with more dark spots, some with more mica chips, some that are remnants only large enough for a bathroom vanity. You'd want to pick the one that appeals to YOU most, and then you'd want to specify which portion of your favorite you want cut for your island and which portion you want to push back into the corner, where it'd be less visible. If you want to come away with a truly superior countertop (and for the price, I can't imagine you'd say, "Nah, don't really care much", you have to put in the time and effort.

Our granite is about 1.5 billion years old, give or take a half billion. Young for a rock, but still no spring chicken. As far as I know it is pretty much unchanged-- I'm old, but was not around in precambrian times to know for sure. It certainly hasn't changed in the last 20 years. It's a rock, after all, and they change very, very slowly.

our granite tops are 5 y.o. and look brand new., love them and would use again.. ours are "Sedna" also goes under the name Magma Gold/Magma Supreme. very dramatic. have not sealed since installed. usually the lighter stones need sealer.

some advice: keep in mind what u are going to use for a BS. the granite usually determines the BS. if u already picked the BS, then bring sample with you to granite yard. and while u are at it, bring cab, paint, floor samples if u have them. the more u have the better. we used our granite as our BS on the cooktop wall. best decision ever!! no grout lines, no worries about grout getting dirty...

busy granite = calm BS and vice versa.....USUALLY!! on this forum, most agree to one "clown"... one element is the star, others are team players...

post picks of cabs and kitchen space and i am sure u will get help for the granite.... another idea is find kitchens on Houzz and Pinterest that u love and that might help u decide on your granite....

I often see hotel bathrooms with ring stains/etching on limestone or lighter granite. (They look like limestone to me) Limestone etches badly. Bathroom products can be harsher than kitchens.

I have brown with bits (don't know the name) granite in a short term rental with lots of 'partying' people and it has held up well.

My rentals have light brownish granite and looks good.

I did not pick these and they were there when we bough the properties. These stones probably are from bottom end of the granite grade/price.

I have black with bits (don't know the name) in my bathroom for 20 years and looks good.

What color combo's do you like? What do you like with your sage color? Start there.

Thanks for responses. We are ordering sample cabinet doors and will take those with us when we go shopping.

I am a fabricator. The advice offered to take samples of the other colors (cabinet door, splash, floor tile) is good advice. A competent fabricator will help you select stone and offer advice on color combinations and material properties of any stones of interest to you.

Many fabricators shortchange the customer at this point in the process because it can be time consuming (sometimes VERY time consuming) but it is often a very important part of the whole process. We regularly have people visit our shop who comment that they were unable to get anything more than minimal attention at other shops. For me it's a necessary part of providing a highly variable natural product to a relatively uneducated public. If a fabricator isn't willing to spend a couple of hours with you I'd suggest you find another.