Hi KZ. I had River White granite installed 9 years ago and it looks as beautiful today as the day it was installed. I seal it once a year and only clean with a very light mix of Dawn dish detergent BUT I have heard of horror stories using this granite and don’t fully understand the cause of the problems people on this forum have experienced with it. I wonder if it is something used in the installation that has caused problems. So I guess my advice would be to be cautious.

I appreciate that!

I agree. Any of the granites with white tend to be more fragile. If you like the look, just be diligent as stated above. Make sure you seal it yearly.

I've seen several people people complain about quartz. It seems similar to granite (not stain proof), but more sensitive to heat?

Or maybe that was quartzite...

Definitely don't want solid white....just in the white/silvery

Totally agree...we have a list of granite warehouses to go to. But, I'm thinking I may need to go a different color route if all white granite stones are 3% absorption or higher. I want very minimal maintenance and I was wondering if there were white granite slabs that are lower absorption.

Alaska White granite. Pretty much bullet-proof. Has a beautiful translucency that does not come across in photos. The Alaska White slabs vary a lot in how much white they have, and how silvery vs. how taupe, so it would be best to go to several stoneyards to pick your slab. The only caution is that they have mica, which adds gorgeous bits of sparkle, and aesthetically is highly-prized. But too much mica can mean a rough patch in the counter. My last home had Alaska White and my family kind of abused it and when we left it looked like the day it was installed. There was one small mica bit, about an inch, that you could feel when your hand ran across the counter. There was mica elsewhere in the slab, but only a sparkle here and there. Loved it.

Love this! Glad to hear no staining issues! Did you seal it? How often?

@K.Z. - yes, sealed it once a year. The hardest part of sealing was having to take stuff off the counters like the toaster haha. Then it's just a minute to wipe on, then wipe off any residue. If you apply really thinly you don't need to wipe off; only wipe off if it seems like you put on too much. The directions are on the label, it's so easy.

Yes I hate dealing ours...pain to clear off everything!

Yes, but it's only once a year. I have many other maintenance-type chores in the house that take much longer and have to do much more often!

If you want porcelain tile characteristics from your counter, then look at the large format porcelain. You will not get 3% absorptivity from any light colored natural stone. Porcelain, Corian, or quartz is where you should focus.

I have Colonial White.

We've had it five years and I haven't resealed because the installers told me I wouldn't have to until water no longer pools on the surface. It has never stained. I use very hot water on a paper towel with a drip of Dawn or Laticrete Stenetech spray stone cleaner for daily cleaning, and spray 70% isopropyl alcohol for an occasional disinfectant.

To me, a lot of the white/grey stones look alike. Ours also has a few scattered mica spots.

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