Why is granite a good dining table material?

Granite is an igneous stone made mostly of quartz and feldspar, two hard minerals that give it its resistance to scratches and wear. Cutlery, plates and the odd dragged dish won't mark a granite top the way they would a wooden one. It also tolerates heat much better than timber or laminate, and its weight makes for a solid, steady table.

Colour, flecks and veining vary from one block to the next, so no two granite tables look the same, and porosity varies just as much. As a general guide, lighter granites absorb liquid more readily than dense, dark ones, which is why one granite table may need resealing more often than another.

Learn more about our bespoke granite tables on our natural stone dining tables page.

Can you put hot dishes and pans on granite?

Hot serving dishes, plates and teapots won’t burn a granite surface. The stone formed under intense heat and won't scorch or blister the way wood finishes and laminate can.

High heat can cause two problems, though. The first is thermal shock: a very hot pan or oven tray placed straight onto a cool stone top heats one small area quickly, and in rare or extreme cases the stress can crack the slab. The second is the sealer. Repeated high heat in the same spot can break it down, leaving that patch more likely to absorb the next spill.

A simple habit avoids both. Use a trivet or wooden board for anything straight from the hob or oven, and for anything that stays hot in one place for a long time, such as a slow cooker, fondue set or warming tray. Candles belong in holders too, as they concentrate heat and drip wax onto the same spot through the evening.

Does granite stain?

Sealed granite resists most everyday spills, provided they're wiped up within a reasonable time. Stains happen when a liquid sits on an area where the seal has worn, or on stone that was never sealed, and soaks into the pores. On a dining table, the usual culprits fall into three groups:

• Oil-based: Olive oil, butter and salad dressing. These leave a darker patch that doesn't dry out. Wipe them up quickly with warm, soapy water.
• Tannins: Red wine, coffee and tea. Left overnight, these can leave a brown or reddish tint on lighter stone. Blot rather than wipe, so the spill doesn't spread.
• Water: Rings from glasses and vases. These darken the stone for a while and fade as the water evaporates. They aren't stains, but they do show where the seal is thinning.

Acidic spills such as lemon juice and vinegar are less of a concern on granite than on marble, where they can etch the surface and leave dull marks. Granite's minerals mostly resist acids, although frequent acidic spills can wear the sealer and dull a polished surface over time.

If a stain does set in, a stone poultice usually lifts it. This is a paste that draws the stain back out of the pores as it dries. For anything stubborn, contact us before trying stronger products, which can damage the finish.

Does a granite table need to be sealed?

Most granite benefits from sealing. A penetrating sealer, also called an impregnating sealer, soaks into the stone and slows the rate at which liquids are absorbed. It doesn't make granite stain-proof, but it gives you time to wipe up a spill before it soaks in. Cleaning and everyday use will wear the sealer down gradually, so it will need to be topped up from time to time. How often depends on three things:

• The stone: Lighter, more porous granites need resealing more often than dense, dark ones.
• The finish: A polished surface absorbs less than a honed (matt) or leathered (textured) one.
• How you use the table: A dining table generally sees less wear than a kitchen worktop, but a family table used for every meal needs more attention than a formal one used at weekends.

As a guide, plan to reseal every year or two, and let the water test below tell you when rather than following a fixed date. Very dense stones may barely take sealer at all, and any sealer left on the surface dries to a hazy film, so applying more than the stone can absorb does more harm than good. A quick test before a big gathering, such as Christmas or a family celebration, is worthwhile, as that's when a table sees the most spills.

How to seal a granite table

Start with the water test. Put a few drops of water on the surface in several places, including where people usually sit, and leave them for 10 to 15 minutes. If the water stays beaded on top, the seal is working. If the stone darkens underneath, it's time to reseal.

To reseal your table:

1. Clean the top with a pH-neutral stone cleaner, removing any marks or residue.
2. Let it dry completely. Moisture trapped under the sealer can cloud the finish.
3. Test the sealer on a small area that's usually covered, such as under a placemat.
4. Apply a penetrating sealer made for natural stone, working in sections and following the product's instructions for coverage.
5. Wipe off all excess within the time given on the label.
6. Buff dry with a clean, lint-free cloth.
7. Leave it to cure for the time stated on the product, often around 24 hours, before using the table.

General-purpose surface protectors aren't designed for stone, so stick to a granite or natural stone sealer. If you're not sure which to choose, ask our team.

Everyday care for a granite dining table

Day-to-day care is simple, and most of it protects the sealer as much as the stone.

Do:

• Wipe up spills promptly, especially oils and red wine.
• Clean with warm water and a pH-neutral or stone-safe cleaner, then dry with a soft cloth.
• Use coasters, placemats and trivets.

Avoid:

• Bleach, vinegar, ammonia and lemon-based cleaners.
• Multi-surface and antibacterial wipes, which often contain ingredients that break down the sealer.
• Scouring pads and abrasive creams.

Granite is hard, but it can be brittle at the edges. Most chips come from heavy knocks to a corner or edge, such as a cast-iron pan set down hard or a chair caught against the table, while the surface itself copes easily with ordinary cutlery and plates.

Granite vs quartzite, Dekton and marble

Fairmont Reed makes stone tables in granite, quartzite, Dekton® and marble. Each handles daily dining a little differently.

• Granite: Hard and scratch resistant, tolerates heat well, and needs resealing every so often. Available in a wide range of colours and patterns.
• Quartzite: A natural stone formed from sandstone under heat and pressure. It's generally tougher than granite and more resistant to staining, though as a natural stone it still benefits from sealing. It isn't the same as quartz, which is an engineered material.
• Dekton®: A sintered surface with virtually zero porosity. It won't stain, doesn't need sealing and stands up to heat and UV, so it suits anyone who wants a stone look with no sealing to think about.
• Marble: Softer than granite and etched by acidic spills such as lemon and wine. Some owners like the patina it builds up over the years; others prefer a surface that stays as it was on day one.

If you want natural stone and don't mind occasional resealing, granite and quartzite both suit a busy dining table. If you'd rather not think about sealing at all, Dekton® is the lower-maintenance choice. You can compare them on our natural stone, Dekton and marble pages.

What to check before buying a granite dining table

• The stone itself: Colour and veining vary across a slab, and photos rarely show the depth of a polished stone. If you can, book a visit to our showroom to see our stone tables up close.
• Colour and porosity: If you're drawn to a light granite, ask how it copes with oils and red wine. Lighter stones can be just as hard-wearing, but they may need sealing more often.
• Finish: A polished finish is often the best choice for a dining table, as it absorbs less and wipes clean easily. Honed finishes show marks more readily, and both honed and leathered finishes absorb more than polished, so they need sealing more often.
• Weight and base: Granite weighs roughly 2,700kg per cubic metre. A 200 x 100cm top weighs around 110kg at 20mm thick and around 160kg at 30mm, so the base has to be built for the load. See our range of table bases.
• Delivery and access: Check doorways, stairs and tight turns on the route into the room before you order. Our delivery page has the details.
• Sealing and aftercare: Ask whether the top arrives sealed and how often the maker recommends resealing, so you know what upkeep to expect from the start.
• Size: Make sure the table suits your room and the number of people you seat. Our guide to dining table sizes covers dimensions and clearance.

When you're ready, you can design your table in our table builder, or get in touch to talk through stone options with our team.

Frequently asked questions

Does granite stain?

Sealed granite resists most spills if they're wiped up promptly. Stains happen when oils, red wine, coffee or candle wax sit on an area where the seal has worn, or on unsealed stone. Water rings darken the stone briefly but fade as they dry. A stone poultice usually lifts a stain that has set in.

Can you put hot pans on a granite table?

Hot plates and serving dishes are fine. For pans and trays straight from the hob or oven, use a trivet. A very hot pan on a cool top can cause thermal shock on any surface, which in rare cases cracks the stone, and repeated high heat in one spot can wear down the sealer.

Does a granite dining table need sealing?

Most granite benefits from sealing, because it's a natural stone with tiny pores that can absorb oils and dark liquids. Sealing slows absorption rather than stopping it entirely. Fairmont Reed stone tops are sealed before delivery, so owners only need to reseal from time to time.

How often should you seal a granite table?

Every year or two is a reasonable guide for a dining table, but it depends on the stone, the finish and how much the table is used. Lighter and honed granites need sealing more often. Use the water test to check, rather than resealing on a fixed date.

How do you know if granite needs resealing?

Put a few drops of water on the surface in several places and leave them for 10 to 15 minutes. If the water beads on top, the seal is working. If the stone darkens beneath the drops, the sealer has worn and it's time to reseal.

What should you not use to clean granite?

Avoid bleach, vinegar, ammonia, lemon-based products, multi-surface wipes and abrasive pads. They wear down the sealer and can dull a polished finish. Warm water with a pH-neutral or stone-safe cleaner, dried with a soft cloth, is all a granite table needs day to day.

Can red wine stain a granite table?

It can, if it's left to soak into an area where the seal has worn, particularly on lighter granite. On a well-sealed top, red wine wiped up within a reasonable time won't leave a mark. Blot spills rather than wiping them, so the wine doesn't spread across the surface.

Is granite or quartzite better for a dining table?

Both suit a dining table. Quartzite is generally harder and more stain resistant than granite, while granite offers a wider range of colours and patterns. Both are natural stones that benefit from sealing. If you'd prefer a surface that never needs sealing, Dekton® is the alternative.