A lot of people choose to use granite for their countertops, and this is because it has a reputation for being very sturdy and a reliable option.
However, since surfaces in kitchens will often have to face high temperatures, many users of granite countertops wonder if this material is able to withstand these temperatures?
So, if you are considering getting a granite countertop, or you already have one and you want to know how heat resistant this material actually is, keep reading to get the answer you want!
For a quick answer under any normal situation, you will not be able to damage your granite countertop just from heat from something like a heated pot or pan.
So, while it is possible to do some damage to your granite countertop using quite extreme heat, this is not something you will have to worry about when usually using your kitchen, and the circumstances will have to be quite extreme to damage your granite countertop from heat alone.
If you did not know, the Mohs scale is a unit which is utilized to help with measuring the hardness of certain minerals. This scale goes between 1 and 10, with 1 being incredibly soft, and 10 being the hardest minerals like 10. On this scale granite scores an impressive 6.
For the rest of this article will be going over the uses of granite, especially in places like the kitchen, and what you will have to do to damage your granite using just heat, since the circumstances this is possible in are quite limited.
How Is Granite Formed?
If you do not know what type of rock granite is, it is classified as an igneous rock. This means it is formed when the minerals are exposed to extreme heat, and then they are cooled down. This will create a rock which is both dense and hard like granite is.
Because this is how granite is formed, this means that it is particularly good at having resistance to heat. This means that granite will not melt, even if it is directly exposed to a flame for a long period of time!
It is worth noting that the point at which granite will end up melting is between 2210 and 2300 degrees Fahrenheit, or 1210 and 1260 degrees Celsius. This is a massive increase compared to temperatures which would usually be experiences in a kitchen.
This means it melts at a temperature only a little lower than that of steel. So, rest assured, that your granite will not get damaged from smaller sources of heat within your kitchen.
The Heat Resistance Of Granite
Generally speaking granite will be able to resist damage from heat. For example, even a hot pan which is at 1200 degrees Fahrenheit it will not be at the point which is able to damage your countertop. This is even if you place the pan directly on top of your countertop.
It is not possible to say that heat could never damage a granite countertop. For example, if you put an extreme source of heat on top of a granite countertop and leave it there at a high heat for a long period of time it will eventually be able to damage the countertop.
This damage could come in the form of the surface of the granite being softened, or usually it will get discolored, in some more extreme cases it could even see gouges.
However, this is not something most granite countertops will ever face. Most of the normal tasks you will be doing in your kitchen will not make your pans or your pots anywhere near hot enough to slightly damage your granite countertops.
What is possible however, is that the heat from the pots and the pans could be hot enough to take off a sealant or a coating which is on top of your granite countertop.
So, if you have seen some changes to your granite countertops from heats lower than what we have mentioned, this is not any damage to the granite itself, but the coating, and this will be a lot more easy and inexpensive to fix.
However, if the sealant is not fixed, the spots which do not have the sealant will be quite vulnerable to getting stains in the future which can often be quite difficult to remove.
Your granite materials are capable of pulling heat from other items. You may have noticed if you take a hot dish from your oven, and then put it on your countertop, the dish will be able to cool quite quickly. This is because your granite countertop is able to conduct the heat more than some other materials.
However, to protect the sealant which most countertops have, we do not recommend doing this too often. Because of this heat coasters are worth using to create a barrier.
Putting Granite Through Extreme Temperature Changes
Another way your granite countertops could get damaged is by putting your granite through an extreme temperature change.
For example, if you are using your granite countertops outdoors, your countertop will have to face a good amount of heat during the summer, and then it will get quite cold during the winters. By putting the granite in such different conditions, there is a chance that over time it will weather and show signs of granite.
However, if you are planning to use granite outdoors, it is recommended that you use a specific type of granite which is recommended for this.
There are high density granite which are able to withstand harsher conditions, and are much better suited for use outdoors compared to standard granite.
Summary
To conclude, it is very unlikely that your granite will get damaged from heat, especially if you are using it indoors. If your granite has shown signs of wear which could be linked to heat, this is likely the sealant being damaged, not the granite itself. If your granite has been properly installed, you should not have to worry about it getting damaged from normal kitchen heat.