I asked some granite wholesalers and fabricators this question. Only one, Europa Stone Distributors reported. They said that they had no problems with the Mascarello granite that they carried and one of their staff had it in their house. They can be reached at (703) 450-4999 if you want to chat with them.

I suspect that this stone is like the Juparana Creama Bordeau that we originally had trouble with. See http://www.millennialliving.com/Activities/Renovation/Granite/kitchengra.... We didn't give up on the Juparena Creama Bordeau though, but continued to look for a better piece and actually found it. So if you like the Mascarello granite, you can choose it, but use the steps at the end to help in selecting it.

Most of us are focused on the color, but we should also pay attention to cracks and veins. When we look at granite slabs we do the following:

1) Always look at the complete slab not a sample in a show room. Each stone is unique and there's even slight variation in slabs from the same block that may be noticeable.

2) Names can be deceiving. Don't be surprised if the Mascarello in on place looks so different in another.

3) Be cautious if you see the back of a slab with some kind of mesh. This means the slab is weak and the matting is there to reduce the possibility of cracking it when it is moved. We've even seen matting on granites tiles. Don't select it.

4) Use our eyes and look at the granite from the side. Mascarello has a lot of veins naturally. Focus on on the cracks and how far they run. Are they large or fine and do they run end to end especially on the out edges.

5) If you find slabs that you like, do two things- reserve them and record the numbers of the slab. This ensures that the slabs you selected are the ones you get.

6) Ask your fabricator to inspect the slabs at the wholesaler before they are shipped for cutting. The fabricator is in the best position to know if the specific stone will be OK.

7) All stones required sealing and maintenance once they are installed. Also despite being relatively hard, granite can absorb liquids so wipe things off quickly.