Kitchen design expert Jim Heaphy has written a column for Kitchen Bath Design News that attempts to dispel some of the myths surrounding granite kitchen worktops and granite sinks.According to the long-serving industry expert, there are a number of common misconceptions about the material and people often come up with generalisations that hold most of the time but are not universally true.He said that the first common myth is that granite is completely heat resistant.Mr Heaphy noted that while granite has some heat resistance properties, excessive temperatures can damage or discolour the sealants used on the material ahead of its installation.Rapid heating can also generate internal stresses that could cause a crack at a weak spot, he added.He claimed that another myth was that granite countertops needed resealing every two years, stating that some work surfaces will never need such a treatment.Recently, Matt McMullen told Yellow Scene Magazine that cutting rendering to create a rock-like effect in the kitchen was a growing trend in kitchen design.