Stone Care
Upgrading your countertops is a great way to add value to your home. With that, it is important to care for your stone to maintain that value. These tips will help you make the most out of your stone.
Granite Care
Granite is naturally formed, no two pieces are alike and there are differences in all stone. These characteristics may be color and shade variations, irregular markings, voids, pitting, veins, and differences in density causing sheen variations. Due to normal wear, cracks and voids may appear; these can be readily repaired by one of our team members, contact us for more information. All of these variations and characteristics are common and present, to some degree. However, these characteristics are part of the natural beauty of the stone and will not impair the function or wearing qualities of the material.
Daily Maintenance
A regular cleaning routine will help your granite look cleaner and help avoid staining. Natural stone, especially polished stone, is sensitive to harsh chemicals.
We use quality impregnating sealer that last for up to 10 years, this allows the stone to breathe and permits more of the stone’s natural beauty to shine through.
For routine cleaning, use a damp cloth or paper towel and, if necessary, use dawn dish soap to take off hard to remove spots ensuring you rinse and dry the stone thoroughly.
DO NOT use these products, these products can cause discoloration or worse.
- Goof Off
- Natural Stone Polish
- Windex
- Bar Keepers Friend
- Heavy Solvents, such as bleach or acetone
- Scotch Brite pads
- Magic Erasers
- Vinegar
Quartz Care
Quartz is approximately 90% quartz, one of the hardest minerals in nature. Because of its high quartz content, quartz surfaces are ultra-durable and resistant to scratches and chipping. Its dense composition also makes quartz highly resistant to staining.
Daily Maintenance
Quartz is heat-resistant, however it is always recommended to set hot skillets, pans, crock pots, griddles, electric skillets and any type of electric cooker on hot pads or trivets, not directly on the quartz surface. This is recommended, to prevent the slab from cracking due to the heat. Quartz is also highly scratch-resistant, but not scratch-proof. It is recommended to always use cutting boards and avoid cutting and preparing food directly on the quartz surface. It is also recommended to avoid using highly abrasive sponges that may scratch the surface.
Avoid exposing your quartz surface to chemicals, especially paint removers or furniture strippers that might contain trichlorethane or methylene chloride. Keep nail polish removers, acetone alcohol, thinners, detergents containing bleach, laundry bluing, highly alkaline liquids such as bleach, caustic soda or oven cleaners, acids, oily soaps, descalers, markers or ink, abrasive and micro-abrasive detergents, away from the surface. If any of the substances listed above come into contact with your quartz surface, rinse the exposed surface immediately and thoroughly with plenty of clean water.
It is best to avoid the exposure of UV rays on your quartz surface to protect the surface from any possible change in the color over time.
Daily Cleaning
Quartz is a low maintenance stone and is very easy to clean. For routine cleaning, use a damp cloth or paper towel and, if necessary, use dawn dish soap to take off hard to remove spots ensuring you rinse and dry the stone thoroughly. A regular cleaning regimen will help your stone stay looking new for years to come. Stone, especially polished stone, is sensitive to harsh chemicals. Make sure you rinse the surface thoroughly after washing and dry with a soft cloth. Do not use scouring powders these products contain abrasives that may scratch your stone. All spills must be cleaned up immediately using the recommendations above to avoid possible staining.
Take extra care when cleaning to ensure you are not using a soap or solvent that is not recommended. Using soaps that are not recommend can cause the stone to discolor or lose its shine.
Below are examples of what NOT TO DO:
DO NOT use these products, these products can cause discoloration or worse.
- Goof Off
- Natural Stone Polish
- Bleach Windex (has wax)
- Bar Keepers Friend
- Heavy Solvents, such as bleach or acetone
- Scotch Brite pads
- Magic Erasers
- Vinegar