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Granite Countertops
Online Videos
You may be asked to
download the file for the video, but rest assured we are not
going to send you a virus!
From the Quarry to the Kitchen Video
Care and Maintenance of Natural Stone Video
Durability: Granite is one of the hardest materials
on earth. It has an excellent resistance to wear. It is heat
resistant and will not shrink like some countertop materials
over time.
Granite makes an excellent choice for your countertop,
fireplace, bar-top or whirlpool tub. It is both easy to care
for, and adds value to your home.
Color & Style: We will assist you in bringing your personality
to your project. Should your customized fireplace surround
feel cozy and inviting? Or will your kitchen be the ideal
room for entertaining?
We encourage you to bring your samples in to our showroom.
Your home is a reflection of your style. Our designers
understand that and will work with you to bring your dream
to life.
If custom granite is not for you, our prefabricated vanity
and island top programs, available in over six sizes and
colors will be. These tops work beautifully with standard
vanities and islands. The pricing is affordable for almost
any budget.
The natural stone your have purchased for your home or
office is an investment that will give you many years of
beautiful services. Stone is a natural product and simple
care and maintenance will keep it looking beautiful. Here
are some recommendations for routine care and cleaning.
Precautions
- Use coasters under all glasses, particularly those
containing alcohol or citrus juices. Many common foods and
drinks contain acids that will etch or dull the stone
surface
- Do not place hot items directly on the stone surface.
Use trivets or mats under hot dishes and placemats under
china, ceramics, silver or other objects that can scratch
the surface.
Cleaning Procedures & Recommendations
Floor Surfaces
Dust mop interior floors frequently using a clean
non-treated dry dust mop. Sand, dirt and grit do the most
damage to natural stone surfaces due to their abrasiveness.
Mats or area rugs inside and outside an entrance will help
to minimize the sand, dirt and grit that will scratch the
stone floor. Be sure that the underside of the mat or rug is
a non-slip surface. Normally, it will take a person about
eight steps on a floor surface to remove sand or dirt from
the bottom of their shoes. Do not use vacuum cleaners that
are worn. The metal or plastic attachments or the wheels may
scratch the surface.
Other Surfaces
Clean stone surfaces with a few drops of neutral cleaner,
stone soap (available at hardware stores or from your stone
dealer) or a mild liquid dishwashing detergent and warm
water. Use a clean rag mop on floors and a soft cloth for
other surfaces for best results. Too much cleaner or soap
may leave a film and cause streaks. Do not use products that
contain lemon, vinegar or other acids on marble or
limestone. Rinse the surface thoroughly after washing with
the soap solution and dry with a soft cloth. Change the
rinse water frequently. Do not use scouring powders or
creams; these products contain abrasives that may scratch
the surface.
Bath and Other Wet Areas
In the bath or other wet areas, soap scum can be minimized
by using a squeegee after each use. To remove soap scum, use
a non-acidic soap scum remover or a solution of ammonia and
water (about 1/2 cup ammonia to a gallon of water). Frequent
or over-use of an ammonia solution may eventually dull the
surface of the stone.
Vanity Top Surfaces
Vanity tops may need to have a penetrating sealer applied.
Check with your installer for recommendations. A good
quality marble wax or non-yellowing automobile paste wax can
be applied to minimize water spotting.
Food Preparation Areas
In food preparation areas, the stone may need to have a
penetrating sealer applied. Check with your installer for
recommendations. If a sealer is applied, be sure that it is
non-toxic and safe for use on food preparation surfaces. If
there are questions, check with the sealer manufacturer.
Outdoor Pool & Patio Areas
In outdoor pool, patio or hot tub areas, flush with clear
water and use a mild bleach solution to remove algae or
moss.
Do's and Don'ts
- Do dust mop floors frequently
- Do clean surfaces with mild detergent or stone soap
- Do thoroughly rinse and dry the surface after washing
- Do blot up spills immediately
- Do protect floor surfaces with non-slip mats or area
rugs and countertop surfaces with coasters, trivets or
placemats
- Don't use vinegar, lemon juice or other cleaners
containing acids on marble, limestone, travertine or onyx
surfaces
- Don't use cleaners that contain acid such as bathroom
cleaners, grout cleaners or tub & tile cleaners
- Don't use abrasive cleaners such as dry cleansers or
soft cleansers
- Don't mix bleach and ammonia; this combination creates
a toxic and lethal gas
Call your professional stone supplier, installer or
restoration specialist for problems that appear too
difficult to treat.
The Marble Institute of America offers a brochure that
includes information on treating spills and stains on
natural stone surfaces. For a copy, please send $1.00US
along with a self addressed, stamped business size envelope
(37 cents). A CD containing the video shown on this page can
be purchased for $5.00US along with a self addressed,
stamped business size envelope (37 cents). Please remit
to:Marble Institute of America, 28901 Clemens Road, Suite
100, Cleveland, Ohio 44145 USA.
Sealing and Cleaning
Your custom designed countertop is sealed by our
experienced craftsmen prior to installation. This will
prevent the absorption of most compounds that can stain the
tops. No sealer is perfect.
Avoid staining by wiping up spills quickly. While stains
are rare, cooking oil can cause them. When cooking with oil
wipe your tops when you are finished.
Do not store metal pots on your granite tops as it may
stain them. The safest way to clean your countertops is with
a specifically designed cleaner. A neutral cleaner is
essential.
We recommend Stonetech Revitalizer. Dish soap and
water will work as well. Avoid anything with bleaches or
cleaners with grit in them. To avoid streaking wipe your
countertops completely dry.
Avoiding Scratches and Chips
Granite is a quartz-based material and can be scratched by
quartz or anything harder. Diamonds WILL scratch granite.
Knives will not scratch granite, though the granite will
dull knives.
Cutting boards are recommended. If using a marble cutting
board, be sure that the rubber/plastic feet remain intact.
Marble does pose a scratching risk.
Certain stoneware dishes and some pizza stones, if spun on
the countertop, will scratch granite.
Chips in granite are not common.
Heavy pots and pans and bottoms of large bottles do most
of the damage.
If a chip does occur, save the piece. Most of the time it
can be epoxied back in.
Temperature Resistance
High and low temperatures will not harm granite in any
way.
You can take a pan off the stove or a dish out of the oven
and set it directly on the countertop without any damage.
If you have a seam in your granite, it is best to avoid
setting hot materials on top of it. The seam epoxy can be
melted if exposed to heat for an extended period of time.
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Granite Colors
The colors below are a
sampling of colors.
Click on the links here to
go to our other granite pages:
Page 1
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