Maintenance / Care

GRANITE

Granite is an important structural and decorative stone. It is the hardest structural stone. Granite’s rich colours, stiffness and density, make it an ideal choice for flooring, counter tops, vanities as well as exterior applications. Many stylish patterns and colors make granite the most versatile and trendy of all stones. It is also a very low-maintenance stone. Granite is composed of quartz, feldspars, micas and other minerals. These minerals contribute to the color and texture of the granite stones. Granites get their wonderful variety of colors and patterns from minerals that are melted into the liquid mass as it is formed.

MARBLE

Marble has been valued for thousands of years for its rich palette of beautiful colors and appearance and is perfect, pretty much anywhere in the house. Marble stones consist of limestone that has undergone heat and pressure. A transformation process takes place when the weight of overlying material, pressure from crystal collisions and heat from the earth's core generate temperatures in excess of 1800ºF.Texture of marble depends on the form, size and uniformity of grains. The element components of marble determine the color of the stone. Generally calcite and dolomite marbles are of pure white color. They are not perfect. It is not uncommon for them to contain fissures, fractures, quartz concentrations, pin holes, pitting, open veining and even soil veining.

TRAVERTINE

Travertine is generally used for floors, walls, countertops and for outside as cladding and pavement. Travertine is generally filled with grout before it is honed or polished, which produces a uniform surface more like other marbles. Unfilled travertine is also quite beautiful, and is often seen as exterior surfaces of buildings. Travertine stones result from hot spring water penetrating up through underground limestone. When the water evaporates, it leaves behind layers of dissolved limestone and other minerals, giving it its banded appearance. Travertine stones are generally light-colored beiges and tans.

LIMESTONE

The soft limestone stones are ideal for today's more casual and comfortable environments. Generally these soft beiges and tans are suitable for bathrooms, fireplaces, counters and floors. Limestone is a sedimentary rock that is formed at the bottom of lakes and seas, as organic matters settle to the bottom.

SLATE

Slate is formed of compressed layers of sediments formed under ocean. Since it is formed in layers, it can easily be split to expose beautifully textured surfaces. The usual colors of slates are earthy browns, beiges, yellows, black, dark-grays, and greenish-gray, pinks, purples and copper are also found. They usually exhibit lot of variations even in the same quarry. Slates are used for flooring, cladding and landscaping.

SANDSTONE

Sandstone consists of sand covered by silica, iron and lime. Cementing material determines the color of sandstone, iron sandstones are reddish, brownish, black, carbonaceous, siliceous, white and argillaceous, earthy to buff. The hardness of sandstones is important in deciding suitability for applications for sandstone.

QUARTZITE

Quartzite stones are the same with slates, but with higher content of quartz in them, which gives a bright texture. Like slates, quartzite is used for various applications depending on their hardness.

RECONSTITUTED STONE

Reconstituted stones (Caesarstone, Quantum Quartz, YDL Stone) are solid surfaces contain generally Quartz and silicate minerals that are resistant to acids, alkalis, chemicals and solvents. Materials are combine with specialized polyester resin. Highly impervious, heat, scratch, chip and stain resistant, resistant to mildew, mold and immune to freezing and thawing. Reconstituted stone is used indoor for kitchens, vanities and splash backs, staircases, wall and floor paneling, in bathrooms and not suitable for external use.

 

CARE & MAINTENANCE OF MARBLE

• Stone must be sealed every 3 to 6 months .We recommend to use Sealer Lithofin, Akemi and Tenax “Hydrex”
• Do not use harsh acids, scourers, abrasive products or drag heavy sharp objects over the top.
• Do not leave any spills unclean as if left for a few hours this will cause the marble to stain. Sealing the marble does protect the stone but if a spill stays there for a while it will penetrate into the stone.
• Do not place hot items such as roasting trays or boiling pots directly from the oven or burner and onto the stone. Do not sit or stand on area of weakness such as front or rear of the sink and hot plate areas. This can crack the stone.
• After washing dishes with detergent be sure that around the sink has been wiped cleaned as the detergent could stain the marble.
• Showers to be sealed every 6 months, we recommend that showers are to be washed down after every use with warm water to rinse of any soap or shampoo that may have been left on the tiles.
• Clean stone with methylated spirits or warm water, we do not recommend to use anything else on the marble.
• Before use any Sealer read the instructions on the back of containers.
• You may use every six to twelve months liquid stone wax to marble, some travertine and limestones. The wax is applied one way whit a natural fiber cloth and need to rub in until there is no more wax residue remaining on the stone surface.

CARE & MAINTENANCE OF GRANITE

• Granite need to be sealed every 3-6 months. We recommend to use Sealer Lithofin, Akemi and Tenax “Hydrex”
• Gloves are recommended to use if have sensitive skin.
• Apply directly all over stone with clean cloth leave to dry for approximately five minutes then wipe off with clean dry cloth to remove any streaks. Sealer must be applied one way without cross over.
• Granite is, however a natural material so it is wise to avoid placing very cold or very hot things directly onto the work surface. Natural expansion and contraction of stone can lead to some cracking in the granite bench top.
• You may clean the stone with Methylated spirits and damp cloth.
• Oil, fat and butter can change the look of your granite- it will turn darker. This does not mean that your granite is damaged. Some granites are also more absorbent than others. Again, this is not a reflection of quality.
• After washing dishes with detergent be sure that around the sink has been wiped and cleaned, as the detergent could stain the granite.
• Granite is a stain resistant material but it is best to avoid leaving things that can stain like wine, orange juice or any rusted objects.
• All bench tops are treated with a Hydro repellent sealer before installation. This is effective against oils etc. until it is corroded away by such things as citric acid or acetic acid (i.e. vinegar). These items will not damage the granite but will corrode the Hydro repellent, which lies in the pores of the stone; hence once corroded items such as oil will then permeate the surface of the stone.
• Whilst we give workmanship warranty we are not able to do so on material as it is Natural stone.

CARE & MAINTENANCE OF RECONSTITUTED STONE

• Reconstituted Stone Solid Surface is a non-porous material. Common spills stay on the surface and are easy to clean with regular cleaners leaving no trace of stain on the surface as tested per ASTM C-650. However, reconstituted stone is susceptible to nitric and hydrofluoric acids and hydroxides in high concentrations when exposure exceeds 24 hours. Stains caused by fruit juices, liquid food coloring, coffee, tea, wine, grapes, paints, nail polish and remover, automotive fluids, & permanent markers. If accidentally any of these is spilt on the tops, wipe of the stained area with any commonly available multi-purpose cleaner or household detergent like Gumption, Cream Jiff, ext. and then with ordinary water immediately. For more stubborn spills and stains, repeat the procedure several times and use a household scouring pad to remove the stain. It is possible that some of the stubborn stains may leave a light mark or very slight discoloration on the stone.
• The high gloss finish and extremely low moisture absorption of reconstituted stone solid surface fully eliminates the need for sealing. Its low absorbency greatly reduces the potential for bacterial growth.
• Reconstituted Stone solid surface is structurally more heat resistant than other natural stones, including granite. But sudden and rapid change of temperature, especially near the edges can damage the surface. We always recommend using a hot pad or trivet, especially when using cooking units such as electric fry pans, crock pots, or roaster ovens.
• The common kitchen implements including sharp knife could harm the reconstituted stone solid surface as they are made up of pure natural quartz. Quartz gives the superior strength and beauty. If accidentally food, chewing gum, nail polish, and paint are any other foreign matter found sticking to the top, simply scrape away with a sharp blade. The metal surface used in scraping the dirt may leave gray metal marks on the surface, and ordinary scouring pads can easily remove them. Wash and rinse the surface in the normal way with water.
• Reconstituted stone solid surface can be permanently damaged by constant exposure to strong chemicals and solvents. It is advisable not to use hydro fluoric acid, methylene chloride and also paint strippers.
• Reconstituted stone surfaces when exposed to direct sunlight may result in slight color changes, it is advisable to avoid direct sunlight over a prolonged period on the surface.
• Reconstituted stone is scratch, stain, brake resistant only not proof.