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Care and Maintenance
Stone is easy to look after and easy to ruin, and the difference is usually one bottle under the sink.
Daily cleaning
Keeping the surface free of dirt and grease is most of the job. Clean the countertop with warm water and a few drops of dish soap or an antibacterial detergent, using a soft cloth. Rinse with clean water and dry it with a second cloth.
That is it. There is no product you need to buy for this part, and most of the specialty sprays sold for stone are doing the same thing at ten times the price.
Deep cleaning
For a bigger mess or a weekly clean, use a pH neutral cleaner made for stone. Never use bleach, vinegar or anything containing ammonia. Those will break down the surface over time, and once the polish is gone it does not come back with more scrubbing.
Sealing
Granite and other natural stone should be sealed about every six months. Sealing keeps oil, wine and bacteria from settling into the pores, and it is a ten minute job with a bottle from any hardware store.
Quartz does not need sealing at any point. It is non porous from the factory.
The water test tells you when it is time: put a few drops on the surface, wait fifteen minutes, and see whether the stone darkens underneath. Darkening means the sealer has worn thin.
Preventing stains and damage
- Keep paint removers, oven cleaners and strong solvents off the surface entirely.
- Use a cutting board. The stone will win against the knife.
- Granite handles heat well past what a home oven produces. Quartz does not, so use a trivet on quartz for anything straight off the burner.
- Use a trivet under glass and Pyrex on any material. Thermal shock cracks the dish.
- Wipe up wine, oil, coffee and anything acidic rather than leaving it overnight.
By material
| Material | Sealing | Heat | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Granite | Every 6 months | Excellent | Oil and wine if the sealer is worn |
| Quartz | Never | Use a trivet | Hot pans, and direct sun outdoors |
| Quartzite | Every 6 months | Very good | Same as granite |
| Marble | Every 6 months | Good | Anything acidic: lemon, wine, tomato |
| Porcelain | Never | Excellent | Impact on an unsupported edge |
| Soapstone | Mineral oil, optional | Excellent | Scratches, which are part of the patina |
Your warranty
Every install carries a 1 year workmanship warranty from us. The stone itself is covered separately by the manufacturer, and the terms depend on the material you chose. If something does not look right, call the shop at (407) 305-4072 and we will come look at it.
Questions
Care questions
What should I clean my countertop with every day?
Warm water and a few drops of dish soap on a soft cloth. Rinse with clean water and dry it. That is genuinely the whole routine for daily cleaning, on any of these materials.
What should I never use on stone?
Bleach, vinegar, ammonia, oven cleaner and paint remover. They will dull and eventually ruin the surface, and the damage is not something we can polish out later. Skip anything that advertises itself as a heavy duty degreaser too.
How often does granite need to be sealed?
About every six months. Test it first: put a few drops of water on the surface and wait fifteen minutes. If the stone darkens where the water sat, it is ready for sealer. If it beads, wait longer.
Does quartz need sealing?
No. Engineered quartz is non porous from the factory and never needs to be sealed.
There is a dark ring under the sealer after a cold drink. Is it stained?
Almost always no. That ring is condensation sitting under the sealer and it wipes away as the surface dries. Give it a few hours before you worry about it.
Can I cut directly on the countertop?
Please do not. Not because you will hurt the stone, but because the stone will destroy your knives. Use a cutting board.
Free estimate
Tell us about your project
We measure on site at no charge. For simple jobs we can quote from photos and measurements, so you do not have to wait for a visit.
