Caring for your Stone Countertops
- Helpful Tips & Recommended Products
- Zodiaq Care & Maintenance
- Cambria Care & Maintenance
Cleaning:
Clean the countertop daily with a soft white cloth and a neutral cleaner or stone soap that is recommended for natural stone. Always read the label. Acidic cleaners are not recommended on stone - and do not use vinegar to clean natural stone, as it can actually etch the surface.
Erin’s marble sells and recommends products from the Grand Quarts line. We offer a product called "Stone Care Plus" that will keep fingerprinting to a minimum that our customers with dark colors love. This product should not be used on honed stone.
Sealer (1-2 times/year):
Sealer does not change the sheen of the stone - it is meant to soak into the stone as an added protection against staining. Erin’s Marble And Granite seals your counter tops prior to or during installation, but we recommend that you re-seal them 1-2 times per year. Sealers for marble and limestone are different than those for granite, so be sure to check the label for compatibility - and be sure to pay careful attention to the product's instructions. Erin’s Marble and Granite is happy to specify the correct sealer for your needs - which is available for purchase at Erin’s marble And Granite (pick-up or by mail) and at most home centers.
Please contact Erin’s marble for stains that you are unable to remove, or for current pricing on service call appointments. Appointments may also be arranged on an annual basis for stone maintenance, including re-sealing, caulking, chip repair, etc. Don't forget to contact us for the full line of products for the ultimate in care and protection of your stone, or whenever you have a question or concern about the care of your granite countertops. We will be happy to send you the products you need if you are unable to pick them up yourself.
Helpful Tips to follow:
We suggest that you avoid placing extreme weight on unsupported areas of your countertops. For example, climbing on an overhang to change a light bulb would be strongly discouraged. Never stand on a sink cutout, as it may collapse under the weight.
Granite is a substance that quickly absorbs heat and distributes it. We recommend that extremely hot pans not be placed on or near small granite strips (up to 8") due to the fact that there is not enough material to distribute the heat. When placing hot pans on the countertop, you will want to avoid coming in contact with the exposed area due to the extreme heat being transferred from the pan to the granite.
Spills should be blotted with a clean paper towel. If the stain soaks into the granite, a poultice may need to be app
Caring for your Stone Countertops
Stone Care Plus 3-in-1 Stone Countertop Cleaner/Polisher/Protector (16 oz. bottle)
A great cleaner/polisher/protector that resists water spots stains and offers no buildup. It can also be used on brass, stainless steel and chrome.
413S - Professional Impregnator (1 liter bottle)
Offers the ultimate in long-term stain protection on all stone surfaces and is exceptionally effective on polished granite surfaces. It is silicone based and leaves the stone looking completely natural and is UV resistant.
353P - Porous Stone Impregnator (1 liter bottle)
Offers maximum protection from water borne stains. It is specifically formulated for honed and textured stone. This product allows the stone to breathe naturally, offers a natural appearance, cures quickly and needs no special equipment to apply.
314P - Premium Impregnator (1 liter bottle)
A highly effective silicone impregnator designed for the Stone Professional. It is suitable for use on all natural stones regardless of finish types. It is fast and easy to apply, cures quickly and offers the ultimate in long term stain protection on all stone surfaces. It leaves the stone looking natural and is UV resistant.
114D - Disinfecting Towelettes
This product is a disposable towelette that is for use on natural stone. It can be used as a general disinfectant wipe on hard, inanimate surfaces such as toilets, basins, tubs, countertops, etc.
DuPont Zodiaq® quartz surfaces are very easy to maintain. The quartz used in Zodiaq® - coupled with high-performance, stain-resistant polymers - results in a durable, nonporous, chemical-resistant surface. Zodiaq® is also heat- and scratch-resistant, but not heat- and scratch-proof. Therefore, the use of trivets or hot pads are recommended with hot pots and a cutting board is recommended when using a knife.
Of course, Zodiaq® keeps its lustrous gloss and ultra-smooth surface without polishing. Because it is nonporous, Zodiaq® does not require sealants or waxes.
Zodiaq® also gives you peace of mind. In the unlikely event that you do experience any problems due to a manufacturer's defect, you can rest assured that DuPont backs Zodiaq® with a 10-year limited warranty.
Routine Care
With simple care, Zodiaq® will retain its radiant, lustrous appearance for many years. For routine cleaning, use a damp cloth or paper towel and, if necessary, a small amount of non-bleach, nonabrasive cleanser.
Even though Zodiaq® resists permanent staining when exposed to liquids (such as wine, vinegar, tea, lemon juice and soda) or fruits and vegetables, wipe up food and liquid spills as soon as possible.
For stubborn or dried spills, use a nonabrasive cleaning pad such as a white 3M Scotch-Brite®* scrub pad coupled with Formula 409® Glass & Surface Cleaner** or a comparable cleaning product.
Avoid using cleansers that contain bleach. Always follow the cleaner manufacturer's use instructions and exercise proper care when handling and storing any cleaning products.
* Scotch-Brite® is a registered trademark of the 3M Company.
**Formula 409® Glass & Surface Cleaner is a registered trademark of the Clorox Company.
Preventing Heat and Other Damage
Zodiaq® can withstand exposure to normal cooking temperatures from pots, pans and dishes without being damaged. To maintain the beauty of Zodiaq®, do not place hot skillets or roasting pans directly onto the surface. DuPont recommends the use of trivets and hot pads.
Removing Difficult Spills
Sometimes spills occur and dry on the countertop. For materials that harden as they dry (such as gum, food, grease, nail polish or paint), remove by gently scraping away the excess with a plastic putty knife.
Permanent markers and inks may adhere to the surface and should be avoided. Should these agents come into contact with the surface, clean first as outlined in Routine Care. If the stain persists, moisten a cloth with Goo Gone®**, or a comparable product and rub it into the stain. Rinse thoroughly with warm water to remove any cleaner residue.
When grease from cooking is an issue, use Greased Lightning™** or a comparable degreasing product to help loosen and remove the grease from the surface. Use the manufacturer’s instructions for applying and removing the cleaner.
Avoid exposing Zodiaq® quartz surfaces to strong chemicals and solvents, especially paint removers or furniture strippers containing trichlorethane or methylene chloride. Keep nail polish remover, bleach, bluing, permanent markers or inks, and oil soaps away from Zodiaq®.
While casual exposure to alkaline materials will not damage Zodiaq®, highly alkaline (high-pH) cleansers are not recommended when cleaning Zodiaq®.
If any of the substances listed above come into Zodiaq®, rinse the exposed surface immediately and thoroughly with water.
**Greased Lightning™ is available through major department, grocery, and hardware stores.
For more information, visit www.greased-lightning.com.
Here you can find some information about natural stone care
Maintaining Cambria is easy. Simply wash with a soft cotton cloth and warm water, use a mild soap if desired. DO NOT use abrasive or strong alkaline or acid (high or low pH) cleaners. DO NOT use or expose Cambria to bleach, oven cleaners, Comet®, Soft Scrub®, SOS®, products with pumice, batteries, paint removers, furniture strippers, tarnish or silver cleaners. DO NOT use abrasive or harsh scrub pads. DO NOT apply any sealers, penetrants or topical treatments to Cambria under any circumstances. Such products will wear off and cause the gloss to appear dull or inconsistent. Contact Cambria for further information by calling 1-866-Cambria or visiting website at www.CambriaUSA.com.
PRODUCT INFORMATION:
1. Cambria is pure natural quartz. Variation in the natural stone (quartz) color, pattern, size, shape and shade are inherent and unique characteristics to be expected with this product. This does not affect the product performance in any manner.
2. Color blotches are intended and designed into many colors to enhance the natural beauty. Samples are small select cuts from a slab; they do not exhibit all the characteristics of a color and therefore are not fully representative of what will be installed. Product will not be replaced due to these variations.
3. Cambria is durable and more resistant to surface damage than other stone. However, all stone can be damaged by force and no stone is chip-proof. Objects hitting edges particularly at sinks or dishwashers may cause chips. Though a minor knife slip will dull the knife and not harm Cambria, no stone surface is scratch-proof. Surface markings are more visible on monotone colors than multi-colored surfaces.
4. Cambria is not a seamless product, seams are visible. Where there are seams the product pattern and shade can change.
5. Natural stone surfaces can be damaged by sudden and/or rapid change of temperature especially near the edges, as well as direct and/or sustained heating of the top. Cambria may not withstand the direct transfer of heat from pots and pans and other cooking units such as electric frying pans and griddles, and some crockpots or roaster ovens and heat lamps. Therefore, the use of a hot pad or trivet is always recommended to prevent heating the top.
6. Cambria is not a structural support material. 2-cm and 3-cm Cambria thicknesses are for countertops and must be supported. 1-cm thicknesses are for surface finishes such as walls, tub and shower surrounds and fireplaces; horizontal applications such as a tub deck must be completely supported as well.
7. Semi-polished or Honed finishes (1-cm) will not shine.
8. Cambria installation is optimized when walls and cabinets are properly prepared for installation. This includes but is not limited to structurally sound, straight, level and square walls and cabinets, lack of which may cause poor installation and poor seam fit, or inconsistent countertop overhang and placement.
9. Cambria installation does not include qualification of any sink or stove cutouts (any cutouts), faucet hole locations or cabinet sizes. Cambria IS NOT responsible for verifying if sinks, stove or other cutout appliances, cabinets and faucet hole locations fit together well, or at all. This is the responsibility of the owner, general contractor, or the like. Cambria will fabricate cutouts per supplied model/template
information. Cambria IS NOT responsible for the accuracy of the information provided.
10. Cambria installation does not include any plumbing or electrical work.