Granite:

Care & Maintenance of your Granite Countertops:

The easiest way to keep your stone looking great is to avoid bad habits that may damage it. Granite, marble, travertine, limestone, soapstone, quartz and solid surface are similar in many ways, but their differences require varying degrees of maintenance.

If you utilize the granite care and cleaning procedures that follow for all your countertops, no matter what type of stone or surface, you'll eliminate most potential problems without ever having to think too hard about it or worry that you may be causing damage. Follow these simple Do's and Don'ts and you will keep your investment care-free for many many years to come.

Do: Blot up spills immediately. Acidic substances like wine, coffee, fruit juices, tomato sauce and sodas will not etch granite like they do marble, but they could potentially stain the surface. Cooking oils may also leave a stain if not wiped up.

Do: Clean surfaces using a sponge or soft cloth. Using a specially formulated stone cleaner like Stone PLUS is recommended to keep your tops in the best condition and protect the sealer, but hot water will do for quick clean-ups. Dish soap won't hurt your granite, but repeated or excessive use of soap will cause build-up and dull your countertop's shine.

Do: Use coasters under all glasses, bottles and cans. Again, granite won't etch and using coasters on dense and/or properly sealed granite is not an absolute necessity like with marble, but using coasters is just a good practice to protect all surfaces.

Do: Use trivets and hot pads under pots, pans and dinnerware. Yes, you can take a hot pot off the stove and put it right on granite, quartz or soapstone without any problems. Not true for all other surfaces. But you must consider other issues as well. Grit that gets trapped between the pot and the countertop surface may scratch the surface--even granite. Granite is very hard and can take tons of abuse without any damage, but it does contain some softer minerals that could be chipped or scratched. The likelihood is pretty slim, but it is possible. And ALL other surfaces are softer that granite. Better safe than sorry. If it does happen, don't fret too much. Most chips and scratches can be easily repaired, but it's best to avoid them by following the granite counter top care tips. Also, once you remove the hot pan from the countertop the surface will be very hot and may burn.

Do: Use cutting boards. Again, avoid the possibility of scratching the surface and protect your knives. Cutting on stone will dull and damage your knives' edges quickly.

Do: Dust mop your natural stone floors regularly. Use a clean, dry, non-treated dust-mop. Some people choose to use a vacuum cleaner. But be real careful. Worn parts or grit jammed by the wheels may scratch the surface.

Do: Use door mats inside and out along with runners and area rugs. Grit, dirt and sand carried in by our shoes are abrasive and will wear and scratch the surface. Clean the rugs regularly.

Don't: Use generic cleaning products such as bleach, glass cleaners or degreasers. These products that you buy at your local store contain acids, alkalis and other chemicals that can etch marble and degrade the granite sealer leaving the stone more vulnerable to staining. Trying to save money by using these chemicals only ensures that you'll spend a lot more time and money on you granite counter top care in the long-run. Ask us for recommended products.

Don't: Use vinegar, ammonia, lemon or orange as cleaners.

Don't: Use bathroom, tub & tile or grout cleaners. The powders and even the "soft" creams contain abrasives that will scratch and dull surfaces.

Don't: Sit or stand on your countertops. Unlike laminate countertops, granite, marble and quartz countertops are very hard, but not flexible and they DO NOT have a plywood backing so too much weight in one spot could cause a crack.

Don't: Place toiletry products directly on your countertop surface. Hair products, perfumes, colognes, nail products, creams, lotions and potions may stain granite or etch the polish (on marble) leaving a ring. Protect your countertop by placing these products on a decorative tray like they do in fancy hotels!

CaesarStone:

Care & Maintenance of your CaesarStone Countertops:

Its hard, nonporous surface makes CaesarStone simple to clean. In most cases, soap and water or a mild detergent is all that is required to maintain its luster. If necessary, a non-abrasive cleanser such as Soft Scrub Liquid Gel with Bleach or Comet Soft Cleanser Cream With Bleach can be used. Adhered materials like food, gum or nail polish can be scraped away with a plastic putty knife; any marks left by the blade can be removed with Soft Scrub Liquid Gel. Thoroughly rinse the surface with clean water to remove residue. Please understand that HONED, TEXTURED and MOTIVO finishes will require more daily maintenance than our polished finishes. Since there is more exposed surface area with honed finishes, metal marks, finger prints and other signs of daily living will show on honed material. Most of these marks can be easily removed with little effort and non-abrasive cleaning products such as Soft Scrub Liquid Gel. CaesarStone prides itself in providing our customers a virtually care-free surface, but as with any product, excessive abuse can harm its finish. With a small amount of care, your CaesarStone surface will look as great as the day you bought it for years to come.

Frequently Asked Questions about your CaesarStone Countertops:

How do I maintain CaesarStone's natural beauty?
Simply wipe with warm water and soap, using a damp cloth or paper towel, and then rinse. There is no need to worry about grease, grime, hair spray, or messy makeup spills - Simply wipe it off! CaesarStone is easy to care for and naturally maintains its luster for many years to come. See Care and Maintenance for more information.

How should I remove stubborn or dried spills?
Use a damp, soft cloth with warm water and soap. If needed, apply common, non-abrasive, household cleaners such as Soft Scrub Liquid Gel with Bleach, Comet Gel. To avoid dulling the surface's shine, make sure to use a non-abrasive cleaner, and rinse off any cleaner with water. To remove adhered material such as food, gum, or nail polish, first scrape away the excess material with a plastic putty knife and then clean the surface with a damp cloth to remove any marks left behind and any residual dirt.

How durable is CaesarStone?
CaesarStone is resistant to cracks, scratches and stains. However, like most materials, excessive force and/or pressure from objects can damage the surface. CaesarStone is resistant to most stains caused by fruit juices, liquid food coloring, coffee, tea, wine, grapes and soft drinks. CaesarStone's non-porous nature provides maximum resistance to staining and fully eliminates the need for any sealing. The non-porous quality of the surface also greatly reduces the potential for bacterial growth.

Do I need to apply a sealer to CaesarStone?
No. CaesarStone is a non-porous surface, so you will never have to apply sealer to any CaesarStone surface. Can I cut on my CaesarStone countertop? CaesarStone is composed 93% natural quartz, providing it with superior strength and beauty. Although your fine cutlery will not harm CaesarStone, using a cutting board is recommended to prevent dulling the surface.

How do I maintain the polish on my CaesarStone countertop?
Polished: Due to its high density and non-porous qualities, normal cleaning with a damp cloth will keep your CaesarStone surface looking like the first day it was installed. To avoid dulling the surface's shine, make sure to use a non-abrasive cleaner, and thoroughly rinse off with water after use. Honed: Please understand that HONED, TEXTURED and MOTIVO finishes will require more daily maintenance than our polished finishes. Since there is more exposed surface area with honed finishes, metal marks, finger prints and other signs of daily living will show on honed material. Most of these marks can be easily removed with little effort and non-abrasive cleaning products such as Soft Scrub Liquid Gel.

How does CaesarStone withstand heat?
CaesarStone is structurally more heat resistant in comparison to other stones, including granite. However, any stone material can potentially be damaged by sudden and rapid temperature changes, especially near the edges. Therefore, using inexpensive and readily available hot pads or trivets is always recommended, especially when using cooking units such as electric frying pans, crock pots, or roaster ovens.

Are there any chemicals or cleaners to avoid using?
Avoid exposing CaesarStone to chemicals with high alkaline or PH level, such as oven grill cleaners, floor strippers, toilet bowl cleaners, oil soaps, tarnish removers, furniture cleaners and drain products.

Is caring for my CaesarStone surface really this easy?
CaesarStone's care-free maintenance and everlasting benefits and performance allows more time for the things that matter most to you. Whether you selected CaesarStone to be your surface of choice for food preparation or to simply beautify your home, you can enjoy the peace of mind knowing that CaesarStone is completely worry and care-free.

Does CaesarStone offer a warranty?
Yes, as of February 15, 2008 CaesarStone has offered a Lifetime Warranty for all residential purchases. Please contact us to register your CaesarStone purchase.

Can CaesarStone be used outdoors?
While some customers have opted to install CaesarStone in outdoor applications - this use is not covered by our Lifetime Warranty. CaesarStone has not been tested in prolonged UV ray exposure settings.

Does CaesarStone have any other colors with recycled content?
Yes, CaesarStone offers four different recycled colors. Both our Quartz Reflections and Ruby Reflections colors are made with up to 35% post-consumer recycled glass. Our new Chocolate Truffle and Smoky Ash colors are made with up to 17% post-consumer recycled glass.

CaesarStone Warranty:

U.S. Quartz Products, Inc. will warrant from the original date of installation material that fails due to any manufacturing defect when fabricated and installed by a CaesarStone Certified Fabricator. This warranty applies to the repair or replacement of failed material that has been permanently installed in your residence. The option to repair or replace the material is at the sole discretion of U.S. Quartz Products, Inc.

This Residential Lifetime Warranty is available only to the original owner of a single family residence in which CaesarStone has been originally installed. In the case of a newly constructed single-family residence, this warranty is available to the "first" owner purchasing the residence with CaesarStone permanently installed and is transferable according to the terms and conditions stated in the warranty. Click Here for a pdf of the entire warranty. You must have Acrobat Reader to view this file.