As most slabs are only available up to 3000mm x 1800mm due to quarrying limitations there will need to be joins in any stone tops. This may be due to a change in direction of the cabinets in a corner or a long run greater than three metres. Although the join will be bonded with a strong colour co-ordinated resin, the join will still be noticeable, especially on the more patterned materials. The line of resin will normally appear to be approximately 2mm in width, although in practice the gap between the stones is not as wide but because the sharp edges of the stone are removed the width of the join becomes exaggerated.

Yes it can, but with due care and attention they can be mostly avoided. Granite is certainly the hardest and therefore most scratch resistant of all natural stones. Engineered Quartz is almost as hard as granite but Marble, Limestone and Slate scratches much more easily. Granite and Engineered Quartz will tolerate soft fruit and vegetables being cut with a very sharp knife directly onto the stone surface. The key words “soft” and “sharp”, very little force is required during the cutting process. The other extreme would be to try and cut a frozen loaf of bread taken straight out of the freezer, then proceed to cut it with a serrated bread knife, any material will suffer surface damage under these conditions. A good quality chopping board is an essential item when preventing scratches on any other surface.

The least obvious cause of scratches on stone surfaces is, fresh home produced garden vegetables! How come? Home grown vegetables are naturally covered in soil, unlike supermarket produce which has been thoroughly pre-washed. The process of washing vegetables from the garden will certainly spread soil and water across the work surface some distance around the sink area. Should a heavy pan sitting on the work surface be required closer to hand and in the process be dragged across the work surface, the water and grit within the soil are not the most efficient lubricants and the trapped grit will scratch the worktop.

As a natural material comprising of minerals varying in size, distribution and colour it is occasionally noticed that the highly polished surface can have small pitting and loss of polish in areas of the work surface. This is entirely normal and the durability or quality is not considered to be impaired in any way.

These small fissures or pits where present will be resin filled during the fabrication process. If at any time you are concerned or have found an area you are unhappy about please call us and we will happily address anything that is considered sub-standard or requiring attention to ensure your granite continues to provide ongoing satisfaction and peace of mind. All stone types can be chipped it can normally be repaired. A heavy cooking utensil falling from an overhead storage unit, as an example, could indeed cause on impact a chip or crack. Thankfully there are within the trade specialist repair products. When used professionally an almost invisible repair is often possible.

With the exception of the Engineered Quartz stone, all other stones are treated with a proprietary impregnator such a ‘Lithofin Stain Stop’. This treatment, which penetrates in to the stone and once applied is invisible and not like a varnish or other thick surface coating. This product makes the stone more resistant to staining caused by spillages however it is recommended any spilt liquids are wiped up as soon as possible and great care has to be taken with anything acidic, including things like fruit juices, vinegar or alcoholic drinks. Re-treatment is recommended every 3-5 years depending on the material and should there ever be any concerns please do not hesitate to contact us and we will be pleased to assist you. If you are unlucky and you find a stain or ring marks on your granite we are more often than not able to successfully remove the problem and re-treat the granite to help prevent future issues.

Care and maintenance of natural stone work surfaces.
There is no need for any specialist cleaning products for day to day cleaning, a wipe over with a damp cloth is quite sufficient. When a more thorough clean is required, “CIF” white cream applied with a “SPONTEX” non-scratch scourer will remove all but the most stubborn marks including lime scale.

This cleaning method is safe to use on Granite, Marble, Limestone and the Engineered Quartz stone. There may be a little more final wiping over of the surface with some of the darker coloured material’s, this is because the white residue from the “CIF” cream may leave dusty streaks. There is no need to apply any wax products, and certainly not on the matt and honed surfaces. Particular brand named products to avoid on natural stones are “CILLIT BANG” and lime scale removers such as “VIAKAL”. Depending on how hard the kitchen area is worked, the surfaces may need re-sealing more often than the recommended 3-5 years. “LITHOFIN” produce a range of sealing and cleaning products used universally within the stone trade.

Aftercare.
Should any client experience a problem after the installation of their new work-surfaces you can rest assured that you can rely and trust us to put things right. Even minor accidental damage can be taken care of in most instances. Please be aware that joins can sometimes open up and this is usually due to floor settlement or shrinkage of the natural wood used through the kitchen design. Once again we will happily return at a mutually arranged date to instigate a repair so please do not hesitate to call.