WARRANTY

Granite: 

One of the biggest fears people may have about natural stone is the maintenance that it requires. Natural stone comparatively involves the same level of care and maintenance as any other counter top or floor would. Just like any hardwood furniture or floor, some care is necessary. 

Granite is a coarse grained crystalline igneous rocks composed primarily of quartz and feldspar. It forms from slowly cooling magma (silicate melt) that is subjected to extreme pressures deep beneath the earth’s surface. With public awareness increasingly turning to the use of natural materials in the home granite has become the counter top of choice for today’s home owners.

Unlike laminates and solid-surface materials, a hot frying pan has no effect on granite’s mirror like finish. The diamond-like hardness of granite makes it virtually impervious to abrasions, stains, and extreme heat. Most importantly, by choosing a granite countertop you not only give your kitchen everlasting performance and beauty, you also increase the value of your home. 

The best care you can give your natural stone is preventative care. By following a few suggestions, your countertops will last a lifetime while maintaining a brand new appearance.

Quartz: 

Being a man made product, Quartz countertops are maintenance free. Only use a mild soap and water to clean the countertops. Do not use any harsh chemicals or acidic cleaners. We recommend Simple Green all purpose cleaner. 

Quartz is heat resistant but not heat proof. A trivet is recommended for hot pots out of oven. 

SEALING YOUR COUNTERTOPS
Engineered quartz DOES NOT need to be sealed. Sealing a quartz countertop can void the manufacturer warranty. However, all natural stone products such as granite or marble DO need to be sealed to prevent liquids from seeping in. Generally, lighter colors need to be sealed more frequently than darker ones. We typically advise you reseal your countertops once per year. RSS will seal your countertops at time of installation.

CLEANING UP SPILLS
Quartz is stain resistant - NOT stain proof. 

The same can be said for sealed Granite or Marble. 

All spills on your countertops should be cleaned up immediately. Substances like cooking oils (especially hot), wine, coffee, fruit juices, sodas, tomato sauce or anything acidic in nature are prone to staining or etching quickly, even penetrating through sealer. Marble surfaces are particularly prone to this effect. Any liquids left to sit on your countertops will eventually soak in, and can be very difficult, if not impossible to remove. 

WHAT TO USE TO CLEAN
For everyday cleaning, use a microfiber cloth with hot water. You can use mild soap if necessary, though be sure to dry afterwards to avoid leaving a residue from the soap. Gentle cleansers like Simple Green or Method Daily Granite are suitable for regular cleaning for both Quartz and Granite as well. If you acquire metal marks from kitchen tools or pots – you can use a white latex (pencil) eraser and apply light pressure, then simply wipe clean with hot water.
 

AVOID:

• Generic cleaners such as vinegar, ammonia, bleach, glass cleaners, de-greasers, etc. - they contain acids, alkalis and other chemicals that can degrade the stone and can permanently etch, stain or even dull the surface. If you happen to spill one of these on your counters, clean it up immediately with clean water.
• Bathroom, tub & tile or grout cleaners - the powders and even the "soft" creams contain abrasives that will scratch and dull surfaces.
• Anything that contains Trichlorethane or Methylene Chloride
• Acetone
• Mr Clean pads, magic erasers
• steel wool

GENERAL MAINTENANCE

• Use trivets or hot pads.  -Quartz is heat resistant but NOT heat proof - visible damage can occur if not protected. Be mindful of placing hot pots & pans or heat generating appliances like crock-pots or indoor grills directly onto the stone.  -Granite is more suited to deal with high temperatures, but we still advise to take the same precautions as you would with Quartz to ensure the longevity of your stone.
• Use coasters – it is common to put a coffee cup down and forget about it, only to realize later on you now have a ring underneath the cup which may not be removable. - Use cutting boards. Cutting on stone will likely cause permanent damage and also dull and damage your knives quickly. 

AVOID:

• Sitting or standing on your countertops. Granite, Marble and Quartz are all very hard products, but unlike laminate, they are NOT flexible and do not have a plywood backing to add extra support. Too much weight in one spot could cause your counters to crack or break.
• Storing toiletry products directly on your countertop surface. Hair products, perfumes, colognes, nail products, creams, lotions and oils have a tendency to spill or leak and often go unobserved for days and even weeks. Even when sealed, substances that remain on the surface for an extended period will likely stain your counters. It's safest to store these products on a shelf or decorative tray. 

ROCKWELL STONE SURFACES ALSO SUPPLIES: - DuPont StoneTech Revitalizer Cleaner and Protector which can be used for regular cleaning of all natural stone counters & surfaces and doubles as a mild sealer. It is advised if you use this product to use about once a week. Use of this product in between a yearly full reseal will give your natural stone maximum protection. - DuPont StoneTech Professional BulletProof Sealer is suitable for your yearly reseal. Please contact our office for pricing