Use & Care

How to are for Your Countertops & Surfaces

General Care

  • Never place hot pans directly from the burner or oven on a solid surface countertop. While solid surface can withstand sustained temperatures up to 225°F, prolonged or extreme heat could cause yellowing.
  • Always use a trivet under heated appliances, such as crock-pots, electric frying pans, etc.
  • Strong acids – like those found in drain, toilet bowl, and oven cleaners – should be used cautiously around solid surfaces. If any of these items come in contact with a solid surface countertop, wipe them up at once. Some of these items, when left on the surface, may cause whitening, which can be difficult to remove.
 

Cleaning

  • Solid surface countertops are nonporous, so everyday cleaning only requires a damp cloth and a mild cleanser.
  • If you’ve chosen a matte finish, feel free to use an abrasive cleaner like Ajax or Comet. However, if you do use an abrasive cleaner, we recommend periodically cleaning the entire surface in a circular motion to maintain uniformity.
  • Some tough spills and stains, such as food dye, tea, and fruit drinks, may require more aggressive cleaning. These common stains can be removed with full-strength bleach, followed by a general cleanser. Bleach should only come in contact with the surface for 2-5 minutes (be sure to rinse your surface with clean water afterwards). On a matte finish, bleach can be avoided by scrubbing with an abrasive cleaner.
  • While solid surface will not burn, if a lit cigarette touches your solid surface countertop, it could leave a nicotine stain or scorch mark. These can be removed by using an abrasive cleaner or buffing in a circular motion with a Scotch-Brite pad.
 

Repairing Scratches

  • For removing superficial scratches, rub in a circular motion with a wet Scotch-Brite hand pad #7448 until the scratches are removed. Clean thoroughly with soap and water, then let dry.
  • Deep scratches can be removed by carefully and lightly sanding with 120-grit sandpaper followed by 220-grit and 320-grit sandpaper. After sanding, rub the surface with a wet Scotch-Brite hand pad #7448 in a circular motion to restore the finish. Once the surface is dry, apply a non-wax polish cleaner or other recommended surface dressing for added protection or more luster. Wipe with a clean, dry cloth. Wipe dry using another clean cloth.
 

Severe Damage

  • Should your solid surface countertop sustain a deep gouge, fracture, crack, or any other severe damage, contact us, and a professional countertop fabricator will repair the surface to its original state.

General Care

  • Quartz countertops may not withstand the direct and sudden transfer of heat from pots, pans, and other cooking units and heated items. Use a hot pad or trivet underneath these items to prevent damaging your quartz countertop or surface.
  • Whether high, neutral, or low pH, do not expose quartz to abrasive or strong alkaline, acid, or oxidizer cleaner. Avoid abrasive or strong free radicals. Various chemicals are corrosive and/or erosive in their ability to attack any structure, including quartz. Be very aware of these potential damages to your surface.
  • Where there are visible seams in the quartz surface, the product pattern and shade can change.
  • Avoid hitting surfaces with force, as the quartz may chip or crack.
 

Cleaning

  • Do not use or expose quartz countertops to such products including, but not limited to the following: bleach, oven cleaners, Comet, Soft Scrub, SOS, products with pumice, batteries, paint removers, furniture strippers, tarnish, silver cleaners, or similar products.
  • Do not use abrasive or harsh scrub pads.
  • Do not apply any sealers, penetrants, or topical treatments to quartz under any circumstances. These products will wear off and cause the gloss to appear dull or inconsistent.
  • Semi-polished finishes (1cm) will not shine and will soil the countertops. They will appear stained from soiling.
 

General Installation

  • Quartz is not a structural support product. Quartz surfaces with 2cm and 3cm thicknesses are for countertops and must be supported. Quartz with 1cm thickness is for surface finishes such as walls, tub and shower surrounds, and fireplaces. In addition, horizontal applications (such as a tub deck) must be completely supported.
  • Quartz 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 preparation may cause poor installation, poor seam fit, inconsistent countertop, inconsistent overhang, and inconsistent placement.
  • Disclaimer: Quartz installation does not include qualification of any sink or stove cutouts (any cutouts), faucet hole locations, or cabinet sizes. We are not responsible for verifying if the sink, stove, cutout appliances, cabinets, and faucet hole locations fit together well (or at all). This is the responsibility of the owner and/or general contractor. We will fabricate cutouts per supplied model/template information. We are not responsible for the accuracy of the information provided.