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Quartz is made from pure natural quartz, an extremely hard stone crystal mined directly from the earth. Quartz is the hardest non-precious stone that can be found in the earth’s surface.

Cleaning Routine
For Quartz with a polished finish, we recommend you use a mild household cleaner, such as 409®, Fantastik®, Lysol®, or Windex®. In case of stubborn spills or stains, soak the area for up to 10 minutes with one of the above cleaners.
Honed Quartz does show daily living more frequently and therefore requires more daily maintenance than Polished Quartz products. For your daily cleaning routine we recommend Countertop Magic™ follow instructions on bottle of cleaner.
 

  1. Does a Quartz surface require care and maintenance?
    No, a Quartz surface is incredibly maintenance-free because it is non-porous. Simply wipe up with warm water. Unlike granite, a Quartz surface will NEVER require regular sealing and there is no risk of staining.
  2. Is a Quartz surface resistant to surface damage?
    Quartz surfaces are structurally more resistant to surface damage than other stone. However, all stone can be damaged by excessive force or pressure.
  3. Are Quartz surfaces resistant to staining? Will Quartz stain?
    Quartz surfaces are extremely resistant to staining. Products as wide-ranging as fruit juices, liquid food coloring, coffee, tea, wine, soft drinks, nail polish/remover and felt-tip markers have been tested on Quartz surfaces-none of these materials left a stain. Its non-porous surface also greatly reduces the potential for bacterial growth from food absorbing in your countertop.
  4. Does a Quartz surface withstand heat? Can I put a hot pan or pot on it?
    A Quartz surface is as resistant to heat as any stone countertop available on the market. However, any natural stone surface can be damaged by sudden and rapid change of temperature, particularly near the edge of the surface. Like any natural stone surface, Quartz 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 crock-pots or roaster ovens and heat lamps. Therefore, the use of a hot pad or trivet is always recommended.
  5. Are Quartz surfaces safe for food preparation?
    Yes, Quartz surfaces are non-porous and have been certified by NSF International for food and splash zones in commercial kitchens. That is the same certification as stainless steel. There is no safer countertop for food preparation.

Quartz care Read More »

Cleaning Procedures:

Don’t use anything on the countertops that you would not use on your hands. Everyday cleaning of natural stone surface should be done with simple dishwashing soaps, rinse thoroughly with clean warm water and dry the countertop completely using a clean dry cloth.

Stonetek recommends a penetrating sealer that is either water or oil based and designed to be used on your specific natural stone. These products do not actually “seal” the stone and are more correctly referred to as a repellant rather than a sealer. There is a preference for the oil based due to its ability to penetrate deeper into the stone than the water based. There is no need to remove the old sealant when applying a new coat. Make certain that the sealer you select is water and oil repellant and not just “resistant.”

Spills/Removing

Oil based stains (cooking oil, cosmetics, grease, tar)
An oil based stain will darken the stone and normally must be chemically dissolved so the source of the stain can be flushed and rinsed away. Clean gently with a soft liquid
cleanser, household detergent, ammonia, mineral spirits or acetone.

Organic Stains (coffee, tea, fruit, tobacco, food)
May cause a pinkish-brown stain and may disappear after the source of the stain has been removed. Clean with 12% hydrogen peroxide and a few drops of ammonia.

Ink Stains (magic marker, pen, ink)
Clean light-colored stones with bleach or hydrogen peroxide. Clean darker stones with acetone or lacquer thinner.

Paint Stains
Small amounts can be removed with lacquer thinner or scraped off carefully with a razor blade. Heavy paint coverage should be removed with a commercial liquid paint stripper. DO NOT USE ACIDS OR FLAME TOOLS TO STRIP PAINT FROM STONE.

Natural Stone Care Read More »

With a bright blue pattern across a clean white crystal background. This Exotic Brazilian Quartzite makes for an incredible and long-lasting focus piece!

Generally, softer stones like Marble and Onyx can be easily scratched or stained, so for example, they would be more suited to a vanity top instead of a kitchen counter. Semi-Precious Stone and Agate countertops can be sensitive to extreme heat, due to the resin content holding the slabs together, although scratching is far from a concern. Quartzite and Granite are typically the most durable Natural Stones for a countertop.

Your countertop’s ability to handle heat, scratching, or other damage from heavy use is one of the most important things to consider before deciding on a material. To some, durability may be more of a priority than others, so it’s important to consider the unique properties and hardness of the stone you are working with. 

Contact us while supplies last.

Cristallo Extra Blue Quartzite -Exotic Quartzite Read More »