One of the biggest fears people have about natural stone, the granite maintenance is required. With the public increasingly on the use of natural materials in the home, has become the granite countertop of choice for today’s homeowner. Synthetic mineral materials are no problem for the richness, the depth and the incredible power of real granite. Unlike laminates and solid surface materials, a hot pot or pan has no effect on granite is mirror-like surface.
The diamond-like hardness of granite makes it virtually impervious to wear, dirt and heat. (It should be noted that granite will not endure thermal stress, such as fireplaces, where the stone expands and contracts in a very short time. The seams are, however, to prevent cracks.) Most importantly, give by choosing a granite worktop not only you increase your kitchen eternal power and beauty, but also the value of your home.
You will notice the care of natural stone is easy. Hot water, mild detergent and soft clean cloth are usually all that is required to get your granite countertop surface. The best care you can give your natural stone, is prevention. Last a lifetime with a few suggestions, your countertops while
Maintaining a brand new look.
Basic Cleaning and Maintenance
Avoid detergents with any kind of acid or abrasives; they can cause de-staining or scratching.
Do not stand, kneel or sit on the countertops as they might split or break.
Ask. No hot pots or other objects directly on your countertops This can cause discoloration (especially in dark granite) and / or cracks. Always use a protective barrier between each hot object and granite as translators or mat.
Granite countertops are surprisingly resistant to stains such as citric acid, coffee, tea, alcohol or wine, and virtually impossible to scratch. However, as a precautionary measure, wipe up any spills on the worktop within a reasonable amount of time and do not let liquid sitting on the counter overnight. It is important to note that granite is particularly susceptible to staining from oil. Be sure to place any pots or pans with oil marks on the floor on the countertop surface. Blot spills oil and acid as they occur, and clean with mild soap and warm water to harm, to avoid your countertops.
If the oil stains remain, there is a special cleaning process for removing deep-seated, time-set dirt and grime. A general envelope with baby or baking soda and water is the best remedy. First, moisten the surface of granite with the same liquid, paste the. Then the envelope paste on the granite surface over ½ “thick. Tape plastic sheeting over the envelope area, and let it sit for 48 hours. Remove the envelope with a spatula, rinse the cleaned area with clean water, wipe off the excess water, and allow the surface to dry.
Granite tends to win lather. Rinse with hot pure water on a regular basis and with a paper towel to dry. Another way to build to remove lime, soap scum, stains or dried leaks is to use a straight razor in a gentle scraping motion. Do not use any descaling products or detergents containing ammonia, as this will affect the seal on the stone.
For stubborn stains, you can also dry steel wool class 00 or a non-abrasive scotch-brite pad to try to remove it.
Avoid chips
Chips of granite are not a common occurrence. If they occur, chips are usually caused by hammering something in the edge of the worktop. Be careful if you. Heavy pots and pans grip on the granite profiles, these particularly vulnerable to chipping cause as If a chip occurs and the piece, find out lined, stick to it. Most of the time they can be glued into place again.
sealers
If you’re wondering whether to seal your granite worktop, the Marble Institute of America offers the following information:
“If natural stone counters are sealed? In many cases, it is useful to seal marble and granite countertops with a quality sealer. The product should have a life expectancy of ten to fifteen years and a oliophobic (resistant based to water and oil stains) nature. once properly sealed, the stone is more resistant to dirt and against everyday spills.
In today’s natural stone industry, many kinds of granite obtain a resin treatment in the factory where the granite blocks are cut into slabs and then polished. The treatment is used to fill micro-cracks, nicks, and other small features that are found in many natural stones. The reason for the resin treatment is to address what most consumers to consider as a defect, but in fact are “birthmarks”. The consuming public tends to perfection, defined as no “birthmarks” and so the marble and granite industry tries to fulfill the desire. Both resined and unresined plates will outlast most of our lifetime. Granite should, and in most cases, the last worktop surface is buy a person who has a strong return. The bottom line: sealing resin treated plates may increase the resistance of the already resistant natural stone.
Resined Stones – In some situations, a resinous stone used impregnating sealers causes that the material to cloud, discolor or fade. Although this is a new topic in the stone industry, have some initial reports showed that the application of a color enhancer can hide the problem. Moreover, the problems with solvent-based vs. Water-based impregnation occurred. It is strongly recommended that you consult with the sealant manufacturer before applying a sealant to a resinous stone. ”
The use of seals is to promote an excellent preventive measure and maintain your granite countertops. Some granite be very porous. Seals fill natural pores and push spilled on the surface, a drastic reduction in the rate of absortion. This gives you time to wipe away spills before they have a chance to enter your stone. After installing the granite needs to be sealed. We recommend re-use of this seal annually or more frequently for some light granites, the luminosity is fully maintained and no stains. Some dark, dense granites (brown, black) do not require sealing. If water or other liquids spilled on your countertop does not bead up if splashes or a water blackout point dried, begin noticing, this is an indication that your countertop to return must be sealed.
The good news is that if you are not your granite surface stains, scratches or cracks, or dull areas, and happy with it, it can be fixed and back to its original pristine finish it had when it was first installed are brought , At AB Granito Restorations Ltd., we have been processing, techniques and tools to restore your granite surfaces to their original appearance. Just call us for a reseal service and maintenance program, and we will repair any damage and help prevent further damage.
