When investing in something as important as natural stone worktops, it’s easy to understand why property owners are always looking for the best. Nothing underlines the quality of a product more than the warranty offered by the supplier. This is why it is important to ask about different product warranties and any conditions that may apply. Duration The first thing you will need to determine before choosing a particular type of stone is just how long the warranty will last. Some warranties apply for about 25 years whereas other stone surfaces are backed by lifetime warranties. It depends on the type of stone as well as the supplier. What’s covered Be sure to ask your stone supplier exactly what will be covered by the warranty. There might be some exclusions and it’s important to understand any possible exclusions before placing your order. For example, intentional or accidental damage caused by

White residue can ruin the look of your stone worktops. There are a number possible causes and, in order to resolve this problem, you first need to identify the cause. In addition, identifying the cause will also help you prevent such residue from building up in the future. Soap and cosmetics If you use a nylon pan scraper or a razor blade to try to gently scrape the residue off the surface, you will soon be able to tell if it is indeed soap, cleaning product or cosmetic residue. If scraping the surface removes the substance easily, you can then place it in the sink and mix it up with water. If you notice that it has an oily feel, then it is most likely lotion, conditioner or something similar. If it is soapy, then it is obviously a build up of soap or a cleaning product. Hard water If

If you have already installed natural stone worktops or you are planning on installing stone surfaces, it’s important to know how to care for these surfaces. Just as you need to know how to clean your worktops, you also need to keep in mind that there are a few substances that are particularly harmful in terms of etching. The pH factor When you work with different ingredients in your kitchen, you might not be aware of the fact that different foods have different pH levels. The lower the pH, the more acidic the substance. 7 is considered to be neutral on the pH scale but this also does not mean that alkaline substances cannot cause harm too. Of all the foods out there, alcohol (like wine), fruit juice, tomatoes, vinegar and pasta sauce have a pH level of between 2 and 3. If you find this surprising, here are the

Your natural stone worktops are durable but they are not completely invincible. There are a few factors that can cause damage such as cracks, chips, stains and etching. Potted plants are sometimes the culprit when it comes to stone damage. Here’s what you need to know about this type of damage. Stain or Etching The first thing you need to do is move your plant to a safe spot and inspect the damage more closely. You need to determine whether it has caused a stain or etch. In general, stain are usually darker than the colour of the stone because the stone has absorbed the contaminant. Etching is normally lighter than the colour of the stone and it can feel rough to the touch. If the pot is resting directly on the stone, it can leave a dark ring under the pot. This means that moisture has penetrated and stained

If you have natural stone worktops that are still in good condition but you feel like a change, you can opt for an alternative finish. Just because you chose a particular finish at first, this does not mean that you are stuck with this style or colour for life. Here are some changes that you can consider. Turn matte to gloss If you have matte worktops, you can have the stone professionally polished to give it the most amazing shine. There are varying degrees of glossiness. Semi-gloss and high-polish options should be compared and considered carefully before making a choice. It is also worth noting that highly glossy surfaces tend to show fingerprints easier which means that they will need to be wiped down more often. Especially if your worktops are darker in colour. Colour changes When you think about sealing your worktops, you might imagine a clear or transparent

Natural stone surfaces are known for being extremely durable. They are not, however, completely immune to damage and there are a few substances that can influence these otherwise tough surfaces. One common yet often forgotten enemy of stone surfaces is over-spray. Here are some great tips to prevent over-spray damage. What is over-spray? Simply put, over-spray occurs when you clean an adjacent surface and residue from the cleaning solutions end up on your stone surfaces. Spray bottle nozzles can easily spray in several directions and these substances can also splash around when you wipe or scrub the surface you’re cleaning. Damaging effects of chemicals Even if you take special care to only use the appropriate cleaning products for your worktops, other chemicals can splash from nearby surfaces. Depending on the type of chemicals that have sprayed onto your stone worktops, you can notice discolouration and varying degrees of etching. In

In the natural stone industry, there are a number of debates. One of these being whether or not you should seal stone surfaces in wet areas like bathrooms. Here are a few important factors to keep in mind when choosing between sealing and not sealing. What do sealers do? There are a few different types of sealers on the market and each product is designed for a different type or types of stone. If you choose to seal your surfaces, make sure that you do so with the right sealant. Impregnators are also known as penetrating sealers because they literally penetrate the stone surface and fill the pores so that the stone is not prone to stains. These surfaces will also not absorb water when the surface is splashed or even washed down. That said, water in its vapour form can penetrate the stone and it can often have even