Granite Worktop Care & Maintenance
Prolong the life of your cherished work surface
The Granite for your worktop has been carefully selected from premium quality stone slabs from the same block or batch to be free from defects and has been machined, prepared, polished, treated and approved by our craftsmen to ensure your worktop is a quality item to be proud of for many years to come with the right care and attention to maintenance.
Granite will include natural imperfections. These imperfections are not defects in the material. Colours and patterns will vary from one piece of stone to another. No two pieces will be exactly the same. So we cannot guarantee the colour or character of Granite delivered and/or fitting will be an exact match to any sample previously offered.
The surface of a Granite worktop is not totally smooth - there are pits, fissures, eyes, chips and gaps. These cannot be polished out, as it is the natural state of the stone. We reserve the right to use chemical or resinous fillers, some of which may already be present in the stone worktop to affect any repairs.
Granite worktops do sometimes incur slight variations in thickness so a 2mm tolerance either side of the ordered thickness of the worktop is required. This tolerance is industry standard and is usually not noticeable in the final product.
The stone itself, being a natural product, is not as such covered by this or any other warranty.
All natural stone is porous and must be sealed regularly. Some Granites are more porous than others. This is not a defect of the stone, it is a natural characteristic.
Your Granite worktops are sealed where appropriate prior to installation to resist staining. You will need to ensure a suitable sealer is re-applied regularly as appropriate.
However this does not mean they are guaranteed not to stain.
Care & Maintenance Guidelines:
Granite worktops provide a durable, hygienic work surface which when used with care will last a lifetime. It should be appreciated however that granite is a natural material which does need proper care and attention to ensure maximum serviceability. The following care and maintenance guidelines should therefore be observed.
Care should be taken to ensure that materials likely to cause staining (such as acidic fruit like lemon, lime, vinegar based sauces, abrasive cleaning products, bleach etc) are kept away from direct contact with the stone worktop.
Your granite work surface has been treated with a proprietary sealer in the workshop as the final part of the production process, prior to delivery and installation. This sealer impregnates deep into the surface of the stone to prevent staining problems occurring.
Routine Cleaning:
On a day to day basis granite simply use the Globaltopz cleaner or just wipe down with a warm soapy water, then buff dry with a soft, clean cloth to restore its natural beauty.
Contrary to popular belief all granite is porous to some degree and whilst it has been sealed it is still important to wipe up all spills immediately. Cooking oils, red wine, lemon juice, dark fruit juice, beetroot etc. can all cause staining if left on the work surface for any length of time – so be diligent and wipe up quickly should spills occur.
Stubborn Marks:
In the event of any stubborn marks appearing, firstly wipe the granite surface clean with warm soapy water and then try the triple action refresher spray. For hardened substances, such as food etc. remove by gently scraping the material off the granite with a blunt plastic blade, then wash off with warm water.
Heat Resistance:
Granite is extremely resistant to heat and can withstand moderately high temperatures for a brief period of time without causing surface damage. Do not however put very hot objects directly onto the work surface, as extreme sudden heat changes can damage the granite beyond repair. Always use a pan trivet to protect your surfaces from extreme heat of this kind.
Chemicals to avoid:
Avoid exposing your granite to strong chemicals, solvents and aggressive / abrasive oven cleaners e.g. neat bleach, caustic soda, scouring powders, paint stripper, nail polish remover, concentrated disinfectants and any chlorine based products. If any of these solutions are spilt on the granite, rinse off immediately with plenty of clean water to minimise their effect.
General Precautions:
Although your granite work surfaces are extremely scratch and heat resistant, we recommend that you protect them by using chopping boards at all times during food preparation / cutting operations.
Do not use grease removers on your granite as these can dull the polish and cause staining.
It is possible to chip granite, particularly on the more vulnerable edges, so avoid any hammering operations and try not to let heavy or pointed objects strike the top of your granite work surface.