Your specialist in kitchen worktops, fireplaces, granite, marble & limestone
Granites & Marbles are natural stones and therefore absorbent to varying degrees, largely dependent on their colour and geological compositions. The darker granites are usually tighter grained and harder than the lighter colours, and therefore possess better liquid and usage repelling properties.
However, we seal our worktops and components with and anti-stain, water-resistant liquid sealnt designed to provide a barrier to everyday kitchen use. Thereafter, we recommend that the worktops be polished after use with a proprietary spray polish and that a marble polish be used, say monthly, to enhance the colour and lustre of the worktops. Re-sealing of the granite is not then usually necessary but could usefully be re-applied after a year or two if desired, particularly in high use areas.
We can supply all these maintenance products as required.
Staining
Marbles & Limestones are principally Calcium Carbonate, Natural Granites are Silicates. Carbonates are sensitive to acids, but Silicates are not. They neutralise the acid quickly so the damage is not deep - BUT acids will do more damage to a polished surface than to a honed.
Generally, materials that can stain marbles & limestones are lemon juice, wine, vinegars, nail varnish and solvent/oil based products.
Generally substances
that should not be used near natural granites are
Hydrochloric acid, Nitric acid, Sulphuric acid & Formic
acid
With lighter coloured granites, it is possible to a darkening of colour
where surface water has stood, but this fade away once it dries.
Granite is extremely stain resistant, however, substances such as oil and grease should be cleaned from the work surface as quickly as possible. A degree of care and common sense is all that is required.
Daily Cleaning
We recommend cleaning your granite worktops with a mild soap (or neutral detergent) with water or special granite everyday polish. Due to the growing popularity of Granite worktops, outlets such as TESCO now sell 'Granite Wipes' for everyday cleaning.
Scratching/Marking/Chipping
Granite has a high resistance to scratching and marking with every type of granite ranking high on the Mohs scale of hardness. Therefore normal cutting of materials on a worktop should not produce scratches. However, granite is not indestructible and common sense should be the watchword. The use of a chopping board is recommended if the client is likely to use particular areas frequently for heavy duty usage, such as the chopping of vegetables, etc. Over time, without protection, continued chopping in the same spot will produce deterioration in the appearance of the surface.
Dragging heavy objects such as tooling or plastic packaging may cause the granite to scratch.
Heat Resistance
Pans transported directly from your hob/oven to the surface of the granite should not burn or scorch the granite. However it is advised not to do this as different granites having varying degrees of heat resistance.
Marbles & Limestones have far less heat resistance than Natural Granites/Quartz and will stain, scratch or crack far more easily.
