Stone Types & Maintenance
Granite
Granite contains three main minerals – quartz, alkali feldspar, and plagioclase feldspar. These minerals make granite white, pink, or light grey. Granite also contains small amounts of dark brown, dark-green, or black minerals, such as hornblende and biotite mica.
Granite is one of the oldest, most durable and most respected of building materials. It is typically the hardest of the dimensional stones and withstands the elements very well. It is best for kitchen countertops because it is scratch, stain and heat resistant. It is also suitable for flooring or paving, wall cladding and all other types of countertops. Granite is suitable for either exterior or interior applications.
Marble
Marble consists chiefly of calcite or dolomite, or a combination of these carbonate minerals. Marbles are basically metamorphosed limestones. It has similar characteristics to limestones and is typically used on the same applications. However, marbles are almost always more aesthetically valuable and available in much wider ranges of colours.
Marble has long been highly valued for its beauty, strength, and resistance to fire and erosion. It is a rock widely used in buildings, monuments, and sculptures. Large blocks of coloured marble are used for columns, floors, and other parts of buildings. It is suitable for wall-cladding, roofing, flooring and all other interior and exterior applications.
Quartzite
Quartzite is a stone composed of grains of quartz cemented together by silica. It is a firm and compact stone with a body harder than marble. Its color is a blend of light and dark greys and silver with flecks of quartz lending a sparkle.
Quartzite is a durable stone which is primarily used for interior and exterior floors; however, it may be used for wall-cladding, roofing and other types of interior and exterior applications as well.
Engineered Stone
Engineered Stone is a man-made product that dates back to the late 1980’s. The main component in engineered stone is quartz which is one of nature’s strongest minerals
DO’s and DON’Ts of Natural Stones
DO clean up spills immediately to minimize damage to your stone.
DO use trivets or mats under hot dishes and cookware.
DO use place mats under china, ceramics, silver and other objects that can scratch your stone’s surface.
DO use coasters under glasses, especially if they contain alcohol or citrus juices.
DO clean surfaces regularly with Supreme Surface™ Professional Cleaner & Protector.
DO use Supreme Surface™ Professional Sealer to protect your stone.
DON’T wait to clean up spills on stone.
DON’T use cleaners that contain acid such as bathroom cleaners, grout cleaners or tub cleaners.
DON’T use vinegar, bleach, ammonia or other general-purpose cleaners.
DON’T use abrasive cleaners such as dry cleansers or soft cleansers.
DON’T use alkaline cleaners not specifically formulated for stone.
DON’T use scouring powders and abrasives because they will scratch the surface.