• Do I need to seal my granite countertop?
• How do I protect my granite countertop from staining?
• How do I remove a stain?
• Can I use marble on my kitchen counters?
• Where can I purchase stone care products and what different types of products are available to me?
• How heavy is granite or marble and will my cabinets support it?
• What is Zodiaq?

Do I need to seal my granite countertop?

Yes, we recommend sealing your countertops every 1-2 years. This recommendation is based on the Marble Institute of America's guidelines for stone care. If you are using harsh chemicals to clean your countertops on a regular basis (ex. Windex, 409, Softscrub, etc...) or your countertops get a lot of use we recommend you perform the following test once a month to see if your granite needs re-sealing. Take a couple of drops of water and drip them on the countertop. If they absorb into the countertop, you need to re-seal. If they bead up on the surface, similar to how they would bead up on the surface of a waxed car, then your sealer is working. Harsh chemicals and heavy use will break down a sealer more quickly. By performing this test on a regualr basis the first 1-2 years you own your countertop you should be able to determine how often you need to seal your countertop.

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How do I protect my granite countertop from staining?

Sealing your countertop is how you prevent it from staining. If you follow the sealing timeline and testing procedure from question 1 you shouldn't have any problems with staining.

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How do I remove a stain?

If your countertop gets a stain the first thing to do is purchase a Heavy Duty stone cleaner, if you don't already have one. Then spray the stain with the cleaner. Take a clean, dry, absorbent towel and blot the stain. Continue spraying cleaner and blotting the stain with a clean, dry part of the towel until you have absorbed the stain out of the countertop. Once you have removed the stain, clean the entire surface of the counter and reseal it to prevent additional staining.

If this procedure doesn't work you may need to purchase a poultice. A poultice is a powder-like substance that is designed to re-absorb stains from natural stone. Follow the package directions on the poulitce for stain removal. You should try the poultice up to 3 times to remove the stain.

If you still have a stain, contact Credit River Granite. We can come out to analyze the stain and attempt to remove it for you. There is a fee for this service, so it should be a last resort.

Do not seal your countertop, or use a stone cleaner that has a sealer in it (ex. Revitalizer Stone Cleaner) to try to get the stain out. This will seal the stain into the countertop and make it much more difficult to remove.

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Can I use marble on my kitchen counters?

We do not recommend the use of Marbles, Travertines or Limestones on kitchen countertops. The reason is that these types of natural stones, unlike granite, are very soft and porous. In a high-traffic area, like a kitchen, marble will stain and scratch very easily.

However, marble is a great surface for rolling out doughs for pastry, breads and cookies. It maintains a cool surface temperature and dough will typically not stick to marble. If you are a baker and would like this feature in your kitchen, we would recommend incorporating one small marble countertop in to the kitchen to be used exclusively for this purpose.

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Where can I purchase stone care products and what different types of products are available to me?

Stone Care products can be purchased here at Credit River Granite. We carry 3 different types of sealers and 2 different types of cleaners. These are high-quality professional products that will keep your stone beautiful for as long as you own it. If you would like to purchase stone care products, but do not want to drive to our showroom to get them, call us and we can ship them to you for a $4.95 shipping fee!

Cleaners

Klenz All: This is a heavy duty stone cleaner that can be used daily to clean your counter. It is especially good for removing oil residue and hard water build up around your faucet. Klenz All combined with a white Scotch Brite scouring pad (never use a green scouring pad) should be all you need to keep your countertops as clean as the day you bought them.

Revitalizer: This is a cleaner and sealer in one bottle. It is great for everyday cleaning and shining. It should not be used for stain removal or oil spotting. Revitalizer can, if used on a regualr basis, extend the length of time between a complete sealing of your countertop and may eliminate the need to ever fully reseal your countertop.

Sealers

Stone Enhancer: This will not only seal your countertop, but will also enhance the color of the countertop. It will make the color appear deeper and richer on a polished surface and will darken the color and take the grey out of a honed surface. Stone Enhancer is recommended espeically for honed granite, slate and any other non-polished natural stone to make its natural beauty shine through.

Impregnator Pro: This is the most commonly used sealer and the best sealer for most residential polished granite. It has a solvent base, so if you have chemical sensitivities, you should not use this product.

Bulletproof: If you find yourself having to re-seal your countertops every six months or more because your countertop is failing the water droplet test (from question 1) this is the sealer you need. It is a stronger, longer lasting sealer. If you use harsh chemicals to clean your countertops (ex. Windex, 409, Softscrub, etc...) you should use Bulletproof. Harsh chemicals will break down sealers more quickly than cleaners designed for use with natural stone and Bulletproof can withstand the harsher chemicals better than the other sealers. Also, Bulletproof is water-based so if you have chemical sensitivities and cannot use Impregnator Pro, you should be able to use Bulletproof.

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How heavy is granite or marble and will my cabinets support it?

Granite and marble are roughly 6 pounds per square foot per centimeter of thickness. For example, a 2cm slab of granite weighs approximately 12 pounds per square foot and a 3cm slab weighs approximately 18 pounds per square foot. Any cabinet that is well constructed and properly set will support the weight of natural stone countertops.

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What is Zodiaq®?

It’s a new category of surfacing materials and a new brand from DuPont™. Zodiaq® quartz surfaces introduces new possibilities for surface applications in commercial and residential interiors. Combining rich, distinctive aesthetics with reliable performance, Zodiaq® offers expanded opportunities for creativity and design freedom.DuPont™ Zodiaq® has a ten year limited installed warranty by DuPont™.

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