Granite

Granite is one of the hardest countertop stones, heat-resistant, scratch-resistant, and rated for daily kitchen use over decades. The crystalline structure that gives it durability also makes each slab visually unique.

Daily cleaning:

• Wipe with warm water and a few drops of pH-neutral dish soap on a soft microfiber cloth
• Blot spills as they happen, especially oil, wine, citrus, and tomato
• Dry the surface after cleaning to prevent water spots on darker stones

What to avoid: acidic cleaners (vinegar, lemon, ammonia, bleach), abrasive scrubbers, and leaving acidic foods directly on the surface for extended periods.

Sealing: Most granites benefit from being sealed at installation and re-sealed once every 12–18 months for kitchen surfaces, 24–36 months for vanities and lower-traffic areas. Test by placing a few drops of water, if it absorbs within a couple minutes, it's time to seal.

Quartz

Engineered quartz combines 90%+ natural quartz aggregate with polymer resins to create a non-porous, color-consistent surface. It does not require sealing and is highly resistant to staining and bacterial growth.

Daily cleaning:

• Mild soap and warm water on a soft cloth handles 99% of routine cleaning
• For stuck-on residue, use a plastic putty knife to gently scrape, never metal
• A spray of diluted glass cleaner removes streaks and brings back shine

What to avoid: direct heat above 300°F (always use trivets, hot pans straight from the stove can damage the resin), high-pH cleaners (oven cleaner, paint stripper, bleach concentrates), and abrasive pads.

Long-term: Quartz is essentially maintenance-free in normal use. There is no sealing required. Most quality manufacturers offer 10–25 year warranties when installed by a certified fabricator.

Quartzite

Quartzite is a metamorphic stone formed from sandstone under heat and pressure. It ranks above granite on the Mohs scale and resists scratching from daily kitchen use. Like granite, it is heat-tolerant and food-safe.

Daily cleaning: Warm water and pH-neutral soap. Microfiber cloth. Blot spills early, quartzite is less porous than marble but still benefits from prompt attention to acidic and oil-based staining substances.

Sealing: Sealed at installation and refreshed every 12–18 months. Test with the water-bead method described in the granite section.

What to avoid: Many "quartzite" slabs sold at the lower end of the market are actually softer dolomitic marbles. If your stone etches when exposed to lemon juice for a few minutes, treat it as marble (see below) rather than as true quartzite.

Marble

Marble is a calcium-carbonate stone that develops character over time. The same softness that lets it take a high polish or a deep honed face also means it etches when exposed to acids, a feature that many designers and collectors deliberately embrace as part of marble's lived-in appeal.

Daily cleaning:

• Stone-safe pH-neutral cleaner. Soft microfiber cloth. Dry immediately.
• Use coasters under glasses (especially wine and citrus drinks)
• Cutting boards on countertops always, never cut directly on marble

Etching is not staining. An etch is a dull spot left by acid reacting with the calcium in the stone, it does not absorb into the stone. Polished etches can be re-polished by a stone restoration professional; honed marble can have light etches buffed out at home with a fine stone polishing powder.

Sealing: Sealed at installation and every 6–12 months thereafter. Sealing reduces stain absorption but does not prevent etching.

Porcelain

Through-body porcelain slabs are fired at extreme temperatures producing a dense, non-porous surface that resists heat, scratching, staining, UV exposure, and freeze-thaw cycling. It is the most maintenance-free surface in our catalog.

Daily cleaning: Almost anything works, water and mild soap, glass cleaner, stone-safe cleaners, even diluted vinegar in moderation. The surface does not absorb liquids, so there is no risk of staining from typical kitchen substances.

What to avoid: Diamond-grit scrubbers (can scratch the glaze on glazed-porcelain variants). Cutting directly on the surface is technically fine but will dull knives quickly.

Sealing: Never required.

Soapstone

Soapstone is a soft, non-porous metamorphic stone. It is heat-resistant, chemically inert (acid cannot etch it), and develops a darker patina over years of use that many collectors specifically choose it for.

Daily cleaning: Warm water and mild soap. Soapstone needs no sealing and accepts daily oiling with food-grade mineral oil if you want to accelerate the natural darkening process.

Scratches: Soapstone scratches more easily than granite but those scratches can be sanded out at home with 220-grit sandpaper followed by mineral oil.

Travertine

Travertine is a calcium-carbonate stone formed by mineral springs, it shares marble's vulnerability to acids and benefits from similar care. The natural surface character includes filled and unfilled pores that give travertine its distinctive Mediterranean read.

Care: pH-neutral cleaner, blot spills, seal every 12–18 months. Avoid acidic cleaners and acidic foods sitting on the surface.

Tile & Mosaic

Glazed ceramic and porcelain tiles are inherently low-maintenance, the tile body is vitrified and stain-resistant, and the grout becomes the main maintenance concern.

Tile surface: Mild soap and water. For shower walls and floors, a weekly squeegee reduces water spotting and limescale buildup.

Grout:

• Seal grout lines at installation and re-seal every 12 months in wet areas
• Avoid bleach on colored grout, it discolors the pigments over time
• For mildew, a 50/50 hydrogen peroxide and water spray works without harming the grout

Natural-stone mosaics: Treat each chip as the stone it actually is (marble, travertine, etc.) and follow the matching guide above.

Luxury Vinyl Flooring

Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) and tile (LVT) products in our catalog are 100% waterproof, scratch-resistant, and engineered for residential and commercial traffic.

Daily care:

• Sweep, dust mop, or vacuum (no beater bar) for everyday cleaning
• Damp-mop weekly with a manufacturer-approved LVT cleaner, never a soaking-wet mop
• Avoid steam mops on click-lock LVT, steam can penetrate the seams and damage the substrate

Protect from: Direct sustained sunlight (use UV-blocking window film in west-facing rooms), rubber-backed mats that can yellow the wear layer, and chair legs without felt pads.

Hardwood Flooring

Engineered and solid hardwood floors require slightly more attentive care than vinyl but reward the routine with decades of warmth and patina.

Routine: Dust mop or microfiber daily. Vacuum (soft-brush head) weekly. Damp-mop monthly using a hardwood-specific cleaner, never water alone, never vinegar (etches the finish), never oil-soap (builds up and dulls).

Climate: Hardwood is a living material, maintain indoor humidity between 35–55% year-round to prevent excessive expansion and contraction. Run a humidifier in winter heating; consider a dehumidifier in humid summers.

Refinishing: Engineered hardwood typically allows 1–2 refinish cycles depending on wear-layer thickness; solid hardwood can be refinished many times over its lifespan.

Outdoor Pavers

Porcelain and natural-stone pavers used in pool decks, patios, and walkways are built for weather, freeze-thaw, and pool chemistry, but they still benefit from a periodic clean to keep the finish reading sharp.

Routine:

• Rinse with a garden hose and stiff-bristle brush every season
• Pressure-washing on a wide-fan tip removes embedded dirt from joints
• For salt-pool deck efflorescence, use an efflorescence remover designed for stone

Natural-stone pavers: Re-seal every 24–36 months with a breathable penetrating sealer rated for exterior use. Porcelain pavers do not require sealing.

Stacked Stone & Veneers

Manufactured and natural stacked-stone veneers used on accent walls, fireplaces, and exterior cladding are low maintenance.

Care: Indoor, dust with a soft brush attachment. For grease build-up near a kitchen range, mild stone-safe cleaner and a soft brush. Exterior, annual rinse with a garden hose. Sealing every 3–5 years with a penetrating natural-stone sealer extends color depth on lighter veneers and reduces efflorescence migration on darker ones.