General Terms & Conditions

Please refer to your signed contract for project specific terms & conditions.

Granite

As a natural product, please understand that Granite will contain naturally occurring imperfections. These imperfections will include color and shade variations, irregular markings, voids, pits, veins, fissures, cracks, lines, or minor separations. It is standard practice by the manufacturer to fill large voids and separations with wax, filling, or epoxy. Granite countertops are sealed at the time of fabrication in order to help reduce the natural porosity of the stone and will require frequent applications of sealant. Countertops will be susceptible to staining. Granite is resistant to scratching, however, proper care must be exercised including the use of a cutting board. Although Granite is highly heat resistant, trivets or hot pads should always be used. UGS will not be held responsible for any stains, chips, or scratches that may occur on your natural stone countertops. Service calls due to natural wear of the stone will be chargeable. UGS does not warrant natural stone.

Quartzite

As a natural product, please understand that Quartzite will contain naturally occurring imperfections. These imperfections will include color and shade variations, irregular markings, voids, pits, veins, fissures, cracks, lines, or minor separations. It is standard practice by the manufacturer to fill large voids and separations with wax, filling, or epoxy. Quartzite countertops are sealed at the time of fabrication in order to help reduce the natural porosity of the stone and will require frequent applications of sealant. Countertops will be susceptible to staining. Quartzite is resistant to scratching, however, proper care must be exercised including the use of a cutting board. Some Quartzite may be prone to acid etching. Quartzite cannot be sealed against acid etching. Although Quartzite is highly heat resistant, trivets or hot pads should always be used. UGS will not be held responsible for any stains, etch marks, chips, or scratches that may occur on your natural stone countertops. Service calls due to natural wear of the stone will be chargeable. UGS does not warrant natural stone.

Marble

(Also including other relative stones in the marble family; Dolomite, Travertine, Limestone, Onyx)

As a natural product, please understand that Marble will contain naturally occurring imperfections. These imperfections will include color and shade variations, irregular markings, voids, pits, veins, fissures, cracks, lines, or minor separations. It is standard practice by the manufacturer to fill large voids and separations with wax, filling, or epoxy. Marble is naturally more porous than granite and therefore, more susceptible to staining. Marble is soft, and therefore more susceptible to chipping and scratching. Marble is also prone to acid etching. For these reasons, marble is not recommended for use in kitchens. Marble countertops are sealed at the time of fabrication in order to help reduce the natural porosity of the stone, and will require frequent applications of sealant. Marble cannot be sealed from acid etching. There are anti-etch and anti-stain products on the market for an additional cost. Although Marble is heat resistant, trivets or hot pads should always be used. Proper care must be exercised including the use of a cutting board as part of your routine. UGS will not be responsible for any stains, etch marks, chips, or scratches that may occur on your natural stone countertops. Service calls due to natural wear of the stone will be chargeable. UGS does not warrant natural stone.

Schist

As a natural product, please understand that Schist will contain naturally occurring imperfections. These imperfections will include color and shade variations, irregular markings, voids, pits, veins, fissures, cracks, lines, or minor separations. It is standard practice by the manufacturer to fill large voids and separations with wax, filling, or epoxy. Schist contains sufficient amounts of mica, making the stone flaky and prone to scratching, chipping, and flaking. A ¼” round edge is the only recommended profile for this material. Proper care must be exercised including the use of a cutting board as part of your routine. Schist countertops are sealed at the time of fabrication in order to help reduce the natural porosity of the stone and will require frequent applications of sealant. Countertops will be susceptible to staining. Although Schist is heat resistant, trivets or hot pads should always be used. Schist is not recommended for exterior use. Service calls due to natural wear of the stone will be chargeable. UGS does not warrant natural stone.

Soapstone

As a natural product, please understand that Soapstone will contain naturally occurring imperfections. These imperfections will include color and shade variations, irregular markings, voids, pits, veins, fissures, cracks, lines, or minor separations. It is standard practice by the manufacturer to fill large voids and separations with wax, filling, or epoxy. Soapstone is very soft, and therefore more susceptible to chipping and scratching. Proper care must be exercised including the use of a cutting board as part of your routine. Soapstone does not require sealing as it is a naturally nonporous stone. Soapstone countertops installed in a kitchen or bathroom application will require regular oiling or waxing to cover scratches and maintain consistent coloration. Although Soapstone is highly heat resistant, trivets or hot pads should always be used. UGS will not be held responsible for any stains, chips, or scratches that may occur on your natural stone countertops. Service calls due to natural wear of the stone will be chargeable. UGS does not warrant natural stone.

 Engineered Stone

Engineered stone (i.e. Quartz) is subject to natural variations in color, size, shape, and distribution of the pattern of the natural quartz or the natural variations in background tone. Although engineered stone is heat resistant, trivets or hot pads should always be used. Engineered Quartz can chip and scratch. Proper care must be exercised including the use of a cutting board as part of your routine. Engineered stone is stain resistant, and does not require sealant as it is a nonporous surface; however, it is not stain-proof. Engineered Stone is not recommended for outdoor use. UGS will not be responsible for any stains, chips, or scratches that may occur on your Engineered Stone countertops. Service calls due to natural wear of the stone will be chargeable. Please reference the manufacturer’s warranty and care for more information

Ultra Compact (Sintered) Stone

Sintered Stone is intended to have a natural and non-uniform appearance; therefore variances in color, shade, pattern and gloss level are warranted. Sintered Stone does not require sealant because of its low porosity. Sintered Stone in a polished finish is not recommended for use on countertops, as this finish is more susceptible to scratching. Sintered Stone is the most scratch-resistant surface on the market, however, proper care must be exercised including the use of a cutting board as part of your routine. UGS will not be responsible for any stains, chips, or scratches that may occur on your Sintered Stone countertops. Service calls due to natural wear of the stone will be chargeable. Please reference the manufacturer’s warranty and care.

Care Considerations for Special Finishes

Honed, matte, leathered, antiqued, textured or concrete surfaces may require additional daily and weekly maintenance. Because there is a more exposed porous surface area with these finishes, metal marks, fingerprints and other daily signs of living will be more apparent, particularly on dark or black surfaces. A honed finish will be more susceptible to staining in comparison to a polished finish. UGS will not be responsible for smudge marks, fingerprints and uneven coloration as these are common for these types of finishes.

General Warranty

All material is guaranteed to be as specified. All work will be completed in a workman like manner according to standard practices. Ultimate Granite Surfaces, Inc. offers warranty against workmanship for one year from date of purchase, provided the customer follows the instructions for the care products as specified in the care guide. This warranty is extended to the original owner only. Ultimate Granite Surfaces, Inc. will repair or replace the product should a material not be within (M.I.A.) Marble Institute of America Standards. The repair or replacement is guaranteed for the remainder of the original warranty. The warranty does not cover damage caused by accident, misuse (i.e. staining), or failure to follow the care guide. This warranty excludes all consequential damages of any type.