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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Please reference the manufacturer’s warranty and care.es here

There is no perfect stone, natural or man-made. None are ever 100% scratch-proof, heat-proof or chip-proof. Each type of natural stone has characteristics that make it harder, softer, or shinier than other stones. Depending on your particular application, it is more sensible to use some types of stone rather than others. Our experienced staff at Ultimate Granite & Stone will help you determine what stone(s) will be best for your application and lifestyle.

Ultimate Granite & Stone is one of the few companies in the tri-state area with a slab finishing machine to transform any polished stone into a textured stone. Depending on the composition, each slab will texture differently. In addition, we can not change the surface texture of a man-made stone without voiding the warranty. However, our sales staff can help guide you to manufacturers and color pallets that offer textured surfaces in their product lines. This will help you achieve the look you desire with the warranty you deserve.

Polished: A polished finish is the most popular kitchen counter finish found in design. It features a shiny and smooth surface that brings out the best color, depth, and unique characteristics of the stone. The stone’s glossy, mirror-like look is a result of it being buffed with fine polishing pads, and the finish will make the stone appear slightly darker in color and richer in tone.

Honed: A honed finish is gaining popularity, especially for contemporary spaces. It features a smooth premium surface with no bumps, but without the polished reflection. Granite gets its satin or matte appearance when the finishing process is stopped just before the slab becomes buffed, and darker granite colors will result in a lighter or more grayed look.

Leathered/Brushed: A leathered finish is a newer style that is gaining more attraction in the design world. It features a soft sheen that is less than polished granite but includes a textured appearance. The stone’s subtle, dimple-like texture is achieved when diamond-tipped brushes are run on top of honed granite. While it does retain more of the natural color, it’s more commonly used on darker stones.

Iced: This finish is exclusive to Ultimate Granite & Stone. Visit our showroom to learn more.

Textured Finish Disclaimer: 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.

Please contact your salesperson for information on how to care for your particular surface given its installed application. You can also purchase care & maintenance products HERE.