Natural Stone From the Dimensional Stone Design Manual Chapter 17 section 8.2. Spanning between supports for ¾" (2CM) material is limited to 2’ & 3’ for 1 ¼” (3CM) material. For designs where material is overhanging past supports, ¾" (2CM) material is limited to 6” & 10” for 1 ¼” (3CM) material. This can be extended with the use of cantilevered metal supports, but the overhanging part of the material cannot exceed more then 1/3 the width of the countertop. I.e. if you have 24” wide cabinets, the width of the design may not exceed 36”. If the 1/3 rule is not possible with the design, corbels will be required. Engineered stone Quartz product does not need support for overhangs less then 16”, but 1/3 rule still applies.

What is the maximum overhang allowed?

Yes, almost anything can be stained, but sealed natural stone will resist most common stains. Quartz can be stained, although more difficult due to its manufacturing process. Porcelain and Sintered surfaces are incredibly difficult to be stained due to their chemical makeup.

Can I stain my countertops?

Helpful resources.

• Always use coasters under all glasses, particularly those containing alcohol or citrus juices. Many common foods, drinks, & cosmetics contain acids that will etch or dull the surface of many stones.
• Use trivets or mats under hot dishes.
• Blot spills with a paper towel or cloth as they occur.
• Clean regularly with a neutral cleaner that does not contain solvents. Mild dish soap & water works well.
• If you're not sure if your stone needs sealing, simply pour a small amount of water in various spots and let sit for a while. If you notice the stone is darkened when you wipe it up, then the stone should be resealed.

Care and maintenance.

Natural Stone.

Spaulding Stone warrants to the owner of this countertop that the natural stone/quartz is free from defects in the workmanship provided by Spaulding Stone and that the product has been inspected and approved by you. This warranty is valid for the lifetime ownership of the product and is non transferrable. All quartz product material is warranted differently by each manufacturer. Please refer to your quartz manufacturer's website for more information. Manufacturer’s warranty decision and terms will supersede Spaulding Stone’s warranty.

This warranty applies to countertop material installed in its original location by a Spaulding Stone trained professional and becomes null and void if the stone is moved in any way from its original installation location or has been serviced or treated by any party other than Spaulding Stone. This warranty covers only the materials and workmanship supplied by Spaulding Stone and expressly excludes defects in materials or workmanship supplied by any party other than Spaulding Stone.

Any claim against this warranty must be submitted in writing with pictures to Spaulding Stone. Within thirty days of receipt of a claim, Spaulding Stone will contact you to arrange for a Spaulding Stone field inspector to inspect the stone. Upon verification by the Spaulding Stone field inspector of a valid claim made against this warranty, Spaulding Stone will, at its option, repair, or replace, in whole or in part, the affected material. Failure to reasonably cooperate with Spaulding Stone after the submission of a claim shall void all warranties.

The cost of repair or replacement shall be borne by Spaulding Stone or its authorized representatives and includes labor charges necessary to repair or replace the countertop material.  This warranty covers only the labor and material costs associated with the removal and replacement of the defective material. If replacement of the stone is deemed necessary, replacement will be made with a stone/quartz marketed by Spaulding Stone at the time of replacement, that is as nearly identical as possible to the original material in color, grain, & grade. The determination as to the appropriate remedy shall be at Spaulding Stone’s sole discretion.

This warranty does not cover sinks (beyond 1 yr), caulking, scratches, cracks/fissures, stains, etching or any defects that arise as a result of normal wear and tear, abuse, or are naturally occurring in the material. This warranty does not cover defects that arise as a result of structural movement or the expansion and contraction of substrates. This warranty does not cover the cost of any repairs or replacements undertaken prior to your receipt of claim verification from Spaulding Stone. This warranty does not cover any exterior installation, elements outside of Spaulding Stone’s control including but not limited to: house settlement, cabinet/material defects, snow, rain, hail, heat, fire, flood, tornado, and/or acts of God.

This warranty is limited to the provisions stated above, and no other warranty, expressed or implied, exists. The implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose is expressly excluded. Except as provided herein, and unless otherwise precluded by applicable law, Spaulding Stone shall not be liable for any loss or direct, consequential, or incidental damages arising out of the use or inability to use the stone for the intended purpose

Warranty of workmanship.

• Always use trivets or mats under hot dishes, crockpots, deep fryers, & any other equipment that produces intense heat.
• Use cutting boards to chop your food.
• You can clean the countertop with mild dish soap & water.
• Although Quartz is non-porous, some messes require more cleaning. Barkeeper’s friend are safe cleansers to use on quartz. Never use an abrasive pad while cleaning, instead use a damp sponge or soft dishcloth.

Quartz.

FAQ.

See our care and maintenance section at the top of this page.

How do I care for my countertops?

This depends on how you maintain your counters. Using highly acidic/harsh chemicals will deteriorate the original sealer, therefore requiring sealing more often. Using an industry recommended cleaner will allow you to get maximum use out of the original sealer. If water is no longer beading up on the top, it’s time to reseal. Over sealing can lead to a hazy look. Quartz does not require sealing instead refer to the quartz manufacturers care & maintenance guidelines.

How often do I need to seal my countertops?

Spaulding Stone recommends never putting items from your oven, stove top or grill directly on the granite surface without a trivet or hot pad. Once items have cooled, placing them directly on the stone countertop would be acceptable. For quartz, it is recommended to use a trivet and direct heat is not advisable due to the chemical makeup of this material.

Can I place hot items directly on my countertops?

Natural Stone is a natural material and color variations, veining, pitting, inclusions, fissures, fill and other naturally- occurring characteristics are very common and perfectly normal. There may be vast differences between samples viewed and a customer’s actual material. Because this material is a natural product, consistency cannot be guaranteed, even within a single slab. Some materials are very consistent while other colors may change in color/shading/veining from slab to slab or within the slab (from top to bottom or left to right).

ABSOLUTELY NO CLAIMS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER FABRICATION FOR REASONS OF COLOR, TEXTURE, CONSISTENCY OR VEINING.

Why are customers encouraged to view their natural stone slabs prior to fabrication?

No, as some materials are very consistent. However, other materials may change in color, shading or veining throughout the entire slab. Since quartz is manufactured, most (but not all) patterns are consistent with the sample that you viewed. Please note that the choice to view your material is up to you.

ABSOLUTELY NO CLAIMS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER FABRICATION FOR REASONS OF COLOR, TEXTURE, CONSISTENCY OR VEINING.

Do I have to view my new countertop material before it is fabricated?

The Natural Stone Institute explains it best in section 16.1. “Fissures occur naturally in many stone types. A fissure is defined by the American Geological Institute as, “An extensive crack, break, or fracture in the rock, which may contain mineral-bearing material.” The term “fissure” is used commercially in the stone industry to describe a visible separation along intracrystalline boundaries. This separation may start and stop within the field of the stone or extend through an edge. A fissure differs from a crack in that it is a naturally occurring feature in the stone that may be found in other areas of the same slab or other slabs of the same material.”

What is a fissure?

The Natural Stone Institute explains it best in chapter 5 section 9.1 from the Dimension Stone Design Manual. “Pitting of the countertop surface, particularly in granite material, is a commonly seen characteristic on natural stone. Granites are made up of several different minerals, each mineral having a different hardness. Granites contain quartz, feldspars, biotite, amphibole, ferrous titanium oxides, and other mineral combinations. On the Mohs Scale (see chart above), diamonds are the hardest mineral, with a rating of 10. Quartz and feldspar have a hardness of 6.5 to 7 and are very durable. Biotite (small, black minerals throughout the slab) on the other hand is very soft (2.5) and flakes easily. All true granites have biotite in their composition. Because biotite is relatively soft and flaky, the first few layers are often removed during the polishing process, causing pits throughout the slab. Some granites have more biotite throughout their composition than others. The higher the biotite content of the stone, the more pits it will have...”

What is pitting?

For hard surfaces, the standard seam allowance between two pieces of granite can range from 1/16” (with a  tolerance of +- 1/64”) to 1/8” wide.  Outdoor filler for seams must allow for some movement. Joint widths between adjacent stone units may be as small  as 1/16”, but ample accommodation for differential movement due to thermal expansion and contraction must be made at the perimeter of the stone installation. A color matched stone adhesive is used to join the two pieces of countertop. Once cured (approximately 4-6 hours), this adhesive is food safe. Seams are sometimes necessary and are not invisible. We will do our best to provide a clean seam and color-match the basic color tone of the hard surface.

What do seams look like?

New countertops can be installed over existing cabinetry; however if the cabinets are not level or structurally sound upon arrival of our installers, your installation will be rescheduled once these issues have been rectified. From the Dimensional Stone Design Manual chapter 17 section 6.1 “Top surfaces of cabinets must be within 1/8” of flat and level when measured across a distance of 10’. Wall surfaces to receive stone backsplashes must be plumb & within 1/8” of true plane when measured across 10’...” Cabinets need to be leveled within 1⁄4” over a 10 foot length.

Can I have countertops installed over existing cabinets?

Chances are your tile is not perfectly straight, the installation crew will field measure for the splashes after the countertops are installed. 3-5 days later, the custom height splashes will be installed. An additional fee may be incurred for the second required trip.

I have tile above my current backsplash. Will the new splashes meet these tile lines?

This will depend on the slab size & and the feasibility of getting it into your house. This will be determined at template time with the field measurer.

What is the longest countertop piece I can have without a seam?

Spaulding Stone does not recommend you do so. If you want to purchase a matching cutting board for your kitchen, please speak to your dealer for pricing.

Can I use my countertop as a cutting board?

Preferred vendors.

• Due to its ultra non-porous nature. Ultra-compact surfaces like Dekton require little maintenance.
• It’s best to use mild dish soap & water with a soft dish cloth or sponge. Dekton recommends Q-Action cleaner if you can find it.
• Electrical appliances that give off heat can be used on the surface. Anything that gives off a very high temperature with direct heat should be avoided on the surface. Material 8mm or less requires different precautions

Ultra-Compact.

• Porcelain is similar to Ultra-Compact in that it is non porous & also require little maintenance.
• It’s best to use mild dish soap & water with a soft dish cloth or sponge. For stubborn cleanups you can use gentle cleaners like Mr. Clean or Simple Green as directed on the bottle. Never use any abrasive sponges or cleaning agents.
• It is recommended to use hot pads or a trivot under any heat generating electrical appliances & hot pans  

Porcelain.

We are a wholesale fabricator & installation company. We work directly with cabinet shops, flooring stores, design centers, etc. to provide our services. Check our dealers page or inquire within the contact page and tell us who you're working with.

I’m doing it all myself, can you bid directly to me? What about my contractor?

Yes, you may keep your drawers in. We do ask you to clear out the cabinet base below any sink area for easier installation of your new sink.

Do I keep my drawers in during install?

Yes, you can. If possible, we do ask you to remove any large appliances during the digital template process.

Can I keep my existing tops on when you template?

Quartz slabs are generally made the same no matter the brand. Each brand has its own distinct colors that they create. The different levels refer to the price point of the color. Because of how Quartz slabs are made it is hard to say that one brand is better than the other.

What’s the difference between this brand of quartz & others? What about levels? Is one better than the other?

Quartz warranty links:

https://www.msisurfaces.com/quartz-countertops/quartz-countertop-warranty-registration/

https://www.daltile.com/why-daltile/industry-standards/warranty

https://www.lghausysusa.com/viatera/about/technical-guide.do

https://www.silestoneusa.com/warranty/

https://www.caesarstoneus.com/customer-care/residential-warranty/

https://www.corianquartz.com/-documentation-#-care-warranty-

https://www.hanstonequartz.com/pages/warranties