MAINTENANCE OF KITCHEN COUNTERS IN QUARELLA ENGINEERED STONE
GENERAL RULES
The following instructions should be considered guidelines for ordinary indoor use and are not by any means a substitute for the end user's responsibilities.
The requirements for care and maintenance of Quarella products are different for Marble-based products, compared to Quartz-based products and the Evo series.
Quartz and Silica-based materials (Pianoforte or Evo series) are mainly used for making kitchen counters, guaranteeing high resistance to damage from acidic substances normally used in the kitchen.
The presence of an artificial binder gives all Quarella materials high resistance to water absorption, which protects the surfaces from dirt and makes it easy to remove.
STANDARD MAINTENANCE OF POLISHED SURFACES, QUARTZ AND EVO
These surfaces do not require any protective treatment or the use of special detergents.
Cleaning is carried out by using water and common commercially available detergents (such as dish wash liquid). Avoid using particularly abrasive detergents, which may cause tiny scratches. The use of very aggressive and highly concentrated products must be tested in advance. The regular application of polishing products (e.g. Stoneplus by Fila) helps to keep the original shine unchanged over time.
Contact with objects at a temperature of more than 140-160° C may damage the surface. In these cases it is advisable to use special hot pan coasters.
STANDARD MAINTENANCE OF PROCESSED SURFACES, QUARTZ AND EVO "CHENILLE" AND "VELVET"
Compared to polished surfaces, these are more subject to stubborn dirt on the surface. That is why, it is important to clean them thoroughly during the cutting process and before installation a protective treatment that facilitates cleaning is necessary (for example, using Stoneplus by Fila).
Stains do not penetrate deeply, but the rough finish, may in some cases make them difficult to remove. The treatment should be repeated periodically, since it might decrease in effectiveness over time, especially on the mainly used parts of the kitchen top.
SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS FOR QUARTZ AND EVO
Damage caused by acidic substancesThis range of products cannot be damaged by acids found in daily use.
It might, however, be damaged by prolonged contact with alkaline substances or repeated washing with alkaline detergents.
Scratch resistanceThis range of products has exceptional scratch resistance. In normal conditions of use scratches will not be visible. Slight scratches on light-coloured materials can be removed with thorough use of sponges and abrasive detergents. The repair of dark surfaces is however difficult and seldom successful.
Removing tough stainsBoth acidic products (e.g Deterdek by Fila) and alkaline ones (e.g. PS 87 by Fila) can be used thanks to the high level of resistance of these materials.
Their effect must be tested in advance. A very aggressive use of sponges or abrasive detergents may damage the surface.
Rust stainsThese are haloes caused by the presence of humidity during storage of the slabs, which brings traces of iron oxide, present in the mixture, to the surface. These can very easily be removed by using special acidic detergents (e.g. Deterdek by Fila) and will not form again during the cutting of the slab.
GENERAL RULES
The following instructions should be considered guidelines for ordinary indoor use and are not by any means a substitute for the end user's responsibilities.
The requirements for care and maintenance of Quarella products are different for Marble-based products, compared to Quartz-based products and the Evo series.
Quartz and Silica-based materials (Pianoforte or Evo series) are mainly used for making kitchen counters, guaranteeing high resistance to damage from acidic substances normally used in the kitchen.
The presence of an artificial binder gives all Quarella materials high resistance to water absorption, which protects the surfaces from dirt and makes it easy to remove.
STANDARD MAINTENANCE OF POLISHED SURFACES, QUARTZ AND EVO
These surfaces do not require any protective treatment or the use of special detergents.
Cleaning is carried out by using water and common commercially available detergents (such as dish wash liquid). Avoid using particularly abrasive detergents, which may cause tiny scratches. The use of very aggressive and highly concentrated products must be tested in advance. The regular application of polishing products (e.g. Stoneplus by Fila) helps to keep the original shine unchanged over time.
Contact with objects at a temperature of more than 140-160° C may damage the surface. In these cases it is advisable to use special hot pan coasters.
STANDARD MAINTENANCE OF PROCESSED SURFACES, QUARTZ AND EVO "CHENILLE" AND "VELVET"
Compared to polished surfaces, these are more subject to stubborn dirt on the surface. That is why, it is important to clean them thoroughly during the cutting process and before installation a protective treatment that facilitates cleaning is necessary (for example, using Stoneplus by Fila).
Stains do not penetrate deeply, but the rough finish, may in some cases make them difficult to remove. The treatment should be repeated periodically, since it might decrease in effectiveness over time, especially on the mainly used parts of the kitchen top.
SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS FOR QUARTZ AND EVO
Damage caused by acidic substancesThis range of products cannot be damaged by acids found in daily use.
It might, however, be damaged by prolonged contact with alkaline substances or repeated washing with alkaline detergents.
Scratch resistanceThis range of products has exceptional scratch resistance. In normal conditions of use scratches will not be visible. Slight scratches on light-coloured materials can be removed with thorough use of sponges and abrasive detergents. The repair of dark surfaces is however difficult and seldom successful.
Removing tough stainsBoth acidic products (e.g Deterdek by Fila) and alkaline ones (e.g. PS 87 by Fila) can be used thanks to the high level of resistance of these materials.
Their effect must be tested in advance. A very aggressive use of sponges or abrasive detergents may damage the surface.
Rust stainsThese are haloes caused by the presence of humidity during storage of the slabs, which brings traces of iron oxide, present in the mixture, to the surface. These can very easily be removed by using special acidic detergents (e.g. Deterdek by Fila) and will not form again during the cutting of the slab.