Properties of Natural Stone
Small pit holes are common in natural stone.
Large pits are filled in by Norcab’s Stone Vendor.
There may be:
- Extrusions – a small visual crack that does not pose a fault in the material.
- Fissures – a crack with no stone content, commonly no longer than 3” and filled with clear resin. –
- Colour and pattern may vary, making it vital to tag the natural stones with movement in pattern for your project. Salt and Pepper stones do not always need to be tagged.
- Colour and pattern may vary from one end of a slab to another.
- Joints and seams are hardly visible although are noticeable through touch. Slight variations are to be expected in surface joint seam width and height alignment.
- Seam placement is determined by Norcab’s Stone Vendor. Customer input will be considered, but Norcab’s Stone Vendor must approve any seam location requests. These requests may affect your quote. – A signed marble/travertine waiver is required for all marble projects. Marble and travertine are extremely soft and porous.
- Latitude applies a 25 year warrantied stain-proof technology to Granites and Quartzites which never require resealing or further maintenance other than washing countertops with soap and water.
- Natural stone is susceptible to thermal shock. Always use trivets and cutting boards.
- Natural stone can chip with force, especially around the sink (for undermount sinks) and along the edge.
- There is a tolerance of 1/8” or less for gaps between the countertop and wall or gable.
- Dark colours will show seams (including seams in 1 ½”, 2” and 3” edges) more than lighter colours.
- Does not allow for mitred radius in stone surfaces. – May not allow for mitres or ogee edge style when material is too soft.
Properties of Quartz
- Quartz surfaces are nonporous and therefore stain resistant.
- Quartz surfaces are scratch resistant due to the hardness of quartz.
- Quartz surfaces are composed of natural minerals, pigments and binders. There may be slight variances in colour, shade and particle structure. Pooling of particles are not considered defective.
- Joints and seams are visible and noticeable through touch. Slight variations are to be expected in surface joint seam width and height alignment.
- Seam placement is determined by Norcab’s Stone Vendor. Customer input may be considered but Norcab’s Stone Vendor must approve any seam location requests.
- Quartz surfaces are susceptible to thermal shock. Always use trivets.
- Quartz surfaces can chip with force especially around the sink (for undermount sinks) and along the edge. Although a 1/8″ top radius is now standard procedure for eased edges, this kind of chipping is not covered under warranty.
- There is a tolerance of 1/8” or less for gaps between the countertop and wall or gable.
- Dark colours will show seams (including seams in 1 ½”, 2” and 3” edges or “lamination seams”) more than lighter colours. Silestone: o ZEN and LIFE series colours reveal a very noticeable surface and lamination seam. o Leather texture shows daily living more than polished Silestone. It marks and shows finger prints (especially in dark colours). Scrub lightly with a light abrasive cleaner and a Scotch Brite pad®.
- Colour may have slight variations.