The Most Common Countertop Damages and How to Avoid Them
Stone countertops are very durable, it’s true. Does this mean that you can do whatever you want with them and not have to fear any consequence? Of course not! In this brief article we’ll go over some of the most common damages and how they can be prevented, or if necessary, repaired.
Sink Edge Chips
By far the most common damage that we see. Carelessly moving heavy and large pots and pans around the sink is a surefire way to end up with sink edge chips. When selecting a sink, make sure you choose one that fits not only your kitchen, but your level of use. If you are somewhat of an at-home chef, you need to plan for a style of sink that would be able to easily handle all of your dishes, maybe with a lower center divider. If you are very casual and just need to wash a few dishes and maybe defrost something on the other side of the sink, a standard height divider is probably fine. The best thing that you can do to prevent sink edge chips along with choosing the right sink is going to be a sink-saver edge. This edge is specially tooled on the inside of the sink with a far rounder profile, giving it much more strength than standard edges. Only select fabricators (including us) offer this option, so be sure to ask around.
Impact
Dropping something on your countertops can result in ugly pits, chips, or cracks. Be careful when moving heavy objects around over your stone countertops, but it’s not the end of the world if you do happen to damage the countertop. Many common damages can be repaired.
Etching and Stains
Again, remember that your countertops aren’t bulletproof. Even with a great sealer you should exercise caution with liquids on your countertops. Very acidic foods are usually the culprit for etching and stains. Common ones include lemon juice, wine, tomatoes, teas and coffee, and oils. When these liquids get on your countertops, clean them off immediately. Make sure that your countertops are always correctly sealed. Although you can cut on the majority of countertop types, use a cutting board to lower the risk of damage to your beautiful investment.
Cracking
If you were hoping to store your barbell collection on your counter, you might want to rethink. Natural stone Is very strong, but when cut into these relatively thin “slabs” it is not meant to hold excessive weight. Don’t set anything extremely heavy, including yourself on these countertops, especially on any overhang.
If you are concerned that you may carelessly damage your beautiful countertops, an extended warranty or service plan is a very smart way to spend a few hundred extra dollars. Feel free to visit our showroom and talk to our very knowledgeable sales staff.
