Cleaning And Maintenance; About Natural Stone; Granite Top - Cal Flame MC800 Owner's Manual

Cleaning and Maintenance

About Natural Stone

A natural characteristic of granite and marble is its
inherent lack of uniformity. Because it is a completely
natural material, it can have a great deal of variation in
color, shade, finish, tint, hardness, strength, and so on.
Any time you use natural stone, you can always expect
differences from one tile to the next. You will frequently
see dry seams, pit or fossils. These areas are often filled
in at the factory. Over time through normal use, the fill
may work its way out.
Even though stone tile is a natural product, it nevertheless
can be affected by extremes in weather. Both marble
and granite are decorative and durable, but they have
different compositions and wear differently in the
elements.
We recommend barbecue island owners keep their
island covered if they are concerned about damage from
constant exposure to weather. This is particularly true in
areas where there is snow, ice, or very hot weather.
Stone is porous, especially marble, and often has natural
fissures in the surface. Constant exposure to extreme
heat or cold can cause these natural features to expand
and eventually crack.
Although the stone has been properly finished and is
suitable for use in an outdoor environment, Cal Spas
does not apply a weather sealant to our countertops. We
never wish to second-guess how our customers want to
use their barbecues or the locale they will use them in,
so we leave the choice of applying a weather sealant
entirely up to owners.
We do not recommend any specific brand or
manufacturer, although there are literally hundreds of
excellent products on the market customers may choose
from.
In addition to maintaining the stone tile surfaces,
barbecue island owners need to know that the grout
between the tile, while it is durable, can also be affected
by both extremes in weather and by normal use. Grout is
much easier to repair than stone tile and gaps between
the tile can cause water to seep into the barbecue island
and cause damage to the interior.
In those instances where natural cracks occur, we
recommend having an experienced tile worker filling
them with a material of a complementary color. After the
filler sets and is sanded smooth, apply a weather sealant
to help prevent further cracking.
For the benefits it yields, we cannot stress the importance
of regular preventive maintenance. It is inexpensive
2008 Barbecue Island Owner's Manual
LTR20081036, Rev. A
Cleaning and Maintenance
and will help a barbecue island remain attractive and in
excellent condition for years.

Granite Top

Clean stone surfaces with a few drops of neutral cleaner,
stone soap (available from Monticello Granite) or a mild
liquid dishwashing detergent and warm water.
Use a clean rag for best results.
Too much cleaner or soap may leave a film and cause
streaks.
Do not use products that contain lemon, vinegar or other
acids on the granite the high acid content may etch the
surface.
Rinse the surface thoroughly after washing with the soap
solution and dry with a soft cloth.
Change the rinse water frequently.
Do not use scouring powders or creams; these products
contain abrasives that may scratch the surface.
Do's
Dust surfaces frequently
•
Clean surfaces with mild detergent or stone soap
•
• Thoroughly rinse and dry the surface after washing
Blot up spills immediately
•
Don'ts
• Don't use vinegar, lemon juice or other cleaners
containing acids.
• Don't use cleaners that contain acid such as
bathroom cleaners, grout cleaners or tub & tile
cleaners.
Don't use abrasive cleaners such as dry cleansers
•
or soft cleansers.
Don't mix bleach and ammonia; this combination
•
creates a toxic and lethal gas.
Scratches and Chips
Small scratches are visible because they are lighter in
color than the surrounding areas. Making them darker will
hide them. On dark stones, we have had good success
using permanent black magic markers. Do not use them
on lighter stones. Apply the marker to the scratch, let it
dry, and then rub it off the surrounding area.
Both marble and granite may chip when subjected to a
sudden impact. If you have a large chip, try to find the
loose pieces. They can often be epoxied back into place.
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