Monday, August 23, 2010

How to prevent and treat granite heat damage


Granite is made from hot magma, so it is naturally very resistant to heat and other elements. The granite slabs that are used to make kitchen countertops can sometimes be damaged by extremely hot pots and pans, though, so home owners should be careful. Repeated exposure to high heat can eventually leave black marks and gashes on granite slabs. Installing granite countertops is a big financial investment, but with the right care they can last in a home for many generations.

The easiest way to avoid damaging the surface of a granite countertop is to avoid placing the hot pots and pans on it in the first place. This may be hard to remember, but cooks should try to remember to use some sort of protective covering when they’re working with a lot of hot pots and pans. Even a tray or a cutting board can help protect granite slabs from damage, so fancy cooking accessories aren’t necessary.

Cooks can also just let their pots and pans cool down a little bit before placing them on a granite countertop. Just a few minutes should be enough time for the pots and pans to cool down sufficiently. Remembering to wipe their undersides to remove any black or burn marks will also help avoid damaging the granite surface. Electric stoves normally do not leave any black marks on the bottoms of hot pans, but it’s still a good idea to wipe them down in case something has spilled or boiled over.

Once granite slabs have been damaged by heat, they can still be restored to their original beauty. This is most easily accomplished with restoring liquids or pastes. There are special creams and solutions that can be used to polish granite countertops and remove stains and marks. These products can be used by the home owner on the damaged granite countertop, so a professional cleaning service isn’t necessary. Burn marks from hot pans can usually be rubbed away with cleaning creams and solutions, but deeper marks might not come off. In this case, a home owner may want to consult their California granite countertops manufacturer immediately.

Any damage to granite countertops that can’t be easily removed may be removed by a professional granite countertop service. If the stains cannot be removed, then most customers should be able to use the warranty on their kitchen countertops. This will only apply if the burns or other damage happened during the warranty period. Any California granite countertops manufacturer should take care of this type of damage right away. Most granite countertops can be repaired through home service. Watching a service professional repair the countertop also gives home owners a chance to observe the techniques used.

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