Connecting North America with exotic, exclusive, and exceptional materials.

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FAQ Categories

General

How often do I need to seal my marble counters?

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The frequency depends on multiple factors like how often you use the counter, what products the counter is exposed to and how often. Marble counters will need to be sealed more often (every 6-9 months) compared to other stone types due to their porosity. There are no pre-defined timelines but, your fabricator/ builder will be able to guide you better or refer to the instructions provided by the sealer brand.

What does a sealer do?

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A sealer attaches to the surface of the stone and protects it from staining, scratching and losing shine.

What is an impregnator sealer? How does it work?

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An Impregnator sealer penetrates the surface of the stone and forms permanent bonds to protect the stone against staining, scratching and loosing shine.

What is the best stone color to use around a fireplace?

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The best color for your home depends on your personality, preference and the look you are trying to achieve. As a general guideline,

  • light stones reflect light making a room appear bigger and brighter while dark stones absorb light making a room appear smaller and more intimate.
  • However, using a dark stone or a stone with a lot of drama on 1 wall in a well-lit area or a light-colored room, will help attract focus and highlight the wall.

Will I see seams on my countertop?

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Seams are inevitable depending on the size of your countertop. It’s best to speak with your fabricator about the layout and seam size before starting the job.

Natural Stone

What are the different stone finished you offer?

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We commonly offer 3 finishes in natural stone – polished, honed and leathered (LF)

What does honed and LF mean?

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We offer 3 finishes on natural stones – Polish, Hone and Leather.

  • Polish – This finish is glossy, shiny and reflective in some cases like metal or mirror.
  • Hone – This finish is reminiscent of a matte surface. It is smooth and soft without a shine and easy to maintain.
  • Leather – This finish has texture and depth to it and adds character to a space when used correctly. This finish is also the best for slip resistance and outdoor use.

What is the best stone color to use around a fireplace?

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The best color for your home depends on your personality, preference and the look you are trying to achieve. As a general guideline,

  • light stones reflect light making a room appear bigger and brighter while dark stones absorb light making a room appear smaller and more intimate.
  • However, using a dark stone or a stone with a lot of drama on 1 wall in a well-lit area or a light-colored room, will help attract focus and highlight the wall.

What is the difference between Natural Stone tile and Ceramic / Porcelain tile?

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The major difference between the two products is that ceramic/ porcelain tile is a manufactured product while natural stone tile is made from stone quarried from the earth. Ceramic/ Porcelain tiles are also easier to maintain than natural stone tiles.

What is the difference between Quartz and Quartzite?

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Quartz is a manufactured product designed to emulate natural stone or other surfaces whereas, Quartzite is a natural stone found in the Earth’s crust. This article does a great job at comparing the 2 products.

Quartz

Can I cut directly on Cosmos Quartz?

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No, you will ruin your knives. Quartz is much harder than steel and should not be used as a cutting surface. You must use a cutting board that is appropriate for your cutting tools.

Can I use hot pots directly on the surface?

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No, you must use a trivet or hot pad to ensure protection for any countertop surface from heated cookware. You cannot put hot pots directly on the surface. No countertop material is completely unaffected by direct heat.

Do I need to seal Cosmos Quartz counters?

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Cosmos Quartz counters do not require to be sealed.

Do I need to seal my Cosmos Quartz counters?

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Cosmos Quartz counters do not require to be sealed.

Does Cosmos Quartz come with a warranty?

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Yes, your Cosmos Quartz purchase is covered with an industry leading 10-year product warranty.

Tile

What are porcelain tiles?

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Porcelain tiles are made up of 50% feldspar and are fired at a much higher temperatures than regular ceramic tiles. This makes porcelain tile harder and denser than other tile products. Because of its highly durable make-up, porcelain tile is more resistant to scratches and can withstand temperature extremes. Also, because porcelain is non-porous, it is very stain resistant, has very low water absorption ratings (Less than 0.5%) and can be used for interior and exterior applications as well as heavy-use and commercial areas.

What are through body tiles?

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Unglazed porcelain tiles are a solid color all the way through the tile body and do not have a top glaze. These tiles are generally referred to as through body or full body tiles. They are typically denser and more durable than glazed tiles and also have good slip resistance. However, they do need to be sealed to avoid staining. These tiles are especially good for high traffic areas due to their ability to withstand wear and tear.

What grout size should I use for my porcelain tile?

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Grout joints are an aesthetic preference. The general trend has been to use thin grout joints that are 1/8” to 3/16” with a 1/4” joint being the optimal size for a layout with multiple tile sizes. An important factor to remember when deciding grout joint size is that the bigger joints attract more dirt and tend to crack versus thin joints.

What is nominal size in tile?

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Tile is usually referred to by its nominal size, not its actual size. During the firing process, ceramic tile will shrink, on average, by about 10% in size. For example, a 12” by 12” floor tile will actually measure 11-7/8 inches square. Currently, the most popular ceramic floor tile are the larger sized tiles such as 13” by 13”, 16” by 16”, 18” by 18” and 36” by 36” sizes.

What is rectified tile?

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Rectified tiles have all the edges mechanically finished to achieve a more precise facial dimension. Rectified tiles can have smaller grout joints thus needing lesser amounts of grout and can be more aesthetically pleasing.