Frequently Asked Questions
Italy is not just famous of its design and quality but also for its rigorous safety measures and manufacturing controls. Santa Margherita is committed to providing earth conscious products in an environmentally friendly manufacturing atmosphere focused on safety for employees and sustainability for our planet. Quartz is one of the most abundant natural resources in the world. SMQuartz is NSF 51 food zone certified. SMQuartz is GREENGUARD Gold Certified® for low emissions. SMQuartz is KOSHER certified. Please, visit the “Safety, Environment & Sustainability” section below for more information.
SMQuartz is an engineered slab made of primarily natural quartz mineral. Granite is a natural stone cut from a block. Since SMQuartz is a manufactured product, it gives the added benefit of a 10-year transferable warranty and unlike natural stone, it is a non porous surface that never needs to be sealed making it maintenance free.
Metropolis is a special finish designed to recall concrete. As such, there may be a certain range of inconsistent variation, such as channels, dips, ridges, depression and indentations. The surface characteristics are unique and no two installations are exactly the same. If you have selected Metropolis based on a 4” x 4” sample, we recommend you view a full slab prior to confirming your order: you will fall in love with it.
Polished finishes are designed to not only look beautiful and rich but also to provide a maintenance free surface that does not retain dirt. Due to the high polish level Santa Margherita is able to achieve, these surfaces are manufactured to be easier to maintain and retain their beauty. Any specialty finish such as honed, antique, brushed, or metropolis are designed to create a certain aesthetic look for a design appeal. These surfaces, however, are not as easy to maintain as a polished finish. Metal marks, fingerprints and other signs of daily living will be more apparent. These marks can be removed by using a non-abrasive cleaning product such as Soft Scrub® gel with a white micro fiber towel.
The manufacturing process of SMQuartz blends nature and technology into an unparalleled surfacing material. The colour of each SSMQuartz slab is dependent on the quality and colour of the natural materials and the colours mixed within the resin binder. As with any product made with natural materials, there can be some variation in background colour and pattern and aggregate size and distribution. This is not considered a defect but part of the natural beauty and uniqueness of each individual slab. Although there is more consistency than natural stone, colour, background or shade variations not visible from 6 feet away are considered acceptable. This makes SMQuartz a preferred choice for designers and large commercial projects where colour consistency is a must.
SMQuartz is available in two different thicknesses, 2 cm and 3 cm. The process of lamination is joining a thin strip of material under the front edge to make the edge profile thicker. Just like other stone surfaces, lamination may be required depending on the project. As with all stone products, a lamination line is visible when two pieces of material are adhered together to create a thicker edge, like the 4 cm front edge.
Depending on the layout of your kitchen, seams might be made, however, the countertop pieces are placed close together and bonded with colour-coordinated resin. SMQuartz is not a seamless product, seams are visible. A well installed seam will be smooth but can be felt and seen. Due to slight thickness variations and tolerances, it is possible that one side of the seam may be raised. Where there are seams, there can be slight variance in the colour or pattern of adjoining pieces.The exact number of seams in a countertop will depend on the layout of the countertop and the number of slabs purchased to provide for this layout. Please note that requests for fewer or no seams will increase the number of slabs that must be purchased, thereby increasing the price. A certified Fabricator Installer can show you exactly where seams will be located on your countertop.
All dark colours of any surfacing material, including SMQuartz, require more maintenance. Under ordinary use, darker colours will more readily show dirt, fingerprints, and watermarks when compared to lighter colours and patterns.
Please visit the care & maintenance section HERE.
SMQuartz can endure normal cooking temperatures found in the kitchen up to 375°F for a short duration, without the fear of scorching or burning. It is still recommended that hot pads or trivets are used to protect the surface. Do not place electric skillets, frying pans, griddles or crock-pots, directly on the surface without the use of a protective base.
SMQuartz is composed of 93% natural quartz and 7% polymer resin binder. Natural quartz is non porous and the polymer resins that bind the quartz seal the slab making it a non absorptive surface that never requires sealing.
SMQuartz is composed of 90-93% natural quartz mineral blended with advanced polymer resins and pigments.