EarthElements™ ZQ Surfaces Care & Maintenance Guide

No Quartz. No Compromises.

A New Generation of Surface Products

EarthElements™ have a new generation of zero crystalline silica surfacing materials designed for both beauty and performance. EarthElements contain proprietary high- performance minerals that contain zero crystalline silica, ensuring a safer environment and higher quality products. The ingredients are “engineered” to deliver up to 2X the flex strength and 2X the impact strength of traditional quartz surfacing. Aesthetically, EarthElements™ also offer enhanced hardness and scratch resistance. Accurate marble and natural stone design surfacing is our specialty. The multi-layer veins pass from subtle to strong coloration and refract light to mimic three-dimensional stone translucency with improved performance. This combination ensures all EarthElements surfaces achieve the highest level of detail and durability.

EarthElements™ Product Care & Maintenance

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The Natural Look of Man-Made Surfacing Material 

Your EarthElements™ countertop has unique aesthetics and properties built into the slabs. Even though it is man-made, the process cannot control the exact flow of colors through the slab during the manufacturing process. As a result, your product with multiple background colors, multiple vein colors and unique flow patterns to the veining will result in one-of-a-kind slabs. Because of this uniqueness or “exotic” nature of the look, no slab is exactly like another. Slabs from the same batch should be used for the best possible color match. Color variations, natural color patterns and color movement are natural aesthetics of stone that EarthElements™ attempts to replicate through its unique process. 

EarthElements™ Heat & Scratch Resistance 

Your new EarthElements™ countertop is heat and scratch resistant but not heat and scratch proof. As is recommended with every countertop material, you must use cutting boards to protect the countertop as well as protect the cutting edge of your knife. You must always use heat trivets or pads to protect your new countertop from hot pots or heat-generating appliances like a crockpot or countertop roaster oven. Do not place hot cookware directly onto any countertop, including EarthElements™. 

Regular Cleaning 

Maintaining your EarthElements™ countertop is very easy and requires nothing more than common sense to keep the surfaces looking like new for years to come. Because EarthElements™ are non-porous, simple cleaning with mild soap and water will keep your surface looking like new. It is recommended that you wipe up any food or liquid spills as soon as possible using a cloth or paper towels. 

Please note that sponges are not recommended for EarthElements™. When wiping with a sponge, it leaves a film of liquid on the surface. This liquid will gather and form puddles in a short time period, which will evaporate and leave a dull or spotty looking finish from the sponge residue. 

A stubborn stain can be cleaned using a non-abrasive cleaning pad such as a white Scotch-Brite™ pad with a liquid, non-abrasive cleaner like Formula 409™ Glass and Surface cleaner. DO NOT use abrasive or harsh cleansing chemicals or pads on your countertops.

When grease from cooking is an issue, use a degreasing product to help loosen and remove the grease from the surface. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use. 

Hard to Remove Stains

For stubborn stains such as permanent markers, the countertop is not actually stained like granite, but the staining agent has adhered to the surface of the countertop. It is recommended to use a small amount of glass cooktop cleaner and a soft cloth and work the stained area in a circular motion until the mark is completely gone. We have found that Goo Gone™, Goo Off™, and Magic Eraser™ also work well on difficult stains. Once the stain is removed, rinse the area with mild soap and water. For hardened food, gently scrape the residue with a plastic scraper or a glass razor scraper to remove the hardened residue, then follow the above instructions, if necessary, to remove any stubborn residual stain. 

Durability of EarthElements™ 

EarthElements™ are tougher than natural stone and highly resistant to cracks, chips and pitting when installed correctly and properly maintained. However, no surface is indestructible. Avoid excessive force or pressure, especially on edges and cutouts, including openings for undermounted sinks. 

EarthElements™ installations require proper structural and level support. Your top should not sag or feel unsupported, especially against the back wall and corners after installation. If you have a concern, bring it to the attention of your installer immediately. 

Improper Load Limits on Countertops

A countertop is designed for the everyday loads or weights in a kitchen or bath application. A few examples of what a countertop is not designed to be used for are: 

  1. A seat for people to sit upon. 
  2. A ladder for a cabinet installer. 
  3. A Scaffold for a painter or electrician. 
  4. A workbench for a tradesmen’s toolbox or work area. 

These are examples of improper use of your countertops. It is within your rights to insist that workmen avoid using your installed materials as their work area or scaffolding. Always inspect your countertops after you have a tradesman working in your home to be sure any damage is rightly assigned to the guilty party. 

Thank you for choosing EarthElements™ for your home. It is unlikely that you will experience a problem due to a manufacturer’s defect. You can rest assured that Surface Products, Inc. backs its EarthElements™ material with a 15-year Limited Residential Warranty.