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Vetrazzo Vetrazzo
®
Care and Maintenance


The Basics
Vetrazzo is an extremely durable and easy-to-maintain surface. Its comparable to granite in
strength, scratch resistance, heat resistance, durability, and care & maintenance.
Will it stain? Vetrazzo is less porous than marble and concrete and equivalent to some
granite. But you do have to care for it.
85% of the surface is glass, which is impervious to stain. However, acids (like red wine, lemon
juice, and vinegar) will etch the matrix of the surface (the concrete area between the glass) if
not cleaned up right away. And staining agents (like coffee and tea) will leave a trace if allowed
to remain on the surface.
Luckily, like aged butcher block, marble, and concrete, signs of living can actually enhance the
character of the surface. If you clean messes up quickly, your Vetrazzo will remain unchanged.
If you are more carefree, you may appreciate the natural patina that develops as you live with
and enjoy your Vetrazzo. Also, dark mixes and those with patina hide the signs of a carefree
lifestyle remarkably well.
Need a lot of maintenance? No. Its mostly glass. Keep it clean with soap and water, (avoiding
harsh abrasives). When the mood strikes you, buff it with a wax a few times a year and reseal
it once every year or two. Pretty simple.
Can you cut on it? Sure, but youll ruin your knife.
Can you put a hot pot on it? Yup. Its glass and concrete. As with any sealed surface,
prolonged excessive heat could compromise the sealant. So if you do this often, be sure to
reseal periodically.
Durable? You bet. Vetrazzo installations are in buildings that have seen millions of visitors
since theyve been installed and show no signs of wear.
Can you dance on it? Well leave that up to you. (Careful not to slip!).
Dwell magazine referred to it as a superhero of the countertop world. Need we say more?



~ read on ~ Caring for Vetrazzo
Caring for Vetrazzo surfaces is easy and comparable to caring for natural stone. The following
are suggestions for keeping your Vetrazzo as gorgeous as when it was first installed.
Sealing

Sealants are used on a variety of surfaces such as granite, concrete and Vetrazzo to create a
barrier to common household staining agents like red wine and coffee. When your Vetrazzo is
fabricated and installed by an Authorized Vetrazzo Fabricator, this sealant will be applied
during installation in your home.

We recommend you re-apply the sealant every year or two, depending on the color of the
Vetrazzo mix you choose and just how carefree you prefer to be. Its as easy as wiping it on,
letting it sit for 20 minutes or so, and wiping it off.

Good sealants are also available VOC-free if youre concerned about off-gassing.

More details on Vetrazzo Care & Maintenance are available at our website: www.vetrazzo.com.
Maintenance
Of course, the best way to maintain any surface is to wipe up regularly and not let the common
household offenders - such as coffee, tea, red wine, vinegar and citrus - sit too long. Dark
Vetrazzo mixes, such as any patina mixes, show little sign of wear and hide nearly anything
you may throw their way.
To keep the just like new finish, apply a protective wax to the surface after installation, and a
couple times a year thereafter. We recommend Goddard's Marble Wax or a comparable
product. These products are inexpensive and readily available at your local hardware store. The
wax barrier provides additional reaction time for wiping up staining agents before they can do
damage.
A simple test can help determine the state of the wax layer if a bead of water is absorbed by
the surface, its time to apply a coat. Follow the product manufacturers recommendations.
Some common household chemicals and solvents can damage the surface. The worst offenders
are:
Abrasive cleaners (like Comet and Spic and Span)
Rust/paint removers
Lacquer thinner
Fingernail polish remover
Other Solvents
Oven/metal/toilet/tile and drain cleaners
If contact with any of these materials should occur, wipe up immediately and wash the area
thoroughly with a mild soap solution. Rinse with water.

~ read on ~ Removal of difficult spills

Vetrazzo is resistant to common household stains but, like granite, it can be damaged or
stained by prolonged exposure to foods with high acidic content or strong staining properties
such as lemon juice, other citrus juices, wine and coffee. These acids may etch the surface
causing a dull appearance. This can be easily repaired by an authorized fabricator.

If stain removal is necessary, you may either engage a professional fabricator, or you may want
to try and remove the stain yourself using a poultice. The following is a common, effective
poultice recipe. More than one application may be necessary.

Non-scented, non-oiled Talcum powder, which can be found at most large supermarkets
or pharmacies
Hydrogen Peroxide (full strength)

Mix the Talcum powder and Hydrogen Peroxide together creating a thick paste, apply to stain
and cover with cling film, e.g. Saran Wrap. Tape edges of film to surface, this slows the drying
time allowing the poultice to draw out the staining agent. Be sure to use a low tack tape that
will not leave a residue.

It may take 2-3 days to allow the poultice to dry completely. Once dry, scrape off the poultice
with a razor blade; be careful not to scratch the surface, inspect the area and repeat if
necessary.

Re-apply sealant and wax after stain removal

Be sure to re-apply sealant after stain removal according to the manufacturers instructions; as
mentioned above, we recommend StoneTechs Impregnator Pro. After the re-sealant process is
completed and the sealant has dried, apply and buff a protective wax; as mentioned above, we
recommend Goddard's Marble wax.

Repairs

Vetrazzo is extremely durable, and may never need repair. However, should it become damaged
and you need it repaired, contact your Authorized Fabricator.
Just like if an edge of granite was damaged, if a piece of glass chips out of the edge, keep the
glass if you can. The fabricator can re-adhere it. If the glass is not available, dont worry. The
fabricator can still repair it.

Chemicals & Cleaners
Choosing supplies for surface care & maintenance these days can be very confusing. The best
thing you can do for any surface is be selective in your choice of cleaners. Most mass-market
products are corrosive to all surfaces. On the following page are some chemicals and cleaners
we recommend. For maximum performance, we suggest you reapply according to the schedule
noted.

~ read on ~ Recommended Products:
Cleaners: Mild soap and water. (Use as often as necessary)
Wax:
Goddards Marble Polish (A few times a year). May be substituted with any
good quality marble polish.
Sealant: Any high-quality granite or concrete countertop sealant can be used. We
like Impregnator Pro by StoneTech or Buddy Rhodes Natural Look Penetrating
Concrete Sealer. (Every year or two)
For more information on how to use these products, see
Caring for Vetrazzo
on our website,
www.vetrazzo.com.
Keep in mind that these are some of the nastiest chemicals to avoid:
Abrasive cleaners (like Comet and Spic and Span)
Rust/paint removers
Lacquer thinner
Fingernail polish remover
Other Solvents
Oven/metal/toilet/tile and drain cleaners
Other acidic solutions
If contact with any of these materials should occur, wipe up immediately and wash the area
thoroughly with a mild soap solution. Rinse with water.

Enjoy your Vetrazzo

The most important advice we can give you about caring for your Vetrazzo is to enjoy it. Its
incredibly durable and easy to maintain, so be sure to take pleasure in it and use it every day.
When cared for appropriately, itll look gorgeous for many, many years.

And its not only one of the most beautiful surface materials on the market because all of the
glass in it is recycled, its also good for the environment.

So enjoy living with your Vetrazzo, and every time you look at it and appreciate its beauty, also
feel good knowing that youve chosen a solution that is truly good for our planet.












Vetrazzo is the registered trademark of Vetrazzo, LLC, in the United States and/or other countries. Other product and company names
herein may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
Copyright © 2006 Vetrazzo, LLC. All rights reserved.