Stone Care Answers · 11 of 11
New home & buying
What to ask, what to check, and what the paperwork should have said.
8 answers on this page. Tap a question to open it.
What should I ask the builder about my counters at closing?
Four things: what the stone is, by name; who fabricated it; whether it was sealed at install and with what; and whether the finish is polished or honed. Get the fabricator's paperwork in the folder before you sign.
Was my counter sealed at install?
Ask the builder or fabricator, or just run the water test. Fabricators commonly seal natural stone once before install, but not always, and quartz is never sealed. If the stone darkens under a puddle, it wasn't, or the seal is already thin.
Homeowner
What's builder-grade granite?
Real granite, from the most common colors, bought in volume. It's not worse stone; it's less rare stone. It's usually sealed once at install and then forgotten, which is why it goes dull. Care for it like any granite and it lasts as long.
Is there a warranty on stone countertops?
Fabricator warranties usually cover workmanship: seams, installation, cutouts. They don't cover etching, staining, chips, or heat marks, because those come from use. Quartz manufacturers warrant the material and specifically exclude heat damage. Read the exclusions before you call anyone.
What does "Level 1" granite mean?
It's a pricing tier, not a quality grade. Level 1 is the most common colors and patterns; higher levels are rarer or imported. A Level 1 granite is as hard and as restorable as a Level 5. It just looks like more of its neighbors.
Slab yard or big box for a new counter?
The slab yard lets you pick the actual slab and see the veining, fissures, and pits you'll live with. Big box sells from a sample. Either way, get the stone name in writing and ask about sealing. And if it's sold as quartzite, lemon-test the sample.
What should the install-day paperwork include?
Stone name and type, finish, sealer used if any, seam locations, and care instructions from the fabricator. Keep it with the house documents. It's your Day 0, and it's what settles the quartzite question later.
I just closed. What should I do with the counters in the first week?
Identify the stone. Write down Day 0. Run the water test once so you know where you're starting. Put coasters, trivets, and a tray by the coffee maker. Read the guide. That's the whole first week.
Homeowner
Nothing here matches that. Try the search on the main answers page, or send a photo below.
Sources:
Fabricator and quartz manufacturer warranty documents; Natural Stone Institute care guidance.
Reviewed September 2026. Fact-checked against Natural Stone Institute publications and manufacturer technical data by an independent reviewer. Written by Restore My Counters.
Didn't find it? Send a photo.
Your own counter, damage gone, in your inbox. Plus what it is and what we'd do. No visit, no pressure.
See YOUR Counters Restored