Helpful Information About Ubatuba Granite

Ubatuba is one of the names of granite you will find in our gallery. This is one of many different types of natural granite that people use for kitchen countertops and other surfaces. As with most granite, there are some specific features that Ubatuba possesses. Additionally, there are some traits that make this granite unique. In this article, we won't go into too much detail about the unique qualities of Ubatuba. We will mention some brief comments about the composition or the visual appearance or both, but the majority of this article will talk about working with Ubatuba and how to take of it.

Why Ubatuba Granite

One of the first things to contemplate when considering any granite surface is why people choose it. There are many reasons people select natural granite for kitchen countertops. Ubatuba Granite has many of the benefits that virtually all natural granite offers. It does however, have some characteristics that make it what it is. And like many other stone surfaces knowing a bit about the composition can be helpful. The following quote was taken from the description of a photo written by a geologist about Ubatuba.

Ubatuba Granite from near the town of Ubatuba in southeastern Brazil. This late Neoproterozoic to Cambrian (~650-500 million years) charnockite has large, dark-greenish feldspars, black pyroxene, and some quartz.

In addition to those basic comments, many other important facts about Ubatuba are helpful to be aware of. We'll consider some additional helpful information about this remarkable natural stone.

What Ubatuba Granite Is Made Of

As with most natural granite, Ubatuba is a composition of primarily natural quartz and/or feldspar. It can contain other materials, but the main minerals are those in most cases.

The minerals that make up a Ubatuba Granite slab give it some qualities that people are drawn to. Some of these qualities translate into practical properties for daily use and care.

Ubatuba Properties

One of the big advantages of natural granite over other hard countertop surface materials is that it is very hard. Materials such as Ubatuba Granite are scratch resistant because of the hardness of the material. Ubatuba is also heat resistant. Unlike some engineered stone, granite can resist heat and does not burn or discolor.

Ubatuba natural granite is also very unique. Not just unique from other stone, but it is also distinct from other Ubatuba slabs. Choosing your specific slab is encouraged since each stone can vary one from another.

Fabricating Natural Ubatuba Granite

What goes into working with and fabricating Ubatuba Granite? Well, for most of us the project is bigger than we are equipped to take on. This is because Ubatuba is such a hard material that ordinary tools aren't the best suited for working with it. For example, just drilling a hole in a Ubatuba kitchen countertop slab will take a diamond core bit designed to cut through rock. Stone fabrication professionals have all this equipment. Therefore, the project is not only easier for them, but they have more experience actually working with granite. So, cutting, drilling, and installing Ubatuba is much easier for them than it would be for a novice.

Even transporting Ubatuba natural granite can be a challenge for the average person. Even handy individuals and do-it-yourselfers could find moving a piece of Ubatuba Granite form point A to point B. Since Ubatuba is heavy, it requires more than one person to move, lift, and adjust it. That doesn't even take into consideration the material handling equipment that one needs to transport it. Additionally, installing Ubatuba will require a specific formulated and colored granite glue. These are all supplies that fabricators are familiar with and even already have.

Caring for Your Ubatuba Surface

It's true, Ubatuba Granite is a natural stone that came to be from intense heat and perhaps pressure. However, your Ubatuba surface has undergone some treatments to prepare it for its place in your finished project. As a result, there are some basic facets of taking care of your Ubatuba surfaces. They are not difficult and they will keep your Ubatuba natural granite looking its best. There are two main methods for caring for your granite. We'll discuss them next.

Keeping Ubatuba Sealed

Your Ubatuba surface will arrive with a sealer applied to keep it from readily absorbing liquids. Sealers are applied to natural granite because of the porous nature of natural stone. Maintaining the sealer on your surface is the first way to care for it. Ubatuba Granite benefits from periodic testing to see if it needs resealed. every so often, 6 months to a year, simply put a few ounces of water on the surface to see if the stone is "thirsty". If the slab readily soaks up the water, then it is in need of being sealed.

There are a number of natural stone sealers available for all sorts of materials. If you are sealing a kitchen countertop, we offer a food safe stone sealer designed for use on surfaces that come into contact with food. Again periodic testing of the surface will reveal how much sealer it needs.

Ubatuba Cleaning

Besides keeping your Ubatuba surfaces and countertops sealed properly, you will also need to use some cleaning techniques designed to yield the best results in your overall maintenance program. In so doing, you will find that there are a couple of aspects to cleaning Ubatuba surfaces. The first aspect of cleaning granite is the everyday cleaning tasks. This kind of cleaning would include wiping up spills, splatters, and crumbs from the surface of the stone.

When daily cleaning is being performed, the best cleaner for the job is a pH neutral cleaner. Why us a pH neutral cleaner for natural stone? Because these cleaners do not break down the sealer. Some cleaners will simply remove the sealer that you use to treat the surface of the stone. When this happens it is as if the surface was never sealed in the first place. So, using the appropriate cleaner will retain the benefits you gain by using a natural stone sealer.

In addition to the daily cleaning of Ubatuba, and particularly in the event that your sealer has been worn down or dissolved, you may find that you have to remove a stain of some sort. When this happens, you will need a different kind of cleaner. There are a number of specialty cleaners that are formulated to remove specific kinds of discolorations. These kinds of cleaners are often referred to as stain removers. Depending on the kind of stain or discoloration you have, you will need a remover made for that particular substance.

About Maintaining Ubatuba

It really just boils down to putting together a regular routine of cleaning and sealing your natural Ubatuba Granite surface. Once you get the routine into full swing, it just becomes second nature. A good routine for maintaining natural granite, including Ubatuba, basically involves the following:

• Use a pH neutral cleaner to keep the sealer from breaking down and clean any debris from the surface.
• Reseal the surface of your granite surface when it gets "thirsty"*.
• Using a fortified stone polish periodically gradually maintains the sealer on the surface of the natural stone.

In conclusion, granite surfaces like Ubatuba make very durable surfaces for the home and can ber a challenge to install yourself. Having your Ubatuba Granite countertop installed by a professional with the proper tools and equipment will yield the best results. Additionally, how you care for the surface after the installation will go a long way toward years of performance from your Ubatuba kitchen countertop surface.