FAQ's

Find answers to commonly asked questions

Natural marble

NATURAL MARBLE

Natural Marble is a timeless and classic stone that has been used as countertops for many years. The flowing veins and natural beauty fit into just about any style or decor. Ideal for bathrooms.

Natural Granite

NATURAL GRANITE

Granite is typically one of the most affordable stone countertop options and is readily available. Ideal for most applications, including exterior settings.

Natural Quartzite

NATURAL QUARTZITE

Quartzite is generally heat and scratch resistant but other impurities found in many Quartzites, can sometimes make them less durable than natural granite. Ideal for kitchens.

Santamargherita Marble

SANTAMARGHERITA MARBLE

Santamargherita Marble exhibits consistent beauty throughout the space, whether in a bathroom, a living room or a commercial environment. Ideal for bathrooms and interior well caldding.

Santamargherita Quartz

SANTAMARGHERITA QUARTZ

Elegant and resistant, Santamargherita Quartz is the ideal surface for high traffic and everyday use. Ideal for kitchen, bath or other interior applications.

Santamargherita Quartz

VADARA QUARTZ

Vadara Quartz is inspired by classic marble and quartzite colors, handcrafted directional veined slabs that are ideal for high traffic and everyday use. Ideal for kitchen, bath or other interior applications.

General

Q.Are you open to the public?

A.

Yes. We are open to the public and highly recommend you visit any one of our locations to see the large variety of natural and engineered stone products in person. It’s the best way to educate yourself about our stones, match colors, gather ideas, appreciate the beauty of the stone and find the perfect stone slab for your project.

Q.Do you sell to the public?

A.

No. We are a direct importer and wholesaler of stone slabs but do not provide fabrication or install services or transactions to the general public. We sell our products to the consumer though a network of fabricators and industry professionals. We can assist you with selecting the perfect stone for your project and then guide you through the process of finding a fabricator to help bring the finished product to life. See our Fabricator Finder for help locating a fabricator within our distribution area.

Q.Why can’t I see the exact price?

A.

Verona Marble doesn’t sell directly to the public. That’s why you don’t see prices on our website. We sell our products to the consumer though a network of fabricators and industry professionals who have access to pricing for the Verona Marble products you prefer. See our Fabricator Finder for help locating a fabricator within our distribution area.

Q.What are the differences in Granite, Marble, Dolomite, Quartzite and Engineered Quartz?

A.

See our Stone Types page for a detailed description of the various stone types sold through Verona Marble, to help you decide what stone type is the best fit for your design and application.

Q.What caused the green/blue-green stain in my granite countertop?

A.

It’s possible that the green/blue-green stain was caused by an activator found in chip repair kits. If activator spray is applied too heavily, a green coloration may appear within a couple of days. Activators react with iron or copper minerals in the stone, which creates the green color. The staining commonly appears along the edges for the most part, however the staining can also appear on the surface. A possible solution is to use the Tenax TeBlossom Green Stain Removal Kit.

Q.Will my stone have visible seams?

A.

Most stone installations will require a seam. During design & layout, you can work with your fabricator to try to minimize the number of seams and to locate them in a less conspicuous area.

Santamargherita Quartz

Q.What is Santamargherita Quartz surface?

A.

Santamargherita Quartz is composed of 90-93% natural quartz mineral blended with advanced polymer resins and pigments.

Q.How is Santamargherita Quartz different from granite?

A.

Santamargherita Quartz is an engineered slab made of primarily natural quartz mineral. Granite is a natural stone cut from a block. Since Santamargherita Quartz 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.

Q.What makes Metropolis finish different?

A.

Metropolis is a special finish designed to look like 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.

Q.What is the difference between a polished finish and a honed, antique, brushed, or metropolis finish?

A.

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.

Q.Is Santamargherita Quartz uniform and consistent in color and pattern?

A.

The manufacturing process of Santamargherita Quartz blends nature and technology into an unparalleled surfacing material. The color of each Santamargherita Quartz slab is dependent on the quality and color of the natural materials and the colors mixed within the resin binder. As with any product made with natural materials, there can be some variation in background color 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, color, background or shade variations not visible from 6 feet away are considered acceptable. This makes Santamargherita Quartz a preferred choice for designers and large commercial projects where color consistency is a must.

Q.What does my 10-year warranty cover?

A.

Santamargherita Quartz offers a 10-year limited transferable warranty, warranting that the material will be free of manufacturing defects. This warranty covers failures caused by manufacturing defects which may occur during the first 10 years after the original installation. If a defect is identified during the first 10 year period, Santa Margherita will, at its option repair or replace the defective Santamargherita Quartz materials. This does not cover replacement labor cost. Santa Margheritas’ warranty does not cover damage caused by physical abuse, misuse or exposure to excessive heat, thermal shock, harsh chemicals or abrasives, product that has been moved or modified from its original installation, shifting or settling of substrate or installation area.

Q.Does Santamargherita Quartz have lamination lines?

A.

Santamargherita Quartz is available in two different thicknesses, 3/4” (2 cm) and 1-1/8” (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 1 1/2” (4 cm) front edge.

Q.Does Santamargherita Quartz have seams?

A.

Depending on the layout of your kitchen, seams may be necessary, however, the countertop pieces are placed close together and bonded with color-coordinated resin. Santamargherita Quartz 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 color 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. The fabricator / installer can show you exactly where seams will be located on your countertop.

Q.Will dark colors require more maintenance?

A.

All dark colors of any surfacing material, including Santamargherita Quartz, require more maintenance. Under ordinary use, darker colors will more readily show dirt, fingerprints, and watermarks when compared to lighter colors and patterns.

Q.How do I take care of Santamargherita Quartz?

A.

Please see the Product Information details for Santamargherita Quartz or view the specific Care & Maintenance documentation found in the Technical Documents library.

Q.How heat-resistant is Santamargherita Quartz?

A.

Santamargherita Quartz 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.

Q.What makes Santamargherita Quartz resistant to staining?

A.

Santamargherita Quartz 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.

Q.Can Santamargherita Quartz be used outdoors?

A.

The sun’s UV rays and acid rain can affect the color and smooth surface of Santamargherita Quartz. For this reason, we do not recommend using Santamargherita Marble in an outdoor application.

Santamargherita Marble

Q. What is Santamargherita Marble surface?

A.

Santamarghetia Marble is an engineered marble made of approximately 95% natural marble chips and pigments in a thermo set polyester resin matrix. The natural marble creates elegant colors while maintaining the luxury and beauty inherent of natural stone. The high-tech manufacturing process of vibrocompression under vacuum gives Santamarghetia Marble strength, consistency and durability not found in natural stone.

Q.Why should I choose Santamargherita Marble?

A.

Santamargherita Marble is manufactured with carefully selected natural marble chips and powders. The manufacturing process grants uniformity of color; dimensional and technical stability; and high resistance to abrasion, shock and flexing making Santamargherita Marble ideal in both residential and commercial applications.

Q.What are the suggested applications for Santamargherita Marble?

A.

Flooring, both residential and commercial, thresholds, treads/risers, window sills, wall cladding, kitchen backsplashes, vanity tops, bath tub surrounds, shower walls and shower pans, reception countertops are the typical applications of Santamargherita Marble.

Q.How do I take care of Santamargherita Marble?

A.

Please see the Product Information details for Santamargherita Quartz or view the specific Care & Maintenance documentation found in the Technical Documents library.

Q.How do I install Santamargherita Marble tiles?

A.

Please view the Santamarghertia Marble installation documentation found in the Technical Documents library.

Q.What does my 2-year Santamargherita Marble warranty cover?

A.

Santamargherita Marble offers a 2-year limited transferable warranty, warranting that the material will be free of manufacturing defects. This warranty covers failures caused by manufacturing defects which may occur during the first 2 years after the original installation. If a defect is identified during the first 2 year period, Santa Margherita will, at its option repair or replace the defective Santamargherita Marble materials. The warranty covers cracking, spalling, splitting or bond failure for any reason with the exception of unreasonable use (including damage from high heeled shoes), improper maintenance, foundation settling, cracking or deterioration of the surface upon which Santamargherita Marble was installed or other causes not arising out of manufacturing defects in the Santamargherita Marble.

Q.Santamargherita Marble is made with natural marble: should I expect color variation?

A.

Color consistency is one of the advantages of Santamargherita Marble. The mixture of color is always carefully controlled and monitored to maintain the highest level of consistency. Although careful steps are taken to ensure a high level of color consistency, slight color variations can still occur, especially in different lot numbers. This must always be considered and verified before fabricating or installing any Santamargherita Marble material. The Santamargherita Marble products made using aggregates bigger than 1 cm are constituted of 95% natural marble. Naturally, one should expect to see some of the characteristics that are typically found in natural marble. These materials may show signs of natural veining or surface fractures and should be expected in varying degrees. The veins and surface fractures in no way affect the integrity of the material and should be interpreted as a natural characteristic of the finished product.

Q.Can Santamargherita Marble be used outdoors?

A.

The sun’s UV rays and acid rain can affect the color and smooth surface of Santamargherita Marble. For this reason, we do not recommend using Santamargherita Marble in an outdoor application.

Q.What about environmental issues, sustainability, etc?

A.

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. Santamargherita Marble is GREENGUARD Gold Certified® for low emissions.

Vadara Quartz

Q.What is Vadara?

A.

Vadara is a natural, quartz surfacing product that has a variety of uses in your home or business such as countertops, vanities, replace surrounds, wet bars, showers, etc. Vadara is pure, natural quartz, one of the hardest and most common minerals on Earth. Some of Vadara’s designs have the natural look and feel of granite, marble and other quarried stones, but feature superior performance because of Vadara’s strength and durability. It is nonporous and will not absorb food and liquids like granite does. And best of all, it is maintenance – free.

Q.How does Vadara compare to granite or marble?

A.

Vadara is a quartz product that includes other raw materials to improve its durability and design possibilities. Unlike granite, Vadara doesn’t require a sealer. Marble is a softer stone and therefore stains and scratches appear more easily on the surface. Vadara is mainly made of quartz, one of the hardest natural minerals — which makes it resistant to scratching, staining and impact.

Q.How is Vadara different from other quartz surfaces?

A.

Vadara represents the finest quartz surfaces combining beauty, function, innovation and value — Developed and manufactured to the highest global standard. Vadara is quartz designed for modern living — and features the most natural looking veined surfaces available in the market.

Q.Is Vadara seamless?

A.

Vadara is a natural stone product that does require seams for any application longer than 126′′ or wider than 63′′. These seams are generally visible, but often less noticeable than seams found using granite.

Q.What type of warranty does Vadara provide?

A.

Vadara offers a limited lifetime warranty for both Commercial and Residential installations.

Q.I have an issue with my Vadara surface, what should I do?

A.

If you have an issue with your Vadara product, contact Customer Service in our Warranty Assistance section.

Q.Is Vadara resistant to staining?

A.

Vadara’s nonporous and nonabsorbent surface is resistant to staining and eliminates the need for any sealing. Its nonporous surface also greatly reduces the potential for bacterial growth from food absorbing into your countertop.

Q.Is Vadara resistant to heat — such as hot pans or pots?

A.

Natural stone surfaces can be damaged by sudden and/or rapid changes of temperature, especially near the edges, as well as direct and/or sustained heating of the top. Vadara may not withstand the direct transfer of heat from pots and pans and other cooking units such as electric frying pans and griddles, and some crock – pots or roaster ovens and heat lamps. Therefore, the use of a hot pad or trivet is always recommended to prevent heating the product.

Q.Can I cut on my Vadara countertop?

A.

Vadara surfaces are highly scratch resistant — however, avoid using sharp objects such as sharp knives or screwdrivers directly on the surface. The use of a cutting board is always recommended.

Q.Is Vadara safe for food preparation?

A.

Yes, Vadara is nonporous and is NSF 51 certified for food and splash zones in commercial kitchens.

Q.Can Vadara be used outdoors?

A.

While some customers have used Vadara in outdoor applications, it is NOT covered by our Limited Lifetime Warranty.

Q.Does Vadara require sealing?

A.

No. Vadara is a non–porous surface that never requires application of any sealant.

Q.Does Vadara require regular care and maintenance?

A.

No, keeping with its care – free promise, Vadara requires no sealing, polishing or reconditioning — for the life of your kitchen. Simply wipe with warm water and use mild soap if desired. Due to its nonporous nature, and unlike granite, it does NOT require regular sealing and is stain resistant.

Q.How can I clean my Vadara surface?

A.

No special cleaning product is needed to clean Vadara. It is suggested that bleaches and harsh chemicals are avoided.

Q.Are there any chemicals or cleaners to avoid using?

A.

We recommend using cleaning products between pH 5-8, as products outside this range may damage the surface. Avoid exposing Vadara to chemicals with pH levels outside this range, such as oven grill cleaners, floor strippers, toilet bowl cleaners, oil soaps, tarnish removers, furniture cleaners, drain products, etc. Should your surface accidentally be exposed to any potentially damaging products, rinse immediately with water to neutralize the effect.

Q.How should I remove stubborn or dried spills?

A.

Use a damp, soft cloth with warm water and soap. If needed, apply common, non-abrasive, household cleaners such as Soft Scrub Liquid Gel® with Bleach, or Comet Soft Cleanser® Cream directly on a damp cloth or sponge and wipe the surface, rinsing thoroughly after cleaning. To avoid dulling the surface’s shine, make sure to use a non–abrasive cleaner, and rinse off any cleaner with water. To remove adhered material such as food, gum, or nail polish, first scrape away the excess material with a plastic putty knife and then clean the surface with a damp cloth to remove any marks left behind and any residual dirt.

Natural Granite

Q.Does my Natural Granite countertop contain Radon?

A.

Studies conducted by respected scientists have found that the granite most commonly used in U.S. countertops is safe for use in homes. In fact, the highest radon emissions ever reported in these studies would create concentrations that are significantly lower than EPA guidelines to take any action. The primary source of radon in any structure is most likely to be the soil beneath it. If, however, you are concerned about the radon concentration levels in your home, you should have the overall air quality tested by a reputable radon testing organization. You can also refer to the “Truth About Radon” documentation found in the Technical Documents library

Natural Quartzite

Q.Is Quartz and Quartzite the same thing?

A.

Quartz and Quartzite are not the same thing, although it’s easy to see how the terms can get confusing. The term “Quartz” in the countertop industry, typically refers to Engineered Quartz, which is a man-made product made from natural quartz aggregate combined with polyester or other types of resin adhesive. Quartzite is a dense, hard metamorphic quartz based natural stone typically formed from sandstone.

Natural Marble

Q.Can I use Natural Marble in the Kitchen?

A.

There is much debate about this, and you will find opinions on the internet, from yes to no and everywhere in between. The simple answer is yes; natural marble can be used as a kitchen countertop material. With that said, there is much to consider when doing this. Marble is considered a soft stone, so when used in a harsh environment like the kitchen, things can happen. Marble can scratch fairly easy. Marble can also etch fairly easy when exposed to acidic products. Lastly, marble is porous, so it can stain. With that said, you may be the type of person who is OK with all that. If so, marble might be a good product for you. If not, you may want to consider using some other product like engineered quartz that has a very similar look yet provides a strong and durable surface without the drawbacks of a natural marble.