Product Care

Installation, Product Care and Maintenance

With proper care, Tailor-made⁺ products will maintain their appearance for years to come and function as well as the day they leave our studio.

Countertop/Vanity top Installation Checklist
Preparing access to the installation area	On the day of installation we kindly request that you take neccessary measures to protect surrounding furniture, walls and door frames. This is particularly important for the installation area itself and any doorways, access corridors and stairwells through which our team will need to navigate. Whilst our installation team make every effort to avoid damaging surrounding surfaces, walls and door frames, we are unable to offer any guarantees due to the shear size and weight of the items being transported.
Gas, electrical and plumbing works	Please note that our installation team do not carry out any gas, electrical or plumbing works. This means we are unable to connect/plumb any appliance, including but not limited to gas hobs, electrical hobs, third party basins, taps or electrical sockets. We also recommend that you schedule your plumber, gas and electrical engineer visits on the day after your item has been fitted, in order to allow sufficient time for any adhesive to cure.
Fitment of taps	If your worktop includes surface mounted taps, and these taps are available on-site during the installation process, our installation team will fit them for you. Note that this does not include associated plumbing. If your taps are not available to fit on the day, we highy recommend that your fitter consults professional advice for fitting taps to porcelains tops, as excessive tightening may result in damaging the top or cracking the porcelain surface.
Sealant	Worktop joins, gaps above upstands and areas where basins meet other surfaces will be filled with caulk/silicone in accordance with the specific installation requirements. Note that where flush mounted hobs are specified we do not apply sealant around the hob, as in most cases this process needs to be carried out by a registered gas or electrical engineer in complience with your Electrical Installation Condition Report or Gas Safety Certificate.
Under-mounted sinks	In the case of flush-mounted and under-mounted sink installation, we recommend attaching a supporting structure to the base unit. This support structure should be positioned to take the weight of the sink (including when full with water) rather than this weight being bourne by the countertop itself. For more information view our guide to designing solid countertops and islands. We also suggest reinforcing the underside of the countertop, around the perimeter of the sink with offcuts using an epoxy resin adhesive.

Product Care & Cleaning Topics Covered

• General cleaning of the porcelain surface
• Recommended detergents
• Things to avoid
• Is it possible to scratch a porcelain surface?
• Mohs scale of hardness
• Metal banding
• Warranty and liability
• Further reading

Unlike many natural materials including wood, stone and marble, porcelain is entirely non-porous. This provides an extremely hygienic, anti-bacterial surface that is ideal for food preparation. It has a durable, non-scratch finish that is heat and blade resistant, and does not require sealing like granite or marble. The surface offers protection against mould and mildew that cause odours, while coffee, red wine or tomato based sauces will not stain and cleaning products are safe to use. A comprehensive cleaning routine will help to keep your surfaces in tip-top condition and ensure their continued beauty for years to come.

General cleaning of the porcelain surface

General cleaning of your Tailor-made⁺ item is a relatively simple process and is the best way of preventing a build-up of dirt and unsightly stains. For everyday cleaning we recommend the use of warm water and a soft microfibre cloth. Dry with a second microfibre cloth and if your surface is polished, buff to restore the brilliant finish.

Before using any new cleaning product or method, make sure to test it on a small, inconspicuous area of tiling first. Avoid using excessively acidic or basic products, and do not use abrasive sponges. We do not recommend the use of polishing machines or waxes.

Although porcelain is stain resistant, care must be taken to immediately clean any stain, especially on polished countertops. The best way to ensure stubborn marks do not occur is to wash away stains such as red wine, food and drinks, using warm water and a soft microfibre cloth. For stubborn stains use a non-abrasive cleaning product, sugar soap or normal house cleaning products.

Do not use cleaners that have strong alkaline pH levels and thoroughly rinse the surface with clean water to remove residue. It is also important to note that hydrofluoric acid (HF) and its derivatives can irreparably damage porcelain stoneware.

For all cleaning operations, it is recommended to carry out a preventive test on a small part of material and leave the product on only as necessary.

For the regular maintenance of kitchen and bathroom areas, promoting shine and hygienic cleanliness and to remove lime scale, grease deposits and soap use a specialist cleaner. We recommend specialist ceramic cleaning products from Fila Solutions and Lithofin.

If the above cleaning is not sufficient to remove the most persistent encrustations, it is possible to intervene locally as indicated in the table below using a slightly abrasive sponge then, if necessary, combine the sponge with a degreasing product.

Things to avoid

• Avoid polishing wax or any impregnating products as their application is unnecessary.
• Avoid steel wool and abrasive products of any kind.
• Avoid chemical cleaners, bleaches or detergents containing chlorine or any of its derivatives except those detailed above.
• Avoid leaving food or other liquids with corrosive properties such as juices, salt, vinegar or mustard on the surface for extended periods.
• Avoid shocks in the most delicate points of the surfaces such as corners and edges.
• Avoid dropping heavy or sharp objects on the surface.
• Avoid heavy loads on the work surface. Particularly on overhanging areas and joints.
• Avoid sitting or standing on your countertop, vanity unit or table top.
• Avoid large quantities of water on the surface, and do not let water seep into the mounting holes, tap holes, joints, edges and critical points.

Is it possible to scratch a porcelain surface?

The short answer is yes. Porcelain, like other surfaces, can be scratched. However, porcelain surfaces are more scratch resistant than other countertop surfaces.

As a general rule the softer a surface is, the easier it will scratch. Diamonds for example are the hardest known mineral on the planet and are rated 10 on the Mohs scale of hardness. All other minerals are rated 9 or below. Anything with a hardness below that of a diamond cannot scratch a diamond, however this means that a diamond can scratch another diamond.

The same is true for porcelain surfaces. Because porcelain is so hard, with a typical Mohs rating of 8, care must taken when using utensils, pots, crockery and tableware that has an equivalent Mohs rating. For example ceramic knives, (which have a similar composition to porcelain), porcelain or ceramic crockery can scratch the surface, because just like diamonds, porcelain can scratch porcelain.

• It is highly recommended that cutting directly on the surface using ceramic utensils is avoided.
• It is highly recommended that care is taken to avoid sliding crockery and cookware across the countertop surface, particularly if these items are made of porcelain or ceramic.
• It is highly recommended that in these situations, chopping boards, trivets and placemats should be used.
• This is particularly true for polished and honed surfaces.

Mohs scale of hardness

Cleaning Metal Banding

Tarnishing is a process produced through oxidation or a chemical change or reaction between a metal and a nonmetal compound. Because our metal banding contains copper, brass, aluminium and other similar metals, it can react with cleaning agents that come in contact with its surface. Therefore it is very important, that if the surface of the metal banding requires periodic cleaning, that cleaning agents and detergents are avoided and the metal surface is only allowed to come into contact with soap and hot water. In addition because of the metal content you may experience patina. Patina is a thin layer that can form on the surface of copper, brass, bronze and similar metals through age and exposure. In the majority of cases this patina is aesthetically appealing and completely normal.

Warranty and Liability

We provide a limited warranty of 10 years on all Tailor-made⁺ products, guaranteeing that they will be free from faults or defects in workmanship and materials. This warranty does not cover damage or colour deterioration caused or contributed to as a result of normal wear and tear, or for damage caused through failure to comply with the instructions provided on this page.

Further Reading

More information regarding the technical properties of porcelain surfaces can be found here.

More information regarding our 10 year warranty can be found here.