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Recycled Glass Countertops By Vetrazzo
 Vetrazzo... the original recycled glass surface
For a decade now, Vetrazzo® has created dazzling surfaces in places where people live, work and play all across the country.
With Vetrazzo Surfaces you can express both your styles and your respect for the earth without compromise. Vetrazzo is 85% glass, and all the
glass we use is recycled - so it really is good for the environment. Strong & BeautifulVetrazzo's artful surfaces are incredibly strong, durable, and a
joy to live with, now and for a long, long time.
The Basics
Vetrazzo® is an extremely durable and easy-to-maintain surface. It's 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. See what one Vetrazzo customer had to say.
Need a lot of maintenance? No. It's 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 you'll dull your knife.
Can you put a hot pot on it? Sure. It's 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 they've been installed and show no signs of wear.
Can you dance on it? We'll leave that up to you. (Careful not to slip).
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. It's 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 you're concerned about off-gassing.
Details on Vetrazzo Care & Maintenance can be downloaded here.
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.
More about The Many Countertop Materials
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