FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Helpful Documents
Optima Quartz
Optima Quartz Care & Maintenance
Optima Warranty
Optima Quartz Warranty
What is the process for choosing and installing stone in my house?
A homeowner needs to employ a fabricator (or a contractor who will employ a fabricator) and choose the stone that will be installed in their home. Either can be the first step! Visit our showroom to select your new countertops and after choosing the stone for your project, inform the fabricator. They will calculate a bid based on the price of the stone slab(s), labor, and installation. Once you make a final decision, inform the fabricator and they will take it from there!
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How do I choose the right stone for my project?
Each homeowner’s needs will be different. Please check out the pros and cons of the different types of stone below to determine what will be the best fit for your project.
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I found a stone I like on Casa bella’s website, can I buy it?
Unfortunately, we do not sell stone slabs directly to homeowners. We only sell slabs to fabricators, who will cut and install the stone into your home. If you’ve fallen in love with a stone on our website, we highly encourage you to visit us during showroom hours, Mon-Fri 7:30am-4:00pm, to see the stone in person. As color is interpreted differently by each device and even each person’s eyes, we do not suggest choosing a stone without seeing it in person first.
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The stone I like says "On Hold." What does that mean?
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"On Hold" means another customer has asked us to hold these slabs for their project. Sometimes, these holds fall through because customers choose a different stone, but the first customer to place the material on hold has first choice.
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Once I choose my stone, what happens next?
Congratulations! The next step is to check with Casa bella regarding stock availability for your project, and if it’s good, then inform your fabricator of your choice.
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My stone is on hold at Casa bella, what happens next?
At Casa bella, holds on stone automatically expire after 7 calendar days. If you’d like your stone to remain on hold longer, please call the office at 503.231.4102 to renew your hold. If the stone you have on hold is your final choice, please inform your fabricator so that they can confirm the hold and begin the process of pick up or delivery, fabrication, and installation into your home. Once a fabricator confirms a hold is moving forward, Casa bella will hold the stone for that project until it moves into the fabricator’s possession.
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What is the timeline between choosing my stone and installation into my home?
Our stone is ready for fabricator pick up any time during Will Call hours, Mon-Fri 7:30-3:30pm. Timelines for cutting and installing stone are dependent on fabricators. Please contact your fabricator for a more accurate answer.
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I live out-of-state, can Casa bella ship slabs to me?
Unfortunately, Casa bella can only deliver slabs to fabricators in the area.
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Do I pay Casa bella?
No. Because we do not sell to homeowners and only directly to fabricators, payment is given to the fabricator directly.
Natural Stone
What are the pros and cons of granite countertops?
Granite is normally a coarse-grained plutonic or intrusive igneous rock composed largely of feldspar, quartz, and some common mica. This provides a heavy crystalline and granular appearance with mineral grains. It can withstand high temperatures and will not easily stain, etch, or scratch. Though lighter colors are less stain resistant as their pores are bigger, which makes it important to clean up any acidic or oily spills in a timely manner. Overall, granite is a great choice for kitchen countertops.
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What are the pros and cons of marble countertops?
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Marble is metamorphosed sedimentary carbonate rock. Limestone or dolomite are the typical base minerals. The recrystallization of the carbonate minerals results in Marble, which features a wide range of colors and is usually heavily veined. It can withstand high temperatures, but is considered a soft stone, prone to etching, scratching, and staining. Though many customers love the look of marble, Casa bella does not recommend installing the stone as kitchen countertops.
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What are the pros and cons of quartzite countertops?
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Quartzite was once pure quartz sandstone that has been exposed to high temperatures and pressures within the earth and then was transformed into quartzite. It can withstand high temperatures and will not easily stain, etch, or scratch. Due to the nature of quartzite, which compacts layers of different stones to create beautiful colors and veining, it often has natural fissures in the slab (read more about fissures here). Overall, quartzite, is a great choice for kitchen countertops.
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What are the pros and cons of soapstone countertops?
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Soapstone is a steatite stone composed primary of a talc. It can withstand high temperatures and is highly resistant to staining as it is nonporous, but it is considered a soft stone, prone to denting and scratching. If interested, Casa bella has a sample piece of soapstone available in our showroom to showcase how it handles wear and tear over time.
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What is the difference between quartzite and quartz?
Quartzite is a natural stone mined from a quarry, whereas quartz is an engineered stone, using 93% quartz and 7% resin.
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What are fissures?
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Fissures are not defects. It’s a natural junction or line of separation within a single intact mass of stone. The fissure was formed when two separate flows of liquid hot magma merged into a single mass. It was there when it was quarried, there when the factory cut the block into a slab, and it will always be there. Fissures do not affect the strength or durability of a slab.
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What are cracks?
A crack in a slab is different than a fissure. It extends all the way through the slab and limits its usable space as it must often be avoided when fabricating.
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What do polished, honed, and leathered mean?
These are different finishes for stone. Polished is a shiny, smooth finish that is most familiar. Honed is a matte, smooth finish. Leathered is matte with the texture of the stone apparent to the touch. Honed and leathered finishes don’t affect the durability of the stone, but they do require sealing more often than polished and also open up the pores a bit more on lighter stones. It’s important to clean up any acidic or oily spills in a timely manner with matte finishes.
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How do I maintain my natural stone countertops?
For everyday maintenance, white vinegar diluted with water, or Windex will clean up most spills and help keep natural stone countertops looking good. Soapy water can work in a pinch, but over time soap scum will discolor the stone and make it cloudy. Otherwise, all natural stone (except soapstone) must be sealed and how often depends on the stone, the use, and the finish. An easy test is to pour a teaspoon of water onto your countertops and wait a moment. If the water remains beaded on the surface of the stone, it does not need to be resealed. If it seeps into the stone, it needs to be resealed.
Sealing stone is a simple process. First, clean the countertop so that you are not sealing in any stains. If there’s a particularly stubborn stain, try Mangia Macchia. Once dry, use a dry, lint-free cloth to apply a natural stone sealer—Casa bella sells Tenax Proseal. Simply wipe the sealer onto the surface of the countertop, including the edges and backsplashes (if applicable), until they are wet but not soaked. Wait a few minutes, then wipe any excess sealer away before it dries or it will become gummy. If that happens, use more sealer to wipe it away immediately.
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How do I know if my natural stone countertops need to be sealed?
An easy test is to pour a teaspoon of water onto your countertops and wait a moment. If the water remains beaded on the surface of the stone, it does not need to be resealed. If it seeps into the stone, it needs to be resealed.
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How do I seal my natural stone countertops?
Sealing stone is a simple process. First, clean the countertop so that you are not sealing in any stains. If there’s a particularly stubborn stain, try Mangia Macchia. Once dry, use a dry, lint-free cloth to apply a natural stone sealer—Casa bella sells Tenax Proseal. Simply wipe the sealer onto the surface of the countertop, including the edges and backsplashes (if applicable), until they are wet but not soaked. Wait a few minutes, then wipe any excess sealer away before it dries or it will become gummy. If that happens, use more sealer to wipe it away immediately.
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Optima Quartz
What is quartz?
Quartz is an engineered stone that combines 93% ground quartz, a natural hard mineral, with 7% resins, polymers, and pigments to form a very hard stone-like surface. Quartz has been created to look like natural stone.
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What are the pros and cons of quartz countertops?
Quartz is a hard material that is scratch, stain, and etch resistant, but due to the resin used to manufacture it, it is not considered heat resistant. Quartz countertops also do not require sealing as they are non-porous. For some homeowners, uniformity in the stone is important. The slabs in each block of quartz are made to look the same, offering regularity throughout the block.
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Is quartz the most durable choice for my project?
Nothing is indestructible. Though quartz is exceptionally durable, it can chip when enough force is applied—especially on the edge. It cannot withstand direct heat for prolonged periods of time, and so Casa bella discourages placing a hot pot or pan directly onto a quartz countertop. Each home is different and has different needs. Check out our pros and cons for each stone to make the best decision for your home or check out this article for more information.
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How do I activate my Optima Quartz Warranty?
Casa bella provides a lifetime warranty for Optima Quartz. This form must be completed by the homeowner within 30 days of installation.
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What is covered under the Optima Quartz Warranty?
Find a copy of the Optima Quartz Warranty here.
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How do I maintain my quartz countertops?
Find a copy of Optima Quartz Care and Maintenance here or check out this article for more information.
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Tools
I need a natural stone sealer for regular maintenance.
Casa bella carries Tenax Proseal.
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I spilled something on my natural stone countertops and it left a stain. How can I remove it?
We suggest trying Mangia Macchia, which is a paste used to “eliminate most of the visible stains such as oil, industrial oil, edible oil, coffee, etc. The paste chemical composition allows it to absorb deep stubborn stains. However, please bear in mind that because of the nature of many different stains, it may be necessary to redo the cleaning process a few times in order to remove the stain. Mangia Macchia does not damage the stone’s polish, does not leave shades, and restores the original beauty of the stone.”
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There’s a chip in my countertop. How do I fix it?
It is best to contact a fabricator as Casa bella is only a stone importer and wholesaler.
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I’m a fabricator and I need to buy trade tools. What do you sell?
Our vendors include:
