Natural Stone Warranty

Natural stone including but not limited to granite, marble, onyx, travertine, quartzite, limestone, soapstone (hereafter referred to as ‘stone') products come with a one-year installation labor warranty only (with the possible exception of applicable local statutes). No warranty of any kind covering any natural stone material is implied or expressed. This Non-Transferable Limited Warrant does not cover any products or services for which Athenian Marble Corp has not been paid in full.

Installation services performed by Athenian Marble Corp such as setting and attaching the countertop and other natural stone surfaces, including silicone in seams or where the counter meets another surface are warranted for a period of one year from the date of installation or in the case of new construction, one year from the date of first occupancy (with the possible exception of applicable local statues).

This non-transferrable warranty is limited solely to the repair or replacement of stone which was purchased from Athenian Marble Corp, and to the re-installation of the stone if it was originally installed by Athenian Marble Corp. Stone may be repaired or replaced solely at the discretion of Athenian Marble Corp. Alternatively, at its sole option, Athenian Marble Corp may refund up to its original selling price of the stone (upon return of the stone by the customer if requested by Athenian Marble Corp) and / or refund its selling price for installation services. In the event of such refund(s), any and all claims will be deemed waived, and Athenian Marble Corp will have no further liability of any kind. 

Specifically not covered under this warranty is damage to stone after delivery, alteration by others, during storage or transit by others, during installation by others, resulting from repairs performed by others, resulting from abuse or misuse or exposure to certain outdoor conditions, or resulting from improper maintenance. Seams on outdoor installations are not covered.

Tolerances for dimensions such as length, depth, overhang, centerline, etc. allow for slight variances from design specifications. Variances not clearly visible or which can be detected only by using measuring devices are not covered under this warranty. Additionally, settling of floors, sub-structures, and cabinets and changes in ambient conditions will result in misalignment of installed products, opening of seams and joints, and gaps where products meet each other and meet walls, none of which are covered by this warranty.

Consequential, incidental, minor, or indirect damages of any kind are expressly not covered by this warranty. Such items which are not covered include — but are not limited to — fabrication costs, costs to uninstall or reinstall plumbing, electrical work, tile, wall treatments and coverings, delivery charges, loss of use, and any other costs or forms of compensation. Any damage to persons or property resulting from handling or installing by others or from use of this product is expressly not covered. Specifically included in this exclusion are minor nicks and chips to walls, cabinets, or appliances, cutting into walls to fit countertops, and dust or debris created during installation. Athenian Marble Corp's maximum liability under this warranty arising out of the sale of, other product or installation services, based upon warranty or contract, shall never exceed the actual payments reached by Athenian Marble Corp in connection therewith.

Some products sold by Athenian Marble Corp may have a limited warranty provided by a third-party manufacturer or vendor. All products which do not include a warranty by manufacturer or vendor are sold AS IS and without warranty. 

Athenian Marble Corp makes no implied or expressed warranty regarding merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose and makes no other warranties, expressed or implied, other than as set forth herein. No fabricator, installer, dealer, agent, or employee of Athenian Marble Corp has authority to modify the obligations or limitations of this warranty. This warranty is issued only to the original purchaser (the party whose signature appears on this warranty, or if no signature appears, the party by whom Athenian Marble Corp was paid), and is not transferable. However, this warranty also governs any claims which may be filed by the original end-user. 

Color and Veining: Stone countertops are composed of natural materials and are subject to variations in background color, veining distribution and veining pattern. The color, shade, veining, color concentrations (blotches), and any other variances in the appearance of natural stone will exist and will vary between a sample you may have used in the selection process and the actual stone(s) used on your project, between two stones, and even within the same stone. Such naturally occurring variations are to be expected in stone and are not considered defects.

Finish: Your countertop will come with a polished finish (unless ordered in another finish). Irregularities in the finish and gloss levels of natural materials like stone are common, reflecting the unique natural patterns and finish that give each other stone countertop its distinctive appearance. Finish and gloss will vary from piece to piece and on the same piece. 

Surface Irregularities and Thickness: Natural stone is composed of minerals and is earth-formed over many years. Fissures, pilling, mineral pooling, and other naturally occurring features in stone should not be considered as defects, and are not covered under this warranty. The thickness of stone slabs vary, therefore thickness designations (i.e. 3cm, 2cm, etc.) are nominal rather than exact. When pieces of different thicknesses are joined, it is common practice to grind the underside of one piece to blend with the other piece.

Seaming: Placement of seams is solely at the discretion of Athenian Marble Corp. Customer requests for seam placement will be accommodated only if the placement of the seam does not compromise the integrity of the stone and is requested prior to cutting of the stone and is reasonably able to be done by Athenian Marble Corp. Seams will be visible to the eye and touch. Every effort will be made to ensure the seam is placed in the best location for the structural integrity of the countertop and to make it aesthetically pleasing. Due to the unique characteristics of stone, it is not possible to guarantee a match in color, veining (including the direction of the veins) or finish, when seaming two pieces together. Additionally, stone slabs may contain some bowing or warping, therefore in some instances seams may not be level across their entire length.

Staining: All countertops are sealed prior to installation. Biannual sealing is recommended to enhance stain resistance, and such sealers may be purchased easily. When properly scaled and maintained, stone countertops are generally quite stain-resistant to common beverages and foods. In those instances when a stain occurs, there are products made that will help in removing the stain. Not all stains can be completely removed. Refer to the Care Guide for more information. Stains are not covered under warranty.

Scratching: Many types of stone countertops (i.e. granite, quartzite) are extremely hard surfaces and very resistant to scratching. If a scratch is discovered, it is not always possible to repair or remove it. The top should not be used as a cutting surface since it will dull your knives. The use of a cutting board is recommended. 

Temperature: Stone countertops are very heat resistant and unlikely to scorch. However, high heat over periods of time longer than 20 minutes may result in thermal shock or cracks in your countertop. It is recommended that you protect your countertop from extreme heat by using trivets or hot pads, as damage resulting from heat is not covered under this warranty. 

Fissures occur naturally in many stone types. A fissure is defined by the American Geological Institute as “an extensive crack, break, or fracture in the rock, which may contain mineral-bearing material.” The term “fissure” is used commercially in the stone industry to describe a visible separation along intercrystalline boundaries or the voids between mineral crystals. This separation may start and stop within the field of the stone or extend through an edge. A fissure differs from a crack in that it is a naturally occurring feature in the stone.

Cracks occur in stones as a result of mechanically induced stresses during handling, fabrication, transport, or installation. When cracks are detected in slab material prior to fabrication, the best method is to simply avoid them during the layout process. In stones with lesser soundness properties, this option may not be practical, or possible. When working with such stones, it is common practice to repair cracks by cementing them together with epoxy or polyester resin. (Repaired cracks are not indicative of defective product or workmanship, and are specifically not covered under this warranty).

Chips can occur in stones either as a result of sawing operations or handling. Chips may be repaired with epoxy or polyester resin if the completed repair is consistent in color and texture with unrepaired areas of the slab. 

Pitting of the countertop surface, particularly in granite, is a common characteristic of all natural stones. Granites are made up of several different minerals, each mineral having a different hardness. Granites contain quartz, feldspars, biotite, amphibole, ferrous titanium oxides, and other minerals. On the Mohs Scale, diamonds are the hardest mineral with a rating of 10. Quartz and feldspar have a hardness of 6.5-7 and are very durable. Biotite (mica) is very soft (2.5) and flakes easily. All true granites have biotite in their composition. Because Biotite is soft and flaky, the first few layers are removed during the polishing process, however there will be pits throughout the slab. Some granites have more biotite throughout their composition than others. The higher the biotite content of the stone, the more pits it will have. Most polished igneous rocks will have varying degrees of pits, depending on the amount of biotite, muscovite, and phlogopite in their composition. The pits do not make the stone less durable or otherwise inferior. Pits are common in all granites, marbles, quartzites, limestones, etc., and should be expected.