As a Brazilian granite, Violet Tropical is an exceptionally robust hard rock with low water absorption (0.15-0.25 %), good acid resistance and a Mohs hardness of 6-7. Wine, lemon juice, vinegar, cola, sanitary cleaners or descalers leave no etch marks as they would on marble or limestone.
For internal applications we recommend a sealing treatment based on silane or polysiloxane at first installation. On polished surfaces, 5-10 years can pass between refreshes of the sealing treatment depending on use; on heavily used kitchen worktops or external applications, check it every 2-3 years. Sealing protects against deep penetration by oil, grease and pigments — otherwise discolouration can show up on the lighter quartz speckles, while the violet groundmass conceals soiling visually.
Day-to-day care is carried out with a pH-neutral natural stone cleaner and a soft cloth or microfibre mop. Clear warm water is usually sufficient. Acidic cleaners are in principle unproblematic, but should nevertheless not be used, because they can attack the sealing treatment. The finishes currently available from stock are listed in the »Finishes« block further down this page.
For kitchen worktops, Violet Tropical is very well suited: cut- and scratch-resistant, insensitive to heat (hot pots and pans can be set down directly for short periods, though longer exposure to heat above 200 °C should nevertheless be avoided), acid-resistant and with good stain repellency. The high compressive strength of 229.5 MPa supports heavier static loading. The expressive violet surface conceals small signs of use remarkably well. For external applications, Violet Tropical is frost-resistant and weather-stable over the long term thanks to its low water absorption — outstandingly suited to external façades, terraces, stairs and pool areas. The finishes currently available from stock are listed in the »Finishes« block further down this page. The violet tinting is UV-stable and shows no changes of colour over time.
For pool surrounds, external terraces and fountain surrounds, a slip-resistant textured finish is mandatory — on smooth external surfaces there is a high risk of slipping when wet. In areas with frequent contact with salt (road salt, pool chlorine) we recommend an additional annual refresh of the sealing treatment.