Apr 24 2008
Do you have granite or natural marble surfaces in need of repair, refinishing or restoration? The Natural Stone Restoration Alliance has developed a true warranty plan for natural stone surfaces. It's called the "Oops Factor Plan™", for the accidental dilemmas that occur like chips, scratches, sealing and staining.
Members of the Natural Stone Restoration Alliance are an independent group of stone restoration professionals specialized in restoring, repairing, and refinishing a wide range of natural stone surfaces. This includes granite, natural marble, travertine and many other natural stone products from all over the world.
Seeing the need for a legitimate warranty program for the maintenance and repair in the natural stone industry, Josveek Huligar, one of the founders of the NSRA, developed a protection plan offered to the homeowner, fabricator or kitchen and bath designer to accommodate the repair needs of natural stone. Finally, there's a unique plan offered by stone restoration specialists that can accommodate a customer's post installation stone repair needs.
As Josveek claims, "We are sure that you have heard of companies that offer warranties on natural stone. But when you read the fine print, they don't really warranty anything. NSRA members are kept up to date on the latest restoration techniques. We use state-of-the-art tools and the finest materials for repairs. We follow up on service requests within 72 hours, provide realistic estimates, and we make every effort to schedule and complete work quickly and efficiently. We make the extra effort to be timely and customer-friendly."
Plans start at as little as $250 a year. The "Oops Factor Plan™" ranges from a basic plan that will keep the stone sealed and protected to a customized plan where all issues of stone are covered; even altering the surface to different finish, if desired by the owner.
Natural Stone Restoration Alliance One Year Residential Natural Stone Protection Plan:
- Level One: This basic protection plan covers the most essential needs of your stone surface. This provides the client with a technical evaluation, a professional cleaning is performed, and the freshly cleaned stone is treated to a complete protective sealing.
- Level Two: This enhanced plan covers Level One as well as additional repairs. Chips, scratches, etches, stains, and normal wear and tear are also covered. Restrictions apply with relation to settling, intentional neglect, abuse, or seam failure.
- Level Three: This advanced plan covers both Level One and Level Two with additional repairs. Additional repairs include customizing seams to make them less noticeable as well as matching and altering the surface the client's wishes i.e.: honed, polished, satin, and antiqued. This plan covers all issues with the stone surface: settling, structural settling, and seam failure, natural characteristics of the stone such as fissures, water lines, and color manipulations with the exception of intentional physical abuse or cracking the stone due to excessive weight.
Huligar went on to say, "This plan is not designed to eliminate the need for a quality installation. This plan is designed to make sure that the stone holds up to the abuse of the other trades that may be working in the house. How many times have you walked into a room that was under construction and saw coffee spilled all over the stone? What about the plumber and painters who drag their tools over the stone and damaged it? How many times has someone picked the wrong finish for the application or simply had a change of mind about the finish after the stone has already been installed? This is what these three plans protect. That is why it is called oops. If a mistake can happen, we have a plan to fix it."