Maintenance & warranty
Maintenance
Our countertops, whether finished with oil or wax, should be cleaned with a solution of mild soapy water. If after a week or more of usage, the surface of your oil or wax-finished countertop appears rough, do not be alarmed. This roughening results from the swelling of the fibers on the surface of the wood when they come into contact with water. This normal phenomenon is easily corrected with light sanding. After a few maintenance sessions, this roughness will disappear.
Counters finished with oil or beeswax will need to be retreated occasionally. When you notice that water rapidly penetrates the surface of your countertop it is time to apply either BizzzTM Beeswax or polymerized oil in accordance with the existing finish on your counter. If you have just washed or disinfected your countertop, you must let it dry for at least 12 hours before treating it.
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Please refer to our documentation.
Attention!
Cloths soaked in polymerized oil are flammable! It is most important to completely immerse them in water before discarding them in a safe place. Polymerized oil contains tung oil and could cause an allergic reaction to persons allergic to nuts.
DISINFECTION
From time to time, a wood counter should be disinfected. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency recommends cleaning a countertop or wooden utensils used for food preparation with a bleach-based disinfectant.
To do this:
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Mix 5 ml (1 tsp.) of bleach with 750 ml (3 cups) of water in a clearly labeled spray bottle.
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After cleaning the countertops and utensils, spray them with this disinfectant and let it work for 10 minutes.
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Thoroughly rinse with clean water and let treated surfaces air dry or use a clean dish towel.
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To avoid cross-contamination, never put cooked meat or food ready for consumption on a countertop that has not been cleaned after being used to prepare raw meat.
If the counter has deep scratches, grooves, or cracks that could hide hard-to-reach bacteria, please refer to our guide on restoration.
Restoration
Whether it is a question of normal wear or an accident such as dropping a boiling liquid on the countertop, eventually it will be necessary to restore the finish on your countertop.
The type of finish determines the ease with which restoration can be achieved. A general rule is that the more a finish is resistant (e.g. catalyzed varnish), the easier it will be to maintain but more difficult to restore. For example, if the varnish is deeply scratched, it will be necessary to sand with a powerful sander and re-apply the finish over the entire surface; a very laborious task. However, wine left under a glass for several hours will not leave a trace after being wiped off. A finish with low resistance (mineral oil) will be easily stained by wine but the overall finish will be easy to restore. A simple hand sanding will remove stains or scratches and a rapid application of the wood protector will restore the original beauty to the surface.
» A surface stain
» A rough surface
» Scratches and marks from knives or sharp utensils
Warranty
All our solid wood countertops are made to measure by skilled and experienced artisans using quality materials and state-of-the-art technology. We are proud to offer wood panels designed for function and durability as long as they are properly installed and maintained.
Being a natural product, your countertop must be installed to allow for dimensional changes caused by seasonal fluctuations in relative humidity. Rapid dimensional changes in wood fibers can occur with the changing of the seasons. Therefore, it is critical to minimize these changes by regularly applying a protective coat of an appropriate finishing product and by maintaining the relative humidity in your home between 40% and 60%. Failure to protect the countertop surface or to maintain the relative humidity within the adequate range can result in damage such as cracking and even separation of the wood strips.
Variations in color and grain are inherent characteristics of natural wood. As such, color and grain in finished products may vary from our wood samples or the wood images on our website. The characteristics of our most popular wood species are described on our website. Variations in wood color or grain, the presence of small knots or small pockets of resin are not accepted as justification for the return or refusal of a countertop.
Limitations of the warranty The warranty covers manufacturing defects for up to one year following purchase. It does not cover cracking and splitting of wood panels that:
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Do not have a protective coating applied by a Bizier technician.
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Are not installed by Bizier or following our installation instructions within seven days following shipment from our shop.
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Are not maintained following the maintenance regime outlined by Bizier.
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Are installed in an area where the relative humidity is not maintained between 40-60%.
