Daltile partners with DuPont to develop stone countertop sealer with Microban antimicrobial product protection that guards against stains on granite and marble countertop surfaces. Protection program, offered exclusively through Daltile PROADVANCED-certified fabricators, provides extensive 15-year fully transferrable residential warranty.
Dallas, April 5, 2010 – Stone fabricators and dealers now have a way to allay common customer concerns about stain- and odor-causing bacteria and maintenance for granite and marble countertops, thanks to Daltile’s new PROADVANCED Protection Program. This industry-first warranty program protects natural stone slabs from stains, inhibits the growth of stain- and odor-causing bacteria on the countertop sealer, and alleviates the need to seal the countertop during the 15-year warranty period.
Daltile, the nation’s largest distributor of natural stone slabs, partnered with DuPont, a household name in stain-protection technology, to create a natural stone slab water-based penetrating sealer infused with Microban antimicrobial protection that’s so effective, the company provides a 15-year, fully transferrable residential warranty and 8-year commercial/industrial warranty – both industry firsts.
If for any reason during the warranty period, a stain cannot be removed from a treated slab, Daltile will replace it with a new one – including installation (another industry first).
“In a recent independent study by Protect Plus Surfaces, three primary concerns were identified by female homeowners when considering stone countertops versus alternative surfaces: stains, bacteria and maintenance/cleaning. Daltile’s PROADVANCED Protection Program helps prevent all three, ultimately offering peace of mind to homeowners,” said Lori Kirk-Rolley, senior marketing director at Daltile.
Additionally, there are no re-sealing requirements for the lifetime of the warranty, and this program is the first in the industry to also cover marble. Daltile’s full assortment of more than 300 granite and marble slab types is eligible.
“There are many slab sealants and warranties in the marketplace, but Daltile’s PROADVANCED Protection Program is by far the most comprehensive and provides the most benefits to homeowners by offering a generous warranty that’s fully transferrable,” added Kirk-Rolley.
To participate in the PROADVANCED Protection Program, fabricators purchase a three-piece product kit from Daltile that includes the Daltile-exclusive water-based PROADVANCED sealer, DuPont StoneTech Revitalizer Cleaner & Protector and DuPont StoneTech Professional Polish. Fabricators then offer the protection program to their customers as an add-on to installation services, seal the countertops and then register their customers online in less than five minutes. The consumer finishes the registration after the installation is complete and is given the 24-ounce bottles of cleaner & protector and polish for future use. The PROADVANCED sealer is available exclusively through Daltile-certified stone fabricators and cannot be purchased by consumers.
“We created this program as a tool to help fabricators offer their customers peace of mind by offering a solution to our industry’s most common concerns, ultimately allowing them to sell more slabs,” said Kirk-Rolley. “In addition to helping educate potential customers, this program offers our fabricators a point-of-differentiation between them and their competitors, with the potential to increase their business profitability.”
Additionally, consumers participating in the PROADVANCED Protection Program receive a 20% discount on all DuPont StoneTech Professional stone care and maintenance products, as well as other DuPont tile and grout care products, for the lifetime of their warranty.
About Daltile:
Daltile, a division of Mohawk Industries, is the largest manufacturer, distributor and marketer of ceramic tile and natural stone in North America. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the company has more than 7,000 employees at its North American facilities and sells its products through a network of more than 250 company-owned sales service centers, independent distributors and leading home center retailers nationwide.
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More information about the PROADVANCED Protection Program can be found online at www.daltilestone.com/proadvanced.
Toll-Free Information: 1-800-933-8453
Media Contact: Cooper Smith
cooper@coopersmithagency.com, (214) 329-9191