Affinity acrylic solid surface is not only one of the most beautiful surfacing materials available today it is also completely renewable and can be repaired if accidentally damaged.

Affinity is nonporous and is resistant to heat, stains, bacteria, and impact plus it is easy to care for and will withstand the rigors of daily use. Certain steps do need to be taken to avoid misuse and ensure that Affinity will provide you with years of enjoyment. The following guidelines will help prevent damage from occurring to your Affinity surface.

Preventing Damage : Heat Damage

Affinity withstands heat better than ordinary surface materials. However, all solid surface products will expand and contract with changes in temperature. Excess heat may result in scorching, cracking, or seam separation.

We offer the following suggestions to avoid heat related issues:

• Hot pots should never be placed directly on a countertop. Instead, place hot pots on an unused burner or on a solid trivet with rubber feet.
  
  
• Portable appliances should be used with caution. This includes electric frying pans, deep fat fryers, portable woks, crock pots and the like. Such appliances should only be used on solid trivets with rubber feet. Items such as toasters and coffee pots generally do not generate enough heat to cause problems, but caution should be exercised. While portable appliances on rubber feet may seem harmless, such appliances can radiate an enormous amount of heat down onto the surface of the countertop. Place such items on a solid trivet with rubber feet.
  
  
• Heat damage next to cook tops and ranges is possible, most often seen as cracks in corners or near the largest burners. Vent hoods or downdraft fans should be used while cooking as the constant air flow will help moderate hot spots. Oversized pots that cantilever past the edge of the range or cook top can also radiate excessive heat down into the countertop and should be avoided whenever possible.
  
  
• Pots should not be allowed in close proximity to a back splash and high output burners should be used sparingly. Once a pan has reached the proper cooking temperature the heat setting should be reduced to prevent overheating.
  

Cleaning

Stains & dirt:
Use soapy water or an ammonia-based cleaning product, rinse and towel dry.

Water spots:
Wipe surface with a damp soft towel and wipe dry.

Disinfecting:
Occasionally wipe surface with a diluted 1:1 ratio or water and household bleach.

Difficult stains:
Spray stain with a household cleaner and wait for 30 seconds. Wipe surface with a damp soft towel and wipe dry. If stain persists, repeat process and if necessary refer to the directions for removing cuts & scratches.

Removing Cuts and Scratches

Affinity surfaces are completely renewable. You can remove minor cuts and scratches using the included Micro-Mesh finishing pads and following the instructions below. For extensive or difficult repairs, or routine professional refurbishing, we suggest you contact your Affinity fabricator or dealer.

When used properly Micro-Mesh finishing pads will provide you with the best finish imaginable. No special tools are required and you will be able to achieve a matte to a high gloss finish without the use of water or buffing compounds making them perfect for minor repairs.

First, test any repairs in an inconspicuous area. Assess the severity of the scratch and begin with the finest grit finishing pad needed to remove the scratch. The finishing pads are color coded and range from roughest to smoothest: White, Yellow, Green, Peach, Lilac, Blue, and Gray.

Sand the scratch in a straight line, periodically switching direction by 90 degrees until the scratch is removed. If the pad you selected takes too long, try the next rougher grit finishing pad. To reduce dust during sanding, mist the surface with water and periodically rinse the finishing pad to remove residue.

Once the scratch is removed, clean the area with water and dry with a clean, soft towel. Select the next lighter finishing grid pad and repeat the process. Rub over a larger area to blend the repair area and avoid any low spots.

Continue the process using finer grit finishing pads and clean well between each step until the desired level of gloss is achieved. Rinse out all pads and air dry before putting them away. Micro-Mesh pads are reusable!

Steps for Removing Scratches

Deep Scratch Removal	Matte Finish	Satin Finish	Gloss Finish	High Gloss Finish