CARING FOR YOUR RESIDENTIAL MARBLE

STONE FLOORING AND FURNITURE
 

Stone Enemies

To keep your stone in tip-top shape, it is important to recognize what can harm your stone.  All stone surfaces (floors,  walls, vanities, etc) have four major enemies:

Scratches

Caused by foot traffic, abrasive grit, moving furniture, vacuum cleaner wheels, and sometimes your dog's toenails.

Acids

Low on the Ph scale: many liquids such as common  bathroom cleaners, alcoholic drinks, carbonated beverages, fruit juice,  fruit and vinegar.

Alkali

High on the Ph scale: these liquids are opposite acids. Many of your household cleaners are alkaline and may be too harsh for  your stone.

Stains

Caused by various foods, spilled drinks, water damage, pets and anything else imaginable.

Elimination of these potential problems, and awareness  of your stone's vulnerability, will prolong the life of your stone  giving you added enjoyment.

Care Tips

The following are general maintenance and care tips.   Proper care may vary depending on the condition and type of stone that  you have.  If you have any questions call a stone care professional.

Initial Protection

All stone needs to be sealed with a penetrating sealer, which leaves no coating on the surface of the stone.  While the stone  is trying to reject liquids that can leave a stain, these sealers give  you more time to wipe up a spill. Sealing is a must for all kitchen and  bathroom areas. Premium impregnators that reject are worth the extra  cost. Always require a small test of the proposed sealer on your stone.  Approve a sample tile or piece of slab before the sealing is done. Some  sealers can slightly change the color of your stone. Do not assume that  your builder, installer, or stone fabricator sealed your stone.

Cleaning

Household chemicals are not formulated to clean your  stone.  Many can do more harm than using nothing at all. Even the use  of water alone can have long-term detrimental effects on some stone.  Neutral cleaners, containing conditioning agents, or the use of stone  soap, is recommended. Repeated use of an appropriate cleaner will keep  your stone looking fresh, and add to the natural luster of the stone.  Due to the softness of much of the stone used in your home, it is  imperative that grit (sand, dirt) be kept off all surfaces. Grit is  normally harder than stone used in residential building, and is the main cause of scratches, especially in floors.

Entry floors require walk-off mats that will cover two  adult steps. Remember to wash off the mat frequently to remove the  accumulated dirt. Be aware that rubber backs can leave marks in your  stone requiring costly restoration to remove. If your floors have a lot  of traffic, dust mop daily with an untreated dust mop. Damp mop your  floors weekly with a conditioning neutral cleaner or soap. Follow the  directions. In most cases it is advisable not to put coatings on your  natural stone floor. Coating restricts the flow of air through the  stone, causing moisture-related problems.

Vanities, counters, and walls can be cleaned, by  placing an appropriate cleaning agent in a bottle.  Spray the surface,  and wipe clean with a soft natural fiber cloth. These surfaces can be  polished with a topical stone paste. The application of this paste wax  will add shine, and protection, to the stone.

It is best to seal and wax stone showers.  If mildew  begins to grow on the stone in your shower, it can be difficult remove.  The chemicals used to remove scum and mildew will ruin a marble,  requiring expensive restoration.  Several granites are acid resistant,  making them easier to clean. Waxing and using the correct maintenance  cleaners, are much less expensive than having to pay a stone  professional to restore your shower.

Polishing

When stone begins to lose the factory shine, it is best to call a professional to re-polish it. Using the proper abrasives and  polishing powders can bring back the original shine, if the surface is  not too badly damaged. Polishing generally does not remove scratches.  However, on some stones it can remove light etch marks left by chemicals or cleaning agents.

Resurfacing/Restoration

Resurfacing operations are required to remove  scratches, uppage (uneven tiles), and wear patterns from foot traffic.  The stone is sanded with various grinding grits.  This makes the  surface flat, establishing a new finish. A ground-in-place floor extends the life of the floor. This is not recommended for the  do-it-yourselfer, a professional stone contractor is required.

DONT'S

Many products purchased at retail stores can damage your natural stone including:

Acidic Tub/Tile Cleaners, Acidic Toilet Bowl Cleaners,  Ammonia, Powdered Alkaline Cleaners, Soft Paste Cleaners, Vinegar,  Alcohol Window Cleaners, Steel Wool Abrasive Cleaning Pads

DO'S

Use products formulated for the care and maintenance of stone including:

 Stone Soaps, Neutral Cleaners, Conditioning Cleaners, Penetrating Stone Sealers

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