Enhancing your home with Natural Stone

Natural stone has been the preferred building material of choice since the beginning of time. 

Including natural stone into your home immediately creates an aesthetic environment that is timeless in elegance.

Understanding what type of stone is best for your home and how to care for it will keep it looking beautiful and performing for years to come.

MARBLE
Ideal for foyers, bathrooms, floors, and hearths

Marble is found in the mountainous regions of Canada, Italy, Germany, Spain, the U.S., and other countries worldwide. Because of its beauty and elegance, marble is a popular choice for countertops, floors, foyers, fireplace and hearths, walls, and windowsills.

Marble adds a sophisticated element to your home, and its wonderful appearance, superior engineering characteristics, and ease of maintenance make it a natural for floors, vanity tops, tub decks, and showers.

Marble should be cared for as you would a fine wood finish. Using coasters on table tops and cleaning up spills immediately will preserve marble's natural beauty.

Granite
An excellent choice for kitchen countertops, floors and other heavily used surfaces

Granite, quarried from the mountains of Italy, the U.S, India, and dozens of other countries around the world, is one of the most popular natural stones on the market.

Available in a striking array of colors, granite’s durability and longevity make it ideal for kitchen countertops and other heavily used surfaces, including tabletops and floors.

While some synthetic surfaces scratch easily and melt under hot cookware, granite resists heat.  Granite is also one of the most bacteria resistant surfaces, and it is not affected by citric acid, coffee, tea, alcohol or wine.   It is also nearly impossible to scratch and with proper cleaning, will not stain under normal use.  (Ask about sealants available to further improve resistance to staining.)

Travertine, Limestone, Sandstone & Slate
Beautiful enhancements for your home, inside and out

Travertine, limestone, sandstone, and slate are other examples of natural stone frequently used in residential homes.

Travertine is a type of limestone and one of the most natural stones for interior and exterior wall cladding, interior and exterior paving, statuary and curbing.

Limestone is widely used as a building stone because it is readily available and easy to handle. Popular uses are for countertops, flooring, interior and exterior wall cladding and paving.

Slate is a popular flooring material and sandstone and slate are often used for exterior paving stones or pavers.  Other slate applications are: kitchen countertops fireplace facings, table tops and roofing.  Sandstone is frequently used for fireplace facings, chimneys, garden walls, patio benches and by the pool.

Stone Care Guide
New natural stone is an investment in lasting beauty that will give many years of wear.  The following information guides you on how to properly care for natural stone and help extend its life and beauty.

Following some simple precautions, properly sealing your stone, and using the correct cleaning methods and products will insure a lifetime of use for your family.

Sealing Your Stone
Natural stone has been formed over millions of years but improper care can ruin the beauty that nature made.  Although you may think of stone as ‘hard’, it is a porous material that can absorb spills and stains if left untreated.  Sealing with quality impregnating sealers will prevent most spills from damaging your stone.  Sealing should be done on an annual basis to protect your stone the best.

Impregnators can also be classified into two types
1.  Hydrophobic- water repelling
2.  Oilophopic- oil repelling

Hydrophobic Impregnators are designed to repel only water and waterbased chemicals.  Fruit drinks, coffee, tea, soda, etc., would be repelled by a hydrophobic impregnator.
 
Oilophopic Impregnators are designed to repel water and oil based liquids.  Cooking oil, grease, body oils, etc., would be repelled by a oilophopic impregnator.

An oilophopic impregnator will always be hydrophobic, but a hydrophobic impregnator may not be oilophopic.  Be sure to read labels very carefully to determine if they are hydrophobic or oilophopic.

Some products are listed as oil resistant. Oil resistant and oil repellant are entirely different.  Oil resistant will only slow down the absorption of oil into the stone.  Oil repellant will prevent oil from entering the stone.  Again, read the product labels carefully.  Be sure you are buying the right product for your particular situation.

CAUTION:  do not choose an impregnator to protect the stone from acid etching.  Impregnators do not make the stone acid resistant.

Know your Stone
Natural stone can be classified into two general categories according to composition:  siliceous stone or calcareous stone. Knowing the difference is critical when selecting cleaning products.

Siliceous stone is composed of mainly silica or quartz-like particles.  It tends to be very durable and relatively easy to clean with mild acidic cleaning solutions. 

Types of siliceous stone include:
Granite
Slate
Sandstone
Quartzite
Brownstone
Bluestone

Calcareous stone is composed mainly of calcium carbonate. It is sensitive to acidic cleaning products and frequently requires different cleaning procedures than siliceous stone.  What might work on siliceous stone may not be suitable for calcareous stone.

Types of calcareous stone are:
Marble
Travertine
Limestone
Onyx

Cleaning Procedures and Recommendations
You have invested thousands of dollars into your home and your natural stone.  It is important to use precaution when cleaning your stone.  The simple mistake of using the wrong cleaner can do potentially irreparable damage to your stone.

Most everyday or ‘general type’ of cleaners contain acids, ammonias, vinegars, bleach or other cleaning agents not conducive for stone.  Using these types of cleaners WILL damage your stone and its protective sealer.

Scouring powders or creams contain abrasives that may scratch your stones surface. 

In addition to keeping your stone free of dust, dirt and sandy soil will minimize scratches and wear patterns that can develop over time. Sweep and dust natural stone surfaces as often as possible.

Do’s and Don’ts

• Regularly clean your stone with a PH neutral stone and Tile Cleaner & Protector.  Its neutral cleaning agents are specially formulated for use on natural stone; it also leaves behind a protective seal every time you clean.
• Wipe up spills promptly. Oils are particularly damaging to stone surfaces.  So, make sure to wipe up cooking oils in the kitchen and cosmetics in the bathroom.  Acids can etch or dull stone surfaces and degrade protective sealers. Take special care with citrus drinks, alcohol, perfume, toothpaste and mouthwash.
• Use coasters, especially under glasses containing alcohol or citrus juice.  Use trivets under hot dishes and placemats under china, ceramics, silver or other objects that could scratch your surface.
• Do scoop up food with a plastic spoon.  Blot with a dry, white cloth.  Spray the area with a PH neutral stone and a clean cloth or clean the soiled area with a PH neutral stone.
• Do blot away liquid spills with a clean, dry white cloth; turning the cloth frequently. Spray the area with a PH neutral stone, wipe dry with a clean cloth or clean the soiled area with a PH neutral stone.
• Place small rugs or mats at entry ways to trap dirt and minimize scratching.
• Don’t use vinegar, bleach, ammonia or other general purpose cleaners.
• Don’t use cleaners that contain acid such as bathroom cleaners, grout cleaners or tub and tile cleaners.
• Don’t use abrasive cleaners such as dry cleaners or soft cleansers.
• Don’t use alkaline cleaners not specifically formulated for natural stone.

Watch out for Etch Marks
Substances that are highly acidic such as:  orange juice, vinegar, wine, tomato products, most soft drinks will ‘etch’ most marble, limestone and travertine- whether the stone is sealed or unsealed.

Although sealants allow you time to wipe up a spill, it cannot stop the chemical reaction that may leave a dull area or etch the stone.

In addition, cleansers not specifically designed for natural stone are not recommended.  They may discolor the surface, scratch the stone or degrade the sealer.  Selecting the right kind of cleaner is so important.

For minor etching, spots or ring marks, using a good quality carnuba paste wax (2-3 coats) will hide or improve the finish of the stone.
Professional refinishing is the best way to permanently remove the etch marks and restore your stone’s even finish.

Chips, Cracks, Voids or Missing Grout and Caulking
Most of these issues must be fixed by a professional. 

Final note

These tips are only suggestions and advise.  It is recommended that you consult with a stone care professional.  It is your responsibility to test any cleaners in an inconspicuous area of your stone if you are attempting to clean and protect your own natural stone.   DO NOT mix any of these cleaning product suggestions together.

For best results and long term care of your beautiful natural stone, contact the professionals at Like New Tile, Grout & Carpet Restoration.