Natural Stone Care and Maintenance

The natural stone you have in your home, office, or commercial building is an investment that will give you many years of beautiful service. Simple care and maintenance will help preserve your stone’s beauty for many years to come.  

Cleaning

To keep natural stone floors beautiful, it is important to keep dirt from settling into the surface, because it acts as abrasive and ruins both the look and durability of the stone. While it is recommended that the entire floor is dust mopped (daily), the floor should be damp mopped or machine scrubbed with a neutral cleaner or stone soap (two-three times per week). There are a few things to consider prior to mopping:

l  Clean all stone surfaces with warm water and a small amount of stone soap or simple mild dishwasher liquid. Rinse the surface thoroughly after cleaning and dry with a soft cloth.

l  Avoid cleaning products that contain lemon, vinegar and other acids on marble, travertine or limestone as these can etch the stone’s surface.

l  Do not use scouring powders or creams because their abrasives particles will scratch the surface of any natural stone.

l  Clean spills immediately to prevent oils, acids, or water from staining, etching, or calcifying the stone.

Sealing

Another important step for properly maintaining and keeping your natural stone clean is to seal the stone.

l  Natural stone floors are sealed with a commercial sealer and color enhancer immediately after installation.

l  Sealers provide extra resistance to water, oil, and acids, but do not make the stone stain proof. Proper cleaning and care are still required to keep your stone in peak condition.

l  Sealers are effective, but not infallible. They are designed to minimize stains, but not to entirely prevent them. The purpose of sealers is to prevent as many staining agents as possible from penetrating the pores of the stone.

l  The stone should be resealed from 1 to 3 years in commercial applications and 2 to 6 years for residential.

l  First and foremost, use only products specifically made for natural stone care. A number of factors affect how long the sealant will remain effective, so we suggest that you use the “water test” to determine when the process should be repeated. Spray or drizzle some water on the surface. If it forms tight little beads, the sealant is still working. If the water soaks in, it is time to reseal.