Natural stone has been used for thousands of years as a premium building component. Choice of stone, application, installation, traffic and maintenance are all factors in how well your natural stone surfaces will perform. We hope to provide you with as much information as possible to help you maintain your stone surfaces so they always look and perform their best.

CARING FOR NATURAL STONE

Natural stones—especially calcite-based stones such as marble, travertine, limestone, and many

slates—have a delicate chemical composition that may interact in damaging ways with

cleaning solutions that were not specifically formulated for natural stone.

ROUTINE PREVENTIVE MEASURES

• Use coasters under drinking glasses, particularly those containing alcohol or citrus juices to

avoid etching.

• Do not place hot items directly on the stone surface. Use trivets or mats under hot dishes.

• Use place mats under china, silver or other objects that can scratch the surface.

• Avoid cleaning products unless the label specifies it is safe for natural stone.

• Dust mop interior floors frequently using a clean non-treated dry dust mop. Sand, dirt and grit are abrasive and can damage natural stone.

• Mats or area rugs inside and outside an entrance will help to minimize the sand, dirt and grit that may scratch the stone floor. Be sure that the underside of the mat or rug is a slip resistant surface.

CLEANING

• Clean stone surfaces with a neutral cleaner, stone soap, or a mild liquid dishwashing detergent and warm water.

• Similar to any item cleaned in your home, an excessive concentration of cleaner or soap may leave a film and cause streaks. Follow manufacturer recommendations.

• Use a clean rag mop on floors and a soft cloth for other surfaces for best results.

• Rinse the surface thoroughly after washing with the soap solution and dry with a soft cloth.

•Change the rinse water frequently.

• In the bath or other wet areas, soap scum can be minimized by using a squeegee after each use. To remove soap scum, use a non-acidic soap scum remover or a solution of ammonia and water

• In outdoor pool, patio or hot tub areas, flush with clear water and use mild bleach solution to remove algae or moss.

TREATING SPILLS

Some spills, liquids that are highly acidic,  can  turn out to be detrimental to stone if unattended.

Therefore,

• Do pick up any spills as quickly as possible.

• Do not rub the spill, only blot it.

• Do not use cleaning products on or near your natural stone unless the label specifies that it is

safe for natural stone .

SEALING

Sealing is a common step taken on some stones as an extra precaution against staining. In fact, the sealing products used in the stone industry are ‘impregnators” which do not actually seal the stone, but more correctly act as a repellent rather than a sealer. Sealing does not make the stone stain proof, rather it makes the stone more stain resistant. When consulting with your stone supplier, you may find that many stones do not require sealing. However, applying an impregnating sealer is a common practice.