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| Once a stone surface has been installed, it will
require two types of care: inital cleaning and sealing, and periodical cleaning and
maintenance. Current methods of sealing and caring for stone differ greatly from
those of just a few years ago. This is because technology has spawned a new
generation of cleaners and sealers specially formulated for different classes of stones,
some good and some mediocre. Those manufacturers who have developed their products
both in the laboratory and in the field have produced the best products since their focus
has concentrated on stone and not on a general range of products for various materials:
sealers for wood, for instance, are not suitable for marble, limestone or granite. Understanding the "performance" of various types of stone is important. Beacuse stone is perveived as hard and permanent, it is often thought that it requires little or no care. This is simply not the case. There are numerous hardness rating systems for calcluating the resilience of stone, and Moh;s scale is one of the most popularly used. This scale calibrates the hardness of stone on a scale of one to ten: one is considered the softest and ten the hardest. Marble rates in the three to five area of Moh's scale, granite six to eight, while diamonds are rated ten. The level of hardness affets the procedures used in the care and maintenance of a particular stone. Although hard, stone does wear, and there is not one type that is absolutely maintenance free. Each type has its own characteristics, andone important consideration is not to mix tyoes with differing harnesses in one areal this will cause difficulties in care because of the different harnesses, especially in floor maintenance. A good example is combining Negro Marquina, a relatively soft black marble, with the harderwhite Carrara marble: the Negro Marquina wears more quickly. Blending different surface textures is also popular these days. Maintaining mixures of flame-textured granite alongside polised granite, or soft limstones alongside harder green marble inlays all present potential maintenance problems. Select materials under the guidance of a trained professional to avoid inconvenient and costly care problems later on. To protect a stone surface from staining, it is necessary to use an impregnator. A good impregnator allows vapor to escape through the pores of the stone, allowing it to "breathe". Furthermore, it becomes part of the stone in that is creates a layer of hardness which prohibits liquids, oils, gerase and dirt from penerating into the stone. New stone surfaces need to be absolutely clean and cured before initial sealiing. Bear in mind that there is a difference in meaning between "cured" and "dry": a floor, for example, may look and feel dry but won't be fully cured - moisture may still exist within the depths of the stone and cause problems if a sealer is applied too soon. Your stone mason or sealant manufacturer will tell you how long to allow for adequate curing of stone. |
Most sealant manufacturer will tell you how long
to allow for adequate curing of stone. Most sealant manufacturers carry suitable
cleaner also. Avoid using bleaching agents or abrasive cleaners on stone surfaces -
even rough-textured stones. Additionally, a penetrating sealer will inhibit the formation of mould, mildew, and efflorenscence, and will cause the surface to be less slippery. Regular applications are required in areas with heavy traffic. On a daily basis, stone surfaces should be mopped to remove dust and grime. The use of a stone soap is also a simple and effective procedure. Stone soaps have been and continue to be popular, especially in countries like Franceand Italy; they are no-rinse products products which clean and protect in one application. Periodic deep-cleaning may be needed, and in such cases stone soaps are not adequate; degreasers or enzyme cleaners should be used. Polished (shiny) stone surfaces, particulary floos, present certain maintenance problems. Repeated traffic over a polished stone floor will remove the stone. Additionally, acids such as citrus juices, perfumes, urine, liquor and a host of other liquids, will dull the luster of marble surface. This dulling process is called "etching", and there are some basic techniques for repolishing etched areas: polishing with powders and compouds such as Oxalic Acid, Aluminum Oxide, Tin Oxide, Zince Oxide, Ferric Oxide and other acid abrasives. These products should be applied only be a professional, and attention should be made to the toxic effects of some of these chemicals. Another process used to revitalize stone is "recrystallization". This involves using a type of chemical often applied as a liquid spray, and the surface is then buffed with steel wool and a plishing machine. An acidic reatction occurs which rejuvenates the polish simultaneously removing light scratches and patterns which cause the dull effect. It is, in our opinion, not advisable to use topical coatings and sealers. These are the cariety which lie on the surface of the stone and will, for a while, give it luster or a sheen, but this will be short-lived and the coating will either wear or peel off and create an ugly situation. In researching the right type of sealant, keep in mind the philiosphy of "penny-wise, pound foolish". Good products are not inexpensive; however, most cover large square footages per gallon and paying a little extra for quality is wise. Sealers once applied are very difficult to remove, and for this reason using poor quality products to save money may have a nightmarish outcome!
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