Natural stone needs to breathe, and adding coatings will block marble or granite from breathing. Travertine or Terazzo floors are better suited to adding a coating or finish, but these products may increase maintenance requirements.
Not sealing a stone countertop or floor tiles — which get the heaviest traffic and are the most susceptible to wear and tear — leaves the surface vulnerable to absorbing foreign substances, which can weaken the stone and potentially lead to the growth of bacteria.
Because they are porous, natural stone tiles should be sealed with a penetrating sealer. Penetrating sealers, like Miracle Plus 511 Porous Plus, penetrate tiles to repel moisture from within, and prevent staining while still allowing vapors to escape.
No, diamonds do not need to breathe. A diamond is a solid composition of carbon that does not expand or contract (change its shape or size) by the effect of weather, temperature, light, air or the constant presence of any liquid. This may be one of the biggest myths related to the design of breathing holes in jewelry.
How Often Should You Seal Your Natural Stone Countertops? Unfortunately, not all stones are created equal. The specific material you choose for your countertops will influence how frequently your countertops will need to be resealed. As a general rule of thumb, we recommend resealing every 2-3 years.
Over time, the water can weaken the stone, which can lead to fissures or cracks in the tile. Eventually, the water can penetrate to the subfloor, and once it does that, it can spread to other parts of your home. Water can trap bacteria in the tile, and it can contribute to the growth of mold and mildew in the subfloor.
On average, the lifespan of natural stones, like marble and granite, can be well over 100 years. That's compared to ceramic tile with a life expectancy of 75 years.
Diamonds are natural magnets for grease, so they're not easy to keep clean. When a diamond is handled, the oils from your fingers adhere to the diamond's surface and affect its brilliance and fire.
Diamond ring holes are the spaces cut out in the mounting below the diamond. They are also called breathing holes. When wearing a diamond ring, you can look at the top, bottom, or sides of the diamond to see these spaces. Despite their nickname, these holes aren't meant to provide air to the diamond.
Real diamonds should not float. To perform the floating test, all you need is your stone and a glass of water. Drop the diamond into the water. True diamonds have high density and should quickly sink to the bottom of the glass.
When cleaning natural stones like marble, limestone, and onyx, you can't reach for your regular cleaners like white vinegar, lemon juice, bleach, or abrasive cleansers. These cleaners are too acidic for natural stone and can damage or etch the stone (although some can help remove rust from concrete).
The first step is to check for any inclusion on the stone with your bare eyes. If you're unable to see any inclusions with your bare eyes, then use a magnifying glass of at least 10X magnification to find out if the gemstone contains any inclusions. If you found any, then they are real gemstones.
Natural stone, as beautiful and tough as it may be, is also somewhat fragile. While it defies the barriers of time and is extraordinarily durable, it requires a certain level of TLC to ensure it retains its original splendour.
To keep it simple though, in areas with average wear, it's a good idea to reseal your tiles every 3 or 4 years. So to answer the question, you should seal your stone every 3-4 years.
Cracking/Chipping
Chips and cracks in stone can happen in the settling process, during installation, or due to outside forces. For example, a shifting sub-floor can cause stone tile to crack. Additionally, any force with another object – like dropping a heavy pot on your countertop – can lead to chipping or cracking.
Impregnating sealers (also known as penetrating sealers) are designed to penetrate below the surface and protect from within the stone while still allowing the miniscule pores of the stone to allow moisture vapor to escape.
Chemicals. Chlorine and other chemicals can harm diamonds and the metals in which they are set. Prolonged exposure to chlorine, as in a swimming pool, can make your diamonds look dull. The chemicals can also eat away at the gold setting.
A real diamond will reflect light easily, and provide you with a disco ball or rainbow-like display. You can use a flashlight or lamp to do this and it will work best with white light rather than yellow. If the stone absorbs the light, then there's a chance that it's a fake.
All Zales lab-created diamonds are independently certified for quality and are 100% conflict free - and all lab-created diamonds are covered by Zales Lifetime Diamond Guarantee. Visit your local Zales to experience lab-created diamonds in person.
General Steps for any kind of Natural Stone Surface:
Sweep to remove any dirt particles. Fill a recepient of warm water and use only water, or mix it with a small amount of neutral liquid “All-Purpose-Cleaner”, detergent or cleaning solutions specific for stone. Change the solution when it starts to get dirty.
ROUTINE CARE
Natural stone countertops and floors should be cleaned with neutral cleaners specifically designed for stone. These cleaners are concentrated pH neutral cleaners that will not affect existing sealers or other types of coatings. Stone cleaners should never contain acid or bleach.