Natural stone is porous, which causes a proneness to stains. It is crucial to the life and beauty of natural stone to properly clean, maintain, and restore it when necessary.
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.
The bottom line is, however, that natural stone can stain, especially if corrosive liquids such as coffee, lemon juice or wine are left to penetrate it. The first line of defence is to wipe them off promptly and the only weapon you need here is a soft cloth. Microfibre is perfect.
Natural stone (with the possible exception of soapstone) is considered a porous material. This means that it can absorb moisture and liquid. Any absorbed moisture can cause discoloration in the stone. This discoloration is a stain.
Quartz is the most stain resistant material because it is engineered with ground-up natural stone and resin. This creates a non-porous material that is highly stain resistant. Quartz is also easy to maintain as no sealer is required.
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.
Using a sealer on natural stone helps to protect it against stains, while also giving you a little extra time to clean up any spills that may occur on your surface. It's important to note that while sealant does provide an extra barrier for your stone, everyday wear and tear will often still cause it to etch.
The simple answer is that some natural stone does fade especially varieties like the well documented water sensitive verde (or green marble – serpentine).
Staining agents commonly present in the kitchen, bathroom and other areas where natural stone is used include: Organic materials, such as wine, fruit juice, food scraps, tea/coffee and leaves. Oils, such as cooking oil, cosmetics, grease and oil-based paint. Ink, such as pen or marker.
The weight of the natural stone is heavier than artificial stone, and therefore its use in the building is time-consuming. Climate and environmental changes affect the texture of the rock and cause cracking, mildew, and dandruff on the surface.
Both tile and stone flooring offers extensive durability, with product lifespans ranging from 50 to more than 100 years.
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).
DON'T: Use harsh or abrasive cleaners and sponges.
Windex; acidic cleaners, like vinegar, lemon, lime; or anything with ammonia or bleach should be avoided. Frequent use of these chemicals will dull and weaken the sealant over time.
So if you want to maintain a consistent wet/darker look that enhances the colors of the stone, then you have to reapply it probably every 6 months or so depending on your preferences and the climatic conditions of the area.
Clean stone surfaces with warm water and a mild soap such as a clear Dawn Liquid Soap. Do not use products that contain lemon, vinegar or other acids on marble or limestone.
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.
Manufactured stone is long-lasting and low maintenance like natural stone. Manufactured stone also performs well in all weather situations and withstands freezing temperatures, harsh sunlight, and strong winds. Natural stone is generally more expensive than manufactured stone.
Every stone is porous, some types of stone, such as marble, sandstone and limestone more than others. This means that liquid substances also penetrate unhindered and are almost impossible to remove after staining. Natural stone becomes more robust with a waterproofing.
⇒ Instead of removing stains, vinegar can cause hard stains on the natural stone. ⇒ Also, vinegar can cause etching on the natural stone surface during stain removal. So, you should refer to the preventive tips for cleaning natural stones without damaging them.
Vinegar spells trouble for granite countertops (and any other natural stone countertop). The acid in vinegar wears away at the protective sealant that prevents spills from penetrating the stone and causing permanent stains. In addition, over time vinegar can cause etching in the granite itself.
For lower traffic areas, like a kitchen backsplash or bathtub surround, you should re-seal your natural stone tiles every few years. Depending on the amount of traffic, some installers choose to re-seal their natural stone tiles every 18 months, while others choose to re-seal their tiles every 4 to 5 years.
Yes, your natural stone shower should always be sealed! To keep your shower in great shape – and keep mold and mildew at bay – we recommend having your shower sealed at least once a year. Instead of a topical sealant that may flake off or discolor the stone, choose a penetrating sealant.
A – On average, a stone sealer will last between 3-5 years before it will need to be reapplied. The quality of the sealer used and the porosity of the stone will all have an effect on just how long your sealer will last.