The color and shine of natural stone such as marble and granite doesn’t just look great, it increases the overall value of your home. It’s important that you protect your investment by properly taking care of these natural stone surfaces with products you can trust. (read more)
The pride one feels when showing off their marble or granite countertops in their kitchen is an award in itself. However, since they are natural stone, they do require special care in order to keep their high gloss shine. The porous surfaces of natural stones allow water and other fluids to enter the stone and cause stains if it is not properly cared for. The good news is that you don’t have to hire a professional to clean, polish, and maintain your natural stone surfaces. You just need to take a few minutes of your time and of course, use the right products. The products we carry have been specifically designed for use on porous natural stone surface without leaving any residue or causing any damage.
When using these products it is always recommended that you follow the manufacturers instructions and do a spot test before using. However, using the majority of these products is very simple. Be sure to thoroughly clean off your natural stone surfaces by removing any debris that may react poorly with the cleaning or polishing product. Apply your product evenly. For cleaners mist the stone surface and let it stand for a minute before wiping off. When using polish on your stone surface, apply it evenly and let it stand for three to four minutes. Buff the stone surface with a soft, clean, cotton cloth until your stone surface has a glossy shine that is streak-free.
You can test your stones finish by testing a small hidden area. Apply a small amount of water. Ideally the water will puddle up, in the same way that water beads up on a freshly waxed car. If however, your stone absorbs the water, it is a good indication that your stone needs to be sealed. Sealing stone helps prevent stains and costly damage. Apply sealer following the same instructions as cleaners and polish, The only difference is that you will want to do at least two coats to ensure that the pores in your stone absorb as much of the sealer as possible. Also, it will take up to 24 hours for sealers to fully dry and provide totally protection from stains, so be sure to avoid use of your stone surfaces during this drying time. After 24 hours you should see water puddle up during a water test, if you don’t, seal it again. Repeat as necessary to fully seal your stone.
