Natural stone has been tested throughout the ages – in homes, commercial buildings, cathedrals, and even pyramids. The following are basic care tips to ensure that your stone will not only last, but will remain beautiful for years to come. Use coasters under glasses, particularly those containing alcohol or citrus juices. Use trivets or mats under hot dishes and place-mats under china, ceramics, silver, or other objects that can scratch the surface.

Sealing natural stone

Sealing natural stone is a simple but very important step that prevents staining and preserves the beauty of natural stone. Upon your installation, our technicians will seal your counters with a Stain Repellant, Nano-Pearl effect impregnating sealer which can last up to several years. Some natural stones are more porous and require sealing more often, in some cases every 6 months. The life of the sealer will depend upon the type and finish of the stone, the area of application, and its exposure to wear. A piece of stone which is sealed with an impregnating sealer and put in a closet will stay sealed indefinitely. Impregnating sealers are preferred to to topical sealers because they increase both the longevity and quality of the protection. Although sealer makes the stone less susceptible to staining, applying when it is unnecessary is a waste of time, effort and money. A simple test to determined if your stone needs to be resealed is to sprinkle it with water. If the water beads up lightly, then the stone is properly sealed. If the water soaks in or darkens the stone, then allow the water to evaporate and reseal.

Cleaning natural stones

The simplest way of caring for Granite, Marble or other natural stone counters is cleaning with a neutral cleaner, stone soap, or mild dish washing detergent and warm water. You can also use a natural PH balanced cleaner, specially formulated for natural stone, on a regular basis to remove residue from cooking, oils, and everyday spills, as well as hair spray or other cosmetics. Be careful with common foods and drinks that contain acids that might etch or dull the stone’s surface. Also, some common toiletries (i.e., perfume, toothpaste, mouthwash) contains acids and other ingredients that might damage the stone surface or degrade the sealer. Remove the spill immediately and blot away any liquid spills with a clean dry cloth, turning the cloth frequently. Be careful not to use bleach or abrasive products on any natural stone. 

Marble, Travertine, Limestone & Onyx are beautiful stones that offer unique patterns and colors not found in any other materials. Because of their chemical composition the basic care of these stones is the same as granite. It is important to use good judgement on where to use these calcium based stones because they are susceptible to acid etching. Etching occurs when acids microscopically can eat away at the surface of the stone, and are characterized by dull spots in the surface of the material. Any spills that occur should be wiped up immediately to avoid permanent stains. And then there is the timeless natural beauty and unique feel of Soapstone. Maintaining a soapstone countertop is simple. Oil your countertop to guarantee the stone will darken evenly. Traditionally, mineral oil is used because it is easily available and non-toxic. Due to soapstone’s soft characteristics, it is prone to scratches. Because soapstone is non-porous, it does not need to be sealed. If you choose not to oil your soapstone, it will not harm the stone. However, you will soon notice darkened areas from use and spills. You can not oil soapstone too much or too little. It will require several coats of oil to bring soapstone to its final color, and the countertop will hold each coat of oil longer than the previous coat. Regular soap and water is advisable for cleaning because harsher solvents may remove the mineral oil treatment.