Caring for Natural Stone
Natural stone is an investment that will give you many years of beautiful service. Stone is a natural product and simple care and maintenance will keep it looking beautiful.
Indoors
When cleaning stone always vacuum with a soft brush attachment to remove as much dirt as possible before mopping floors.
Use clean rinse water to pick up any remaining dirt. Rinsing with dirty water returns the dirt to the surface.
Regular cleaning with a neutral stone cleaner or a mild liquid dish washing detergent and warm water is recommended. Use cleaning products that don’t leave a residue behind.
Do not use acids or cleaners containing acids, lemon, vinegar, oils, corrosive chemicals or abrasive cream cleansers.
Rinse the surface thoroughly after washing with the soap solution, remembering to change the rinse water frequently. For best results, buff the floor dry with a clean soft towel.
Wet areas
In the bath or other wet areas, please ensure to remove any build up of soap scum. You can use a non-acidic soap scum remover or a solution of ammonia and water (about 1/2 cup ammonia to 4 liters of water). However please note that frequent use of an ammonia solution may eventually dull the surface.
Outdoors
In the outdoor pool, patio or hot tub areas, flush with clear water and use a mild bleach solution to remove algae or moss.
We recommend sealing all stone products with a high quality sealer designed for your stone type, once after it has been initially laid and as part of a regular maintenance program. Always ask you stone supplier if there is special care needed for your product. Make sure any excess sealer is removed from the surface of any glass or metal accents before it is allowed to dry.
Stone Borders that contain Copper Accents
Copper will patina (darken/oxidize) over time. Topical coatings usually don’t stick to metal products. To slow the aging process, if desired, one can apply a light coat of a high quality Carnauba auto paste wax to the surface of the copper.
(NOTE: Abrasives are very common in auto waxes. Make sure there are no abrasives in the wax selected to protect your copper).
Buff off when dry.
Waxing will reduce the exposure to air and thus slow (not eliminate) the aging process as long as the wax is not removed. Be careful not to get the wax in the grout as it could discolor the grout, unless it has been sealed with a penetrating sealer.
Although very tough, all metals can scratch or dent. Use common sense when choosing the installed location.
Do’s and Don’ts
– Do vacuum, sweep and mop floors frequently.
– Do clean surfaces with mild detergent or stone soap
– Do thoroughly rinse and dry the surface after washing
– Do blot up spills immediately
– Don’t use vinegar, lemon juice or other cleaners containing acids on Marble, Limestone, Travertine or Onyx surfaces.
– Don’t use abrasive cleaners
– Don’t mix bleach and ammonia, this combination creates a toxic and lethal gas.
Important Links about our Ceramic Tiles
A Step by Step Guide to Installing Your Tile – Caring for Metals Tile and Trims – Ceramic Tile Flooring Care and Maintenance – Tile Guidelines – Important Information on how to purchase Tile – Caring for Natural Stone
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