Natural stone, ranging from granite and marble
to slate and river rocks, was once more popular
an an outdoor building material (walls, walks,
etc.) than for use indoors. Any wear, cracking,
or weathering that took place was generally
ignored as part of the natural look of the
stone. But the stone's natural durability
and image of luxury has led to a dramatic
growth of the use of natural stone indoors.
Once occasionally found in hearths and entry
ways, today natural stone can be found on
floors, counters, tub decks, and walls throughout
luxury homes.
As one can easily see from weathered stone
outdoors, "hard as a rock" does
not mean that natural stone is impervious
to damage. Indeed, some stone, like slate,
can be quite brittle and easily damaged,
and almost all stone is porous to some degree,
which makes it vulnerable to staining and
etching. Unfortunately, modern uses of natural
stone in luxury homes tend to place it in
conditions most threatening to it: sink countertops
and floors in baths and kitchens where they
are subjected to food, water, and chemicals.
Cleaning untreated stone can be problematic.
Cleaning solutions can soak into the stone
and discolor or etch it. So, to protect natural
stone and to provide a cleanable surface,
most apply a clear, liquid-proof surface
coating. But even this is not a sure-fire
cure, since cleaning treated stone with common
cleaning solutions tends to discolor and
dissolve the protective coatings. Indeed,
it is this extra burden surrounding natural
stone that convinces many to seek out manmade
imitations.
When buying products to care
for your natural
stone, here are some tips:
- sealers - these chemicals are designed to
put a barrier between the stone and harmful
liquids. Make sure the sealer is intended
for the type of stone you have. Understand
whether the sealer interacts with the stone
(and thus could chemically discolor it) or
if it simply provides a surface coating,
which may be less durable.
- cleaners - using the one recommended by the
sealer manufacturer is the safest way to
protect your sealer coat. Usually, these
cleaners will be pH balanced to minimize
the harm to the coating. If you will be cleaning
surfaces in a sanitary area (bathroom, kitchen,
etc.), understand the cleaner's sanitary
effectiveness.
- strippers - if you have to strip off the
remnants of the old sealer before applying
a new one, then using a stripper designed
by the maker of the old sealer may be the
best way to ensure efficient removal without
damaging the stone.
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