Stone Maintenance and Restoration

Stone


Maintaining Stone Properly

We often hear, "So what really is the right way to clean my granite countertop? My contractor told me just to use water."

Well, water is really the wrong answer. The problem with using tap water is it contains minerals that leave a residue over time. This cloudy appearance can usually be removed from Granite (never on polished Marble) with a mild solution of vinegar, but always test an out of the way section first.

Etch Marks -- Those Aren't Water Stains!

Etching on marble, limestone, travertine and all the calcium based stone is the result of a chemical reaction that occurs when acid comes in contact with a surface. Etch marks on stone surfaces resemble water spots or worn polish.

Seemingly innocent items like tooth paste, mouthwash, orange juice, coffee, vinegar, wine, perfumes, tomato products, mustard and many soft drinks are highly acidic and will etch, discolor, or even scratch. Acid resistant stones like most granite, slate and sandstone will typically not etch, nor will ceramic and porcelain tile. Sealing will give you more time to wipe up a spill, but it cannot stop the chemical reaction that may leave a dull mark. Remember to always use coasters and place mats on these acid-sensitive stones.

The only way to remove Etch Marks is by diamond polishing. Sometimes just the spot can be re-polished. Give us a call and we'll come out to assess your needs and prepared a guaranteed quotation for the restoration of your stone.

Stone Care DO's and DON'Ts

  • DO use StoneTech Professional sealer to protect your stone.

  • DO clean up spills immediately to minimize damage.

  • DO use trivets or mats under hot dishes and cookware.

  • DO use placemats under china, ceramics, silver and other objects that can scratch your stone's surface.

  • DO place a small rug or a mat at entry ways to trap dirt and sand from normal foot traffic.

  • DO dust mop or vacuum frequently.

  • DO use coasters under glasses, especially if they contain alcohol, cola or citrus juices.

  • DO clean surfaces regularly with StoneTech Revitalizer or All Purpose Stone & Tile Cleaner.

  • DO visit StoneTech's online knowledge vault at www.stonetechpro.com/stonecare for more information.

  • DO call Ceramic Enhancement's Professionals for maintenance assistance or advise.

  • DON"T wait to clean up spills on stone -- clean up as quickly as possible.

  • DON"T use cleaner that contain acid such as bathroom cleaners, grout cleaners or tub and tile cleaners.

  • DON'T use vinegar, bleach, ammonia, window cleaner, or other general purpose household cleaners.

  • DON'T use abrasive cleaners such as dry cleansers or soft cleansers.

  • DON'T use alkaline cleaners not specifically formulated for stone.

How to Test if Your Stone is Already Sealed

Take a quick test, water-repellency test to see if your stone has already been sealed and does the sealer still offer protection from water-based stains.

Directions


  1. Make sure surface area is clean, dry and free of waxes and coatings.
  2. Apply a drop of water 1 inch in diameter to the stone surface.
  3. Allow the water to stand on the stone for 5-30 minutes.
  4. If surface is unsealed, the water will absorb into the stone and darken the surface (absorption speed will depend on porosity of the stone). Check out StoneTech Professional Sealers to protect your stone.
  5. If surface is already sealed or if stone is very dense, the water will bead up and stand on the surface. Maintain it's beauty with Revitalizer Cleaner and Protector


Countertops -- we recommend StoneTech Revitalizer spray because it not only cleans and leaves a nice shine, it contains a small amount of sealer to help protect from stains and extend the time between applying sealers.

Contrary to common misconceptions, stone is also subject to wear and becomes scratched. These often first show on a gloss finish as a milky look and over time the polished stone surface degrades to a rather cloudy appearance. Eventually, the gloss is nearly gone and the material needs more drastic care such as diamond polishing. Our trained, certified, experienced technicians can hone and polish your stone periodically to maintain it's natural beauty, often allowing expensive and labor intensive diamond polishing to be minimized.

If your stone has become damaged or stained, our technicians can remove the stain or repair the damage too. Quotations and assesments are at no charge and recommended to insure the best solution is provided to meet your needs.

At Ceramic Enhancement, we have a passion for natural stone. We know it intimately. We care for it lovingly. And we're delighted to be able to offer you the best products and services in the industry to protect your investment in this beautiful, natural material.

It seems one of the biggest misconceptions we regularly encounter is that stone will last forever without doing ANYTHING to it!

All stone is porous and most stone requires periodic sealing. Natural stone floors, countertops, and back splashes are all porous materials. Granite is one of the hardest and yet typically most porous stones. Limestone, travertine, and marble are also quite porous, particularly with a honed finish. Some slates are nearly non-porous but others are highly porous. However, don't let a high gloss surface trick you into thinking it won't stain or that it's not porous, because it will stain and is usually quite porous. Scroll down and take our quick easy "Stain Test" if you're not sure about your stone.

Ceramic Enhancement only uses the very finest, time tested and proven sealers, manufactured by the leading stone care company in the world -- StoneTech Professional. We carefully choose the right sealer based on the size of the material's pores and the area the stone is installed in. Showers, bathrooms and foyers are particularly demanding and we often utilize a combination of sealers to provide the longest lasting protection.

If you prefer to do it yourself, these sealers and our other stone maintenance products can now be purchased from Ceramic Enhancement quickly and easily online by clicking HERE or the "Online Shopping" tab on the left. For more information on StoneTech's industry break-through products, just click here for their indepth and very helpful website that includes a trouble shooting guide to common problems and issues.

Floors -- we recommend frequent dry dust mopping as your primary cleaning method. It's the sand and dirt walked in that causes the most damage but is also the easiest to remove. Mats and area rugs inside and outside your entry way will also help. Spot cleaning should be done with StoneTech Revitalizer spray.

If the floor requires more, we recommend either StoneTech All-Purpose Stone and Tile Cleaner in quarts or gallons, or StoneTech Revitalizer in the gallon size offering the added benefit by containing a small amount of sealer to help boost stain protection. Both cleaners offer antimicrocial germ protection, require NO rinse step, and do not leave residue to trap dirt. Regardless of what brand of cleaner is used, it must be pH neutral and specifically labeled "for stone". Also scroll up and see our Stone Care DO's and DON'Ts for more information.