STONE CARE & MAINTENANCE

It has long been a misconception that natural stone requires a great deal of maintenance. It simply is an untruth mostly designed to help the sales efforts of companies manufacturing simulated stone products. If you follow these simple steps you will find that your new stone products will last a lifetime (literally)!

The last step in our installation process is the sealing of your stone. There are many sealants on the market today…we would be happy to recommend one for you or perform the stone sealing service ourselves. There are several that are exceptional in quality and ease of use. The sealer we use is a 5 year version but we recommend that you apply it once every 12 to 18 months.

Sealing Your Stone

1)      Make sure that your counters are clean and dry.

2)      Generously apply sealant with a clean, dry, lint-free cloth. An old white T-shirt works well.

3)      Let the sealant absorb into the stone. The amount of time   it will take to penetrate depends on the stone. More   dense stones like those of the black variety will take longer.

4)      Do not let the sealant sit for too long as it will begin to paste and be more difficult to remove. Wipe off the excess with a cloth different from your application rag and you are done.

Cleaning your stone

Natural stone requires normal housekeeping. It is not wise to let spills remain for an undue amount of time. When you do clean your countertops, simply use soap and water or a cleaner designed specifically for natural stone. There are several that are readily available on the market today.

DO NOT USE industrial detergents (window cleaner, 409, Fantastic   etc.) as they will break down the sealant. DO NOT USE pot scrubbers or abrasive cleaners if something becomes dried on the stone surface. Simply scrape the substance off with a razorblade holding at an angle close to the stone.

Why do I need to seal my countertops?

Natural Stone is very dense but also very porous. The sealant does not change the appearance of the stone, it simply blocks the pours so that other substances do not penetrate the stone and stain it. Over time the sealant will break down and needs to be reapplied.

How do I know when to reseal my natural stone?

Simply sprinkle some water on your countertop (in a high use area). If you see the water bead up like it would on a recently waxed car, the seal is still intact.   If the water flattens out or if the color of the stone changes, this mean that it needs to be resealed. If it has been a maximum of 18 months since you last sealed your stone and it still seems to be properly sealed, it is a   good idea to seal it anyway as you do not want to wait until the sealant has completely broken down.

What breaks the sealant down?

Over time the sealant, like most products, will become less effective. There are however, certain items that will cause the material to break down more quickly.   Some of these items include: citrus products, tomatoes, red wine, olive oil and detergents not made for stone cleaning.

The most important thing to remember is that regularly cleaning your countertops will prevent staining. If you follow these simple steps you will enjoy your natural stone for as long as you own your home.

Thanks for choosing Bay State Marble & Granite, Inc and congratulations on your new natural stone product. Enjoy!