From Mountaintops to Countertops

Tips for Choosing the Correct Stone Care Company

By Jeff DeVries

The perfect up-scale, last a lifetime, building material for any residential, public, or commercial building is natural stone such as marble, granite or limestone.  Think it’s a trend that costs more than it’s worth?  Think again.  Natural stone has always been the choice for a beautiful, elegant, comfortable appearance. Due to its durability and ever lasting nature, stone is an asset to any home or building. 

You can find natural stone being utilized on everyday countertops, floors and walls or more elegantly on statues and furniture carvings.  The beauty and sophisticated look of natural stone is just about anywhere you can imagine.  And people are doing just that – using their imagination!

THE BENEFITS

It took hundreds of thousands of years for your particular stone to be created, so it goes without saying your stone should last for the same amount of time or until you sell the property.  That’s true to a point.  Many homeowners, architects, and interior designers are sold on natural stone because of its beauty and certain durability.  The asset value of stone, if properly maintained, will help appreciate the value of the property. 

DAMAGE

If there is a downside, it’s that many people don’t realize polished natural stone does take some work to maintain its beauty.  It is a common misconception that once your stone is in place it can not be damaged and the shine will last forever.  “It’s a rock! What can happen to it?” The answer is plenty.  Natural stone can be damaged and there is a wide range of household chemicals as well as improperly trained janitorial companies using these chemicals that can damage any type of stone.  Loss of shine, etching, staining, yellowing, cracks, and/or crystal damage are some of the most common stone problems.   Commercially, so many stones are being installed improperly causing uneven tiles or slabs that lawsuits from tripping are causing a liability headache.  Residentially, husbands mixing up a smelly concoction in the garage and poof!  NO SHINE. What to do?

THE GOOD NEWS FOR THE DO-IT-YOURSELFERS

Never fear.  Just about anything you, kids, pets or the neighbor can do to a natural stone surface can be repaired to its original finish with do it yourself products or to make the wife happier, the tile can be polished to a higher gloss or even change the grout to a different color by a professional stone care company such as MARBLELIFE.  How can this be?  It’s simply, really!  MARBLELIFE has Stone Care Products which can be order from their website.  These products have been specifically designed to be used on all natural stone.  Simply follow the label directions will help remove spills, ring marks, soap residue from your stone.  More involved problems such as uneven installations can be perfectly flattened and restored to a higher slip resistant gloss.  Furthermore, MARBLELIFE trained, uniformed professionals can perform the correct repairs on the damaged stone and return the stone to its original luster and shine much faster.

CHOOSING A PROFESSIONAL FOR LARGE HOMES OR COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES

Investigate and compare the costs between options and experience.  Using in-house personnel is not always better.  Choosing a stone care company like MARBLELIFE will bring a “much needed” degree of professionalism that has set industrial standards throughout the world as we have the knowledge, experience and support to handle any stone care needs continuously.   We always offer you a free evaluation of your stone and we will teach you how to maintain or offer you a maintenance program suited for your budget.  Do not allow someone to experiment on your floor.  Seek out references, liability insured, certified trained personnel who take pride in their craftsmanship to care for your stone.

At a glance, no matter where the stone is located, there are some important guidelines to follow to keep the beauty and value at its best.  Stone floors should be dust mopped daily with a non-treated cotton mop to keep abrasive debris such as sand and dirt off the surface.  A specifically designed cleaner for stone must be used.  Other non-stone specific or general cleaners can be too harsh on the surface and can diminish the gloss.  

CONSIDER MAINTENANCE WITH A GUARANTEE

Choosing MARBLELIFE for your maintenance and a guarantee will be written for your protection.  Follow these simple ideas to help to keep your stone at its best for less!

Commercial Facilities:  Use doormats designed to scrape the foot as patrons walk up to your entrances.  Doormats to wipe the soles after entry are highly recommended.  Remember doormats should be at least three walking paces in length.  The longer length will allow the foot to wipe against the mat instead of your stone floor helping to reduce traffic patterns which could develop on your stone.

Residential: Generally homes have a higher luster or gloss restored to their stone than commercial facilities and more care is needed to prevent loss of luster.  Provide a durable mat which guests can wipe/scrape their feet at the exterior of your door.  Interior mats made of an absorbing material will remove moisture and dirt before walking on your stone.  Make sure each interior mat has a soft backing. Cotton mats placed in the kitchen in front of the refrigerator and sink will catch spills. 

Use coasters or napkins under glasses.  Many liquids you might not think of as being troublesome can “wreck havoc” on your stone surfaces.  Soda, juices, and alcoholic beverages with juices can stain or etch the stone leaving ring marks.  Your stone care company should have several sealers, depending on the stone structure, to help you protect your investment.

A natural stone dining table is very elegant.  Use place mats to protect the stone from china, silver or ceramic dinnerware.  These items can scratch your stone.

Dust your stone regularly.  Dust obscures the natural beauty and shine.  Use a soft non-treated dust mop or check out the new disposable microfiber dust mops which are designed to pick up the finest particles from your floor.  Your larger stone care companies will have them.

Do not use regular household or commercial cleansers on your natural stone.  Use a pH neutral cleaner designed specifically for stone care such as MARBLELIFE InterCare Cleanser Concentrate or Ready to Use InterCare Cleanser.

Never apply wax, acrylics or allow companies to coat your stone with urethane sealers.  They may produce a temporary shine but could actually cause severe damage the stone by trapping moisture.

Vinegar, mildly acidic cleaners, or acidic disinfectants should never be used because they can negatively react to the calcium carbonate in the stone and strip the shine.

By following these simple but important tips helps ensure your natural stone surfaces will continue to look beautiful.  These stones surfaces, if properly cared for, are an investment in your facility or home that can last a lifetime.

Jeff DeVries is the Vice President, Research & Development at MARBLELIFE, Inc., an international franchise company specializing in the restoration, preservation and maintenance of stone for commercial, residential and historical properties.  Check out there web page at www.marblelife.com