Whether you have a beautiful Marble countertop, a Limestone floor or a Indian sandstone patio, the only way to keep that beautiful finish is to ensure your stone surfaces are properly cleaned and sealed to protect them from water damage and staining. Many expensive and stunning stone floors or surfaces are destroyed very quickly with inferior sealers that don't last, or even by not using a sealer at all. listen or see below for tips on the best methods on how to install, prepare, seal and care for your stone surface.
How do I know when my stone surface is sealed?
It will take you a minute to perform this simple test, which will let you know if your stone is protected. This test, known as 'the water test', can be carried out on any stone surface, concrete, paving or tiled floor. All you need to do is pour a little water onto the surface, level it out with your finger and see what happens. If the water is absorbed by the stone then your stone needs sealing as soon as possible. However, if the water turns into small balls and is repelled by the stone then your surface has been sealed.
Why do I have to clean my stone surfaces?
Natural stone has thousands and thousands of pores which allows the stone to breathe. Unfortunately these pores also trap dirt, dust and grime, so it is imperative that these pores are cleaned properly before any sealers are applied to the stone. Failure to clean properly will mean that the dust and dirt trapped in the pores will be sealed into the stone and will eventually cause a milky white residue to become visible on the stone's surface. The only way to remove the residue would be to remove the sealer, clean the stone properly and re-apply the sealer again. It is recommended that a proper stone cleaner be used prior to applying sealers, in order to avoid this all together. All pre-sealer cleaners are sold in our on-line shop.
The right way to clean stone surfaces
Firstly vacuum the surface well, then use a cleaner with a residue remover and properly clean the surface. We recommend the use of DS21 for polished or honed surfaces. This is available from our stone cleanerspage. Click on any of the links in this page and go to the "cleaners" page for more information. Cleaners are available for all types of stone, whether it be polished or unpolished marble, granite and terracotta or polished or honed stone such as limestone, sandstone and slate. After the stone has been cleaned, ensure it is dry prior to sealing.
Should I seal and protect my stone surfaces and when?
All natural and man-made stones are porous so will inevitably stain after spilling anything on them. Sealing a stone surface will protect against permanent damage and water damage. There are different sealing methods for different natural stone surfaces.
Sandstone, Terracotta andLimestoneare very porous, and therefore must be sealed properly before being laid. If they are not sealed properly or with an effective sealer, then they may soak up stained water from the adhesive or grout which can cause permanent damage. It can be a very expensive mistake not to seal properly, and is very common believe it or not! Terracotta, in particular, is very porous indeed and should be sealed front, back and sides before being laid.
Some Limestones are also very prone to staining and we would recommend that gloves be worn when handling, as even finger marks can stain the surface and may not necessarily show until its too late and the stone has dried out.Granite,Marble, Slate and Travertine are usually sealed on all edges and the top after being laid and grouted. Importantly all these floors must be thoroughly cleaned prior to sealing.
How often do I have to re-seal my stone?
This will depend on the type and quality of the stone sealer you purchase, some will last 2 years, some 5 years and some professional sealers, such as 'The Ultimate Sealer' will last upto 15 years if well maintained. In every case the remnants of the old sealer will need to be removed with a sealer remover before re-application. Please see this link to purchase an effective remover - sealer removers.
A natural stone floorwill last a lifetime if looked after properly but it is important to clean and maintain with the right products. In our range of care products you should find everything you need to look after your stone.
Sealing other stone features
Ofcourse stone floors are not the only stone structures in our properties. You might have a marble staircase, stone tables, marble pillers, granite worktops and stone fireplaces. Fireplaces in particular can be susceptible to staining from a variety of sources. The main problem is carbon deposits (for open fires), UV damage, water rings from cups or flower pots, or household spills and finger marks. All these other surfaces, fireplaces, tables and stairs need to be sealed properly to prevent staining and permanent damage. All the products you need are available from www.sealer-seal-sealant.co.uk
The Truth about Modern sealers
There are 3 types of sealers:
Topical sealers as picture below
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These type of sealers are made from polyurethanes or acrylics. These sealers are designed to sit on the surface of the stone and can be used to change the look or slip resistance of the flooring. These sealers are effective at stopping stains but they tend to wear out very quickly, especially on high-traffic areas. It is important to also note that these sealers are not breathable and are not really effective against salt attack, such asefflorescenceandspalling, so for greater protection we would advise impregnating sealers.
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Penetrating sealers
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Penetrating sealers use siliconates, fluoro-polymers and siloxanes. Theses sealers are quite similar to topical sealers, but will penetrate the stone a little deeper in order to anchor the sealer to the surface. These sealers will change the slip resistance of a floor, and will offer some protection from surface spills, but just like topical sealers will not last very long at all and will not protect against salt attack, such asefflorescenceand spalling.
Impregnating sealers use silanesor modified silanes. The reason why impregnating sealers are used by professional companies is because Impregnating sealers penetrate deeply into the material, deep enough to repel water or oils from within the material. Some modified silane sealers impregnate deeply enough to protect against salt attack, such asefflorescence,spalling, picture framing and freeze-thaw spalling. Only impregnating sealers will protect against weathering and traffic and will offer a more long term solution for the protection of stone.
Please listen to our top technician on how to clean, seal and maintain natural stone.
