Five tips for preventing or minimizing damage to your natural stone.

If you enjoy the elegance that natural stone provides, it follows that you would like to prevent or minimize damage to your floors and countertops. How? We’re glad you asked. Here are a few common causes for natural stone damage and inexpensive precautionary measures you can employ to ensure the lasting beauty of your natural stone surfaces:

1. Hard Water Stains

To prevent hard water stains on your natural stone, install a water softener to remove most of the minerals that cause hard water deposits. An added benefit to having a water softener is you’ll probably use less shampoo and soap, which will minimize soap buildup on your natural stone.

2. Acidic Liquids

Take steps to prevent acidic liquids from making contact with your natural stone floors, countertops, and other surfaces by using coasters and cutting boards, throw rugs and mats, and avoiding spills. Inevitably, spills happen. Clean them right away, using a sponge, paper towel or clean rag to absorb the spill. This will help minimize the possibility of spreading the spill around. Rinse the area thoroughly with plenty of cold water and neutral cleaner.

3. Porous Surface

If your natural stone is porous, then it will absorbs liquids. An impregnating sealer, properly applied, will fill the pores, giving you time to clean up spills before stains set in. Have your stone restoration pro or fabricator (you can find one in your area here) provide this service for you.

4. Hand Soap

Most people keep hand soap on countertops by bathroom and kitchen sinks. To prevent staining or etching caused by hand soap, keep your bar soap dishes or soap dispensers on a decorative tray. For installed soap dispensers, make sure there are no leaks, and have your stone restoration pro or fabricator brush the immediate area with flowing epoxy.

5. Sand and Grit

Loose sand and grit tracked into your home and then ground in by regular traffic and usage is the number one cause of damage to natural stone floors. Ideally, everyone entering the home should remove their shoes, but if this option doesn’t work for you, use heavy-duty mats at every entrance. Regular sweeping or vacuuming (with the proper attachments) will eliminate or reduce this problem.

For questions and answers about caring for your natural stone, visit our other articles, or contact us at (205) 617-6330, or email us at Jay.Mullins@BrilliantServices.net.