The ubiquity of stone as a building material might lead you to assume that it is a maintenance-free addition to your home. This couldn't be further from the truth.
Stone is actually a fairly fragile material. Anyone who has ever tried to get a grease stain out of an unsealed slate floor knows this intimately. Stone surfaces that come straight from the earth to your doorstep are highly susceptible to scratching, etching, pitting and staining from common materials, including something as innocuous as water or juice. Unsealed stone is highly porous and will absorb liquids and grime faster than you might think. Preparation and perspiration are important to maintaining the natural character of your stone surface.
Sealing your stone surfaces is key. Whether you have a professional stone contractor apply commercial sealants or you do it yourself, this first step is a must. Most stone surfaces do not arrive at your home pre-sealed. This step is usually done after installation and actually is quite an easy process. To determine whether a stone surface needs to be sealed, stone care professional Claude Bunkow of Architectural Stone Design Inc. suggests putting your fingers in a bowl of water and sprinkling them over the stone surface. If the water doesn't bead up, you need to seal your surface.
Companies such as StoneTech Professional or Miracle Sealants provide chemical products designed for various types of stone surfaces. Commercial sealants are usually formulated according to the porousness of specific materials. For example, travertine and limestone are more porous than marbles and granites. Also, pay careful attention to the toxicity warning labels on sealants; surfaces that will be used as kitchen countertops for food preparation and for vanities or bathroom sinks should be sealed with nontoxic products.
Once you've sealed your stone surface, half of your household battle has been won. But you're not off the hook yet. The enemies of all stone surfaces are grit and dirt. Imagine rubbing sandpaper over your polished marble floor a hundred times a day. That's just what you're doing when you walk on an unclean stone floor.
Step 1 in the battle against dirt is simple; place floor mats at all entrances to your house. An average of eight stomps of your feet per entry should do the trick and cut down the amount of grit tracked in. Step 2: Use a dry dust mop once a day on floors. A vacuum cleaner is a risky choice; the wheels and inner mechanics can scratch polished stone.
