Caring for your stone

So I have stone, how do I make sure it stays pristine?  What common problems do people face and what are those solutions?

Q. How long will natural stone last?
A. If you take care of your stone, it will last for generations.

Q. How durable is marble?
A. Marble has been used for thousands of years. In many cases, the statues and buildings made of marble far outlast the ancient cultures that built them. A simple, regular maintenance program will keep marble looking beautiful for the life of your project. Marble is commercially defined as any limestone that will take a polish.

Q. What is Limestone?
A. Limestone is sedimentary rock consisting mostly of organic material such as skeletons and shells of marine creatures and sediments. It is formed by material that settles to the bottom of bodies of water, and over millions of years, limestones come in various colours but most are shades of brown or tan and seem to fall into earth tone colour range.

Q. What is travertine and why does travertine have holes?
A. Travertine is a type of limestone, but differs from other forms in that it is formed in hot springs called karst. The water movement in these karst erodes the travertine, creating holes in the stone. Characteristically travertine has pits & or crevices on the stones surface & or throughout the stones body. These pits are often filled using Travertine powder and resins or can be left unfilled.
Travertine does not retain heat, which makes it perfect for all internal flooring external applications.

Q. Why does the texture and colour sometimes vary from stone to stone?
A. No two pieces of stone are the same, they are a product of nature and characteristics such as veining and mineral deposits will vary from quarry to quarry and from tile to tile.

Q. Is Limestone a good flooring product? Why?
A. Yes because it has subtle patterning, is available in pale neutral colors and gives a sense of softness underfoot. It is proven to be hardwearing and long-lasting and has been used as a flooring material for thousands of years.

Q. Why is natural stone such a great building material?
A. Natural stone is proven over many centuries to age well, buildings such as the Coliseum in Rome and Notre Dame in Paris stand as proof of the materials strength. The numerous selection of tones available means there is a stone to complement any interior, architectural feature or landscape design.

Q. What is efflorescence?
A. Efflorescence is a common and temporary condition on new stone & masonry installations. It is actually a mineral salt from the stone's setting bed, and may appear as a white, powdery residue on the surface of the stone. The stone will continue absorb and transfer salts to the surface until the underlying substrate is completely dry. This can take from several days to a few months.

Q. Can I use regular cleaning products on my stone?
A. It is important that you only use pH neutral cleaners. Any slightly acidic cleaners will etch many natural stone s. We recommend specialised pH stone cleaners for everyday use and alkaline cleaners for stubborn stains from Dry-Treat.

Q. Why should I seal my Stone?
A. People often assume that natural stone is impervious to staining. However all stone is porous to some degree. Think of sealers as an aid to maintenance - they filter out the worst of stains and make it easier to clean your stone If not properly treated with a protective sealer, water, oils or other liquids can easily penetrate the stone, leaving unwanted stains. Whilst sealing is not a "silver bullet", the good news is that once treated with a protective sealer, natural stone is ready for carefree, everyday use.

Q. How Often Do I Need to Re-Seal?
A. The durability of a treatment will depend on the stones texture and its use in the environment. Sealer life will depend on whether it is installed indoors vs. outdoors and the amount of traffic that the stone is subjected to. Dry-Treat provides a 15 year guarantee if applied by an approved applicator.

Q. Will the treatment/sealer leave a film or plastic effect?
A. No, penetrating sealers penetrate into the stone itself and therefore they do not create any surface film or alter the natural aspect of the stone.

Q. Does sealing change the slip resistance of stone?
A. No