Frequently Asked Questions
Top 10 Common Questions
Here are some answers to some commonly asked questions about natural stone.
Is there any maintenance to Granite, Marble, and Quartzite?
Aside from cleaning up after use with dish soap and water, no. Do not use any chemicals, vinegar or abrasive cleaners on your natural stone. With a lot of misinformation on the internet we often are asked about regular maintenance of applying of stone sealers. When you purchase your stone from a reputable stone retailer they will seal your stone upon installation. Typically, natural stone should be resealed 15-20 years, if ever again with a good quality stone sealer.
What are the advantages of Granite, Marble, and Quartzite
Valued for their outstanding qualities, these stones are 100% natural, unique, durable for indoor and outdoor use. They are low care, heat, stain and fade resistant and can last forever.
Is Quartz a natural stone and how is it different than natural stone?
Natural stone is 100% natural, earth made and naturally unique. Quartz is man made with petro chemicals, pigments and crushed aggregates of natural stone. Patterns are manufactured and look the same.
What is the best countertop surface?
That depends on your personal preferences and criteria. All natural stone and Quartz are very hard and suitable for countertop use. However they all have individual advantages, good questions to ask yourself would be:
- Is being natural important to you?
- Do you want to avoid sealing your product every 15 – 20 years?
- Do you want a heat and burn resistant countertop surface?
- Do you want a product that does not etch?
- Is this for an outdoor application?
- Do you want it to be unique?
Does all natural stone have to be sealed and why?
No not all natural stone needs to be sealed, it really depends on the stone application. For exterior use, we usually don’t seal but for interior use we usually recommend it especially if using as a food surface, because of stones porosity. A good quality sealer acts as a barrier on the stones surface. Sealing your stone will make it easier to clean and impervious to liquids.
How often should I reseal my natural stone?
This depends on what material, and application or use of stone. Typically Marble, Granite, and Quartzite used on countertops will be anywhere from 12 – 15 years or if ever again. If stone is used as an outdoor application, sealer is generally used to maintain the colour saturation, not the performance of the stone. Depending on weather, this can be done every 7 – 12 years or not and let the stone develop its own patina into a naturally aged and antiqued finish. Sealing stone should never be applied regularly, as maintenance, only when stone is showing signs of absorbing liquids. If liquids bead on top of stones surface for minutes before being absorbed into stone, you will not need to reseal your stone, in fact resealing your stone too often can cause a film to build up on top of stone’s surface. If in doubt, contact an experienced natural stone expert and they can advise or recommend a high quality sealer.
Can I reseal my natural stone myself?
Yes, you certainly can as it is not an arduous task. The application is applied much like a furniture polish. Depending on type and finish of your stone, you are best to contact your natural stone supplier for expertise on high quality sealers.
Will my natural stone stain?
All natural stone, if not properly sealed with a good quality sealer has the potential to stain. Buying your stone from a reputable and experienced stone supplier will guarantee they are knowledgeable with sealing natural stone. Sealing stone makes it impervious to liquids or foods that could potentially stain.
Will my natural stone chip or scratch?
Natural stone, in particular Granite, Marble, and Quartzites are the most durable of building materials on the market. Remembering that stone is essentially a rock from nature is good to keep in mind that above and beyond average countertop use, these stones are extremely hard, and resilient. However, if you are faced with a scratch, on Marble it will disappear over time from the daily use and wiping down. Or rather, it can be polished or honed away immediately by a natural stone professional. If a chip occurs, keep the piece and contact our natural stone expert to fix it.
Does Marble etch and what is that?
Yes, Marble can etch as it is naturally composed of calcium carbonate, making it susceptible to etching from high acid foods or liquids like lemons or wine. An etch is not a stain but a dull mark that can appear from acid left on the stone’s surface. However, an etch is not a permanent mark and will gradually dissipate and disappear over time from daily use and cleaning of counters. Or it can be immediately removed by refinishing or re-polishing the stone’s surface. A reputable stone dealer will be able to show what an etch looks like and how to minimize etching if you have an issue with it.