Your Ultimate Guide to Cleaning and Sealing Natural Stone

| Posted by Soonah Walkom | in Surface Cleaning, Uncategorized

granite

Your Ultimate Guide to Cleaning and Sealing Natural Stone

As your professional natural stone cleaning & sealing experts on the Gold Coast we know that there are a lot of different methods, products and tools out in the market place, depending on the types of staining and treatments your natural stone has had and also whether it is walls of floor surfacing internal or external. Whatever the application this blog will hopefully save you heaps of time cutting through the unknown when it comes to cleaning & or sealing your natural stone surface.

 

So exactly what is Natural stone?

Before choosing, cleaning or sealing natural stone its important to understand what it is. There is an array of different stones & types of manufacturing technics, natural stone is just that stone that was formed by Mother Nature.

For centuries it has been used by nearly all civilizations in every corner of the globe and each layer of earth yields a multitude of stone varieties, and uniqueness within each stone, giving you a vast palette of possible applications.

The most commonly found Stone for construction is

  • Granite
  • Blue Stone,
  • Limestone,
  • Marble,
  • Sandstone,
  • Slate and
  • Travertine represent most building stones,

 

There are countless other types available, But lets explain the benefits of the most popular:

Natural Stone – Granite

As old as the earth, granite is formed from liquid magma deep within the earth’s core, and possesses the hardness and durability of diamonds, making it ideal for footpath areas. Its inherent strength and natural varieties makes it the perfect choice for subtle, natural landscapes.

Natural Stone – Blue Stone or Basalt

Created from volcanic eruptions of the earth’s own mantle, basalt is dark, dense and dramatic. Available in black, grey and greenish-black hues, basalt makes a statement of style, con dance and sophistication. Its striking charcoal tones are enhanced by a diverse selection of polishes, hones and cuts.

Natural Stone – Limestone

This grainstone has a very uniform texture and grade, and has gained worldwide acceptance as a premier dimension stone. Limestone weathers naturally over time and its color mellows and blends into a pleasing natural patina. With no artificial coloring agents to fade and no reinforcement rods to rust, the appearance of limestone actually improves with age.

Natural Stone – Marble

In Greek, the world ‘marble’ means ‘shining stone’ or ‘to ash, sparkle and gleam’. Marble is de ned by its unique mosaic patterns of swirls and veins, by its versatility and cool sensuality, which makes it the perfect choice for Australian interiors.

Natural Stone – Sandstone

cleaned natural stone - sandstone

Sandstone

When sand spills from rivers, lakes and seas, it creates sandstone rock formations in startling colours of yellow, red, pink, tan and white. Its beauty is enhanced by irregular veining, which creates wave- like patterns across the stone. It is a durable, timeless choice that blends the essence of Mother Nature within urban spaces.

Natural Stone – Slate

Slate is a metamorphic rock that is dense, strong, acid resistant and non-absorptive. It is impervious to freeze/thaw cycles and has been used in construction for thousands of years. It is the material of choice for discerning architects, designers, contractors and builders.

Natural Stoner -Travertine

Forms near mineral-rich springs and is infused with tiny bubbles of air, making each stone utterly unique. More delicate than granite and marble, Travertine conveys a sense of relaxation and spaciousness – it’s porous, re ned and versatile, and available in a rainbow of colours from soft ivory to honey brown.

 

Benefits of Natural stone? Now we know what it is – why do we use it!

Natural stone remains one of the very few building products, which increased in value over time!

Natural stone, probably my favorite building material, the reason why that it last a forever we with the correct maintenance and like a good wine it only gets better with age.

Natural stone is extremely resilient – it is the ideal material to withstand many years of the harsh elements or even Millions of years, Old structures have been created from natural stone & have stood the test of time, the great pyramids & the Sphinx in Giza or the Roman Empire constructions.

Prep work before Cleaning & Sealing Natural Stone!

Sealing natural stone important point

STOP!!!! This step is a MUST READ it is so important

Depending if your stone is brand new or has seen a few Christmas’s it will need different types of treatments! It is extremely important to bring the surface up clean enough to maximize the penetration & protection aspects of the sealer,

Astute note: The most common sealer choice is one that leaves the stone in its natural colour & beauty while not changing the appearance on the surface.

This level of cleanliness achieved in this process is the NUMBER 1 BIGGEST MISTAKE people make when DIY’ing. Thus shorting the life of the protective coating, But don’t make the 2nd biggest mistake by using to much pressure (over pressure) when pressure cleaning. Especially when hiring equipment.  AAM use’s only steam hot water to deliver the best possible results, however it’s important to keep a very close eye that no damage is being done to the stone as each piece of stone has its own characteristics.

If your stone surface is over three years old and never been sealed allow enough time and cleaner for 2 pressure cleans, this will allow for effective removal of any contaminants off the surface allowing for maximum protection & allowing much longer lasting results.

The 3rd biggest mistake is using the wrong products both for cleaning & sealing while this could be put down to the wrong amount of one or both, lets face it there are so many products on the market & its hard to know which one to choose but thanks to technology the products have come along way & manufactures product selection guide all help in the process.

So do your research to select the right products & quantities for your stone. Incorrect sealer is highly likely if your surface is 10+ yrs old as the different type & quality has improved the sealers to meet the expanding applications of natural stone, So the way to tell if your stone has been this is the case for your stone stripping of the old sealer is recommended & the correct type of sealer be applied to prevent more damage. This is where the mixed massage of yes seal stone & no don’t seal come from, as I think people/business are stuck in a time warp & haven’t caught up to the modern sealing products & method’s that Astute Asset Management offer.

Ideally Prevention is always better than cure when dealing with anything & natural stone is no different it needs to be cared for right from the get go, if you know or feel that it hasn’t or isn’t been treated right, Astute Asset Management can assist you by assess your Natural stone and giving sound advise & the best course of actions with our free assessment and quote.

sealing natural stone logo

Call us anytime on 07 5609 6698 for your

FREE professional Cleaning and Sealing

Natural Stone Pressure Cleaning quote.

Lets begin Natural Stone Pressure Cleaning!

Once you have all the tools, equipment and products on hand sweep off any loose matter that is sitting on the surface. A blower is great for this, or a broom. Using the right cleaner for the staining & surface, apply the clear at the right ratio as per the instructions (Hot water works best for most stain cleaning).

The BIGGEST TIP I can give here is to let the cleaner sit on the surface as long as possible (without letting it dry out) as most cleaners work best when given 10-30 mins to bite into the staining. This also ensures that over pressure is prevented as the cleaner has done all the heavy removal and the pressure cleaner can run as soft as needed to protect again damage.

If you feel it needs a second clean follow the above steps after allowing the surface to completely dry out, puddles of water sitting on the surface can effect the ratio of the cleaner & can show up in the end finish.

There is absolutely no point in sealing natural stone if you have not done this step!

What to know when Sealing Natural Stone?

Sandstone cleaned & sealed

Sandstone cleaned & sealed – see the water beading on top

If you want the manufactures warranty that’s offer it varies from product to product make sure to read the fine print as most are no validated if not applied by a trained professional, leaving you with a sour taste in your mouth, Astute Asset Management believe if you have invested big $$ in natural stone it makes sense that the last process be carried out by a professional allowing you to claim on any warranty issues in the unlikely event the product fails as it was applied correctly & give you peace of mind your stone will continue to look its best long into the future as intended.

Astute Asset Management we keep in mind all aspect of natural stone like the natural PH and softness of the stone combines the with our experience, knowledge and training we can offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee to make sure your job will be stripped, cleaned and even sealed in the correct method with the right products for your chosen stone.

We do not recommend sealing the surface yourself as there are too many variants to cover & there will be no warranty period.

If you are DIY’ing keep in mind all the information that we have laid out here & always do a test area of desired finish to make sure your happy with the out come.

Best Maintenance tips & tricks for Natural Stonesealing natural stone tips

There’s only one trick to preventing stains from occurring in natural stone!!! Sealing Natural Stone.

Make sure the stone is sealed & if there is a spill act fast. If wine or any other liquid is spilled on your stone, clean it up immediately. Start by using an absorbent material such as paper or fabric towels to remove the surface liquid. After this, use a PH neutral detergent and hot water solution to finish the job. Making shore not to spread the stain. If there is any sign of deep stain, a 10 percent solution of hydrogen peroxide and water may work. Never mix chemicals together. Always follow manufactures instructions as chemical interactions can have hazardous consequences

For organic matter like leaves, mould & tenant staining from nuts & berries a bleach mixed with hot water should do the trick.

But you cant beat a good leaf blower weekly or broom off & make sure any water run off from soiled area’s isn’t running over the stone as this is prime breeding ground for mould, for monthly maintenance tip is a mixed up cleaning solution Broom in well, let sit for 10mins or so (don’t let the cleaner dry on surface) then hose off, use DIY pressure cleaner to save water, for quicker drying use a microfiber industrial grade mob & bucket.

Natural stone can last a lifetime or more if well maintained, its appearance can actually improve with age Like a good wine. No matter how often you clean your floor, even if you have gone through the process of sealing natural stone, the sealant will eventually wear out. When your floor shows signs of wear, call in a professional to save you time & have them looking as good as new again. AKA like a bought one

Happy enjoying your beautiful natural stone the way it’s intended to be.

 

Some useful links on other surfaces;Elanora Team member Ben Walkom