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NATURAL STONE CARE & CLEANING GUIDE
Thank you for choosing Springfield Marble Granite for your
natural stone investment. Even though your natural stone is
pre-treated after fabrication and installation, basic care and
cleaning will protect your stone’s beauty for years to come.
This guide is prepared to help you understand your stone and
provides simple maintenance guidelines. Please keep in mind that deep
stains and scratches may require professional treatment. Do
not hesitate to call Springfield Marble Granite for
problems that are too difficult to treat at home.
Types of Natural Stone:
Based on its composition there are two types of natural stone:
Siliceous and Calcareous. Knowing your type of stone will
help you make an informed decision when selecting maintenance
and cleaning products. Stones that are composed of silica or
quartz are siliceous. This type of stone is more durable and
easier to clean compared to calcareous stone. Granite, slate,
sandstone, quartzite, brownstone and bluestone are of
siliceous stone. Calcium carbonate is the main component of
calcareous stones. Calcium carbonate is very sensitive to
acidic juices and cleaning products. Example of calcareous
stone are marble, travertine, limestone and onyx.
Natural stones come from different parts of the world in a variety of colors examples. While the samples are intended to represent
the product, each slab may differ slightly in color and
veining. Even a single slab may have color variations from one
end to the other. It is easy to determine if your stone is
calcareous or siliceous with acid sensitivity test. You can
use 4 Oz. 10% solution of muriatic acid or household vinegar.
Using an eye dropper apply a few drops of the solution to the
stone. If it starts to bubble or fizz then the stone is
calcareous. If there is no reaction to the solution, your
stone is siliceous. Clean the area with water and dry surface
thoroughly. You might have to chip a small area to apply the
solution because if there is a sealer on the surface, this
test may not be accurate.
WARNING: Apply the solution to an area that is not easily
visible because it may stain the stone permanently. Please use
eye and body protection when using corrosive and hazardous
materials such as muriatic acid.
Natural Stone Finish Types:
Polished Finish:
Stone with a polished finish has a
glossy surface. This finish brings out the color and the
pattern of the stone better than other finish types. Polished finish is not recommended for high traffic areas as the polish can wear off.
Honed Finish:
Smooth surface with little or no gloss.
This type of finish is used for locations where heavy traffic
occurs.
Brushed Finish:
Acourse surface this stone is brushed with a rotary type
wire brush to achieve this type of finish with coarse surface.
Flamed Finish:
Rough textured surface that exposes
grains of stone.
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