After Care

The care required to maintain stone in prime condition depends on its physical properties. We seal all natural stone before we release it from our workshop and apply additional sealant immediately after fitting the stone where necessary. All natural stone requires regular resealing to maintain its protection.

Wipe surfaces with a soft cloth and mild liquid soap. Avoid alkaline and chlorine based cleaners and do not use bleach. Never use abrasive cleaning products such as metal pads and scouring detergents.

Spills should be mopped up immediately to prevent staining with the following liquids posing some of the greatest risks: beetroot juice, lemon juice, vinegar, butter, cooking oils, wine and detergents. Be careful to mop up any spilled liquid rather than wipe it in to the surface.

Do not expose stone surfaces to excessive heat, use a trivet or mat to support hot pots and pans.

Always use chopping boards to avoid scratching stone surfaces with knives or other kitchen utensils.

We have tried a huge variety of stone care products over the years and have found the Lithofin range to be the most effective. We use it on all of our manufactured stone and during installation and restoration.

Granite

Granite is naturally heat and scratch resistant. While granite’s crystals are impermeable, the rock can be porous when liquids seep into microscopic cracks between the crystals and so may require a sealant. Dark fine grained granites do not require a sealant to protect them from absorbing any liquids.

Limestone

Untreated limestone is porous and will absorb water and stain easily. Due to its calcium carbonate composition, limestone is especially vulnerable to damage from contact with acidic substances such vinegar and citric acid. If used as a countertop limestone needs to be regularly sealed to protect it.

Marble

Unsealed marble is porous and absorbs water. If a liquid is left to pool on a marble surface it will be absorbed and may leave a stain. Marble dissolves in acid and so can be damaged by a variety of substances such as vinegar and citric acid. Contact with acid will remove the polish from unsealed marble. To protect marble it needs to be regularly treated with sealant.

Onyx

Onyx requires careful maintenance to maintain its eye-catching translucent appearance. Like all natural stone onyx’s exposed surface should be regularly sealed to protect them from damage.

Onyx is especially susceptible to scratching so never clean with abrasive materials such as steel wool.

Quartz Composite

Quartz composite is typically hard, non-porous, stain and scratch resistant. With no calcium carbonate content the stone does not share marble and limestone’s vulnerability to acid. Its constituent resin binding agent makes composite quartz material waterproof and so does not require sealing.

While highly robust quartz composite is not indestructible. Harsh cleaning solutions such as oven cleaners, concentrated bleach, nail polish remover, turpentine, drain cleaner and dishwasher rinsing agents can disintegrate the bonds between quartz and resin and damage the stone. Never use abrasive cleansers or scouring pads, which can dull the stone’s surface. Soapy water and elbow grease will eliminate the majority of spills if treated promptly.

Quartz composite requires the least maintenance of all stone types which explains its popularity as a choice for kitchen worktops.

Quartzite

Quatrzite is a very hard material and so is scratch resistant. While the stone’s constituent crystals are impermeable, liquids can seep into microscopic cracks and so it is necessary to apply a sealant to prevent any water absorption and consequent staining.

Sandstone

Sandstone is highly porous and requires sealant to prevent it absorbing water.

Slate

Chemical sealants are often used on tiles to improve durability and appearance, increase stain resistance, and increase or reduce surface smoothness.

Travertine

By virtue of its limestone nature, untreated travertine is porous, highly water absorbent and vulnerable to staining and etching from acidic material. Regular sealing is essential to protect the stone.