Maintenance for Granite and Similar Surfaces

This information applies to Granite, Marble, Ceramic, Terra Cotta, Terrazzo, Agglomerate. Scroll down for information on polishing, stain removal and preventative maintenance.

The following procedures are outlined based on recommendations fron Stone Care International, a manufacturer of quality care products. Arctica Showcase Canada Inc. is not responsible for the accuracy of the information presented here and does not endorse or accept liability for the effectiveness of Stone Care products. This is a line that we have used with success and we hope you will benefit from the advice given.

You are encouraged to research other cleaning products and study this topic carefully to ensure that your product is well maintained. Make sure you follow manufacturer's instructions. The procedures outlined here are only relevant for Stone Care International products. We do not guarantee that this information is the most current available; please see their website for more details.

Cleaning Procedure

Stone surfaces can be safely cleaned with Stone Care International's user-friendly chemicals. Daily use of these chemicals will keep all stone, ceramic, terra cotta, and man-made surfaces clean and looking new.

Daily Cleaning:

1. Use MARBAMIST ready to use spray.
2. Spray a fine mist onto the stone surface.
3. Let it set for ten seconds.
4. Wipe off the surface with a soft clean cloth.
5. Rinsing is not required.
6. Protect the surface with the INTERNATIONAL STONE POLISH.

Disinfectant Cleaning:

1. Spray a fine mist onto the stone surface.
2. Let it set for five minutes to eliminate bacteria and germs.
3. Wipe off the surface with a damp clean cloth.
4. If streaks develop, spray Counterrific again and immediately wipe off.
5. Protect the surface with INTERNATIONAL STONE POLISH.

Heavy Soil Cleaning:

1. Dilute STONE QUEST at four ounces per quart of water.
2. Spray a fine mist on to the stone surface.
3. Let it set for thirty seconds.
4. Wipe off surface with a soft clean cloth.
5. Rinse with MARBAMIST.
6. Wipe the surface off with a soft clean cloth.
7. Protect the surface with INTERNATIONAL STONE POLISH.

Cleaning Recommendations:

1. Test cleaning products on a small spot before applying to the entire surface. STONE QUEST is not recommended for daily cleaning of marble or limestone, only ceramic, terra cotta, granite, concrete, and most flamed stone surfaces.
2. Never let the solution dry before extracting it up.
3. Be sure that the squeegee blades are always cleaned and wiped off after every use.
4. Use warm water to open the pores of the stone.
5. Do not flood the surface.
6. Always use clean cleaning equipment.
7. Replace worn pads and brushes.
8. For softer stones, consult with an manufacturer's representative.

Polishing

Remove scratches, glass rings, etch marks, and showerwall streaks from the stone surfaces and repolish the stone's crystalline structure.

Stone countertops, tabletops, and vanity tops often become dull from spills of acidic drinks and personal hygiene products. Cleaning products not designed for use on natural stone even create problems by etching the stone surface. With scheduled polishing, these factors can be corrected by repolishing the stones crystalline structure with Stone Care International's POLISHING POWDERS or MARBACREAM.

Procedure: (Always perform a small test patch before completing the whole area.)

1. Remove loose debris from the stone surface and spray clean with MARBAMIST.
2. Strip off any remaining topical coating.
3. Cover all wall coverings and carpeted areas.
4. Use a white felt pad on the hand machine or use a piece of a red buffing pad when polishing by hand.
5. Spray water onto the surface or add a few small drops of water to the worn area.
6. Shake the MARBACREAM until the product thickens and then apply a dab of MARBACREAM to the dull or damaged area. (Keep shaking the bottle after each use.)
7. With a piece of a red buffing pad or a clean and damp white terry cloth towel, begin buffing in a circular motion. (Red buffing pads will provide a better result due to its polishing nature.) *If using an SCI POLISHING POWDER, sprinkle the powder onto the water to create a paste. (Only use one teaspoon of powder per small area.)
8. Begin buffing by hand in a circular motion for 30 seconds or use a hand machine at a low RPM keeping the surface moist at all times.
9. Remove the paste or cream with a squeegee before it dries to see if the desired polish has appeared. If not, push the slurry or cream back onto the surface and begin polishing again until the polish occurs.
   (Buffing action may take thirty seconds to two minutes to create a shine or repair an etch.)
10. Rinse the surface with MARBAMIST to neutralize the residue.
11. Heavily worn and scratched surfaces must be smoothed out first using HONEX.
12. Protect the surface with an application of INTERNATIONAL STONE POLISH.

Procedure for Polishing Granite:

For Polishing Granite Surfaces, Follow The Above Procedures Using An Stone Care International's Granite Powder.

Polishing Recommendations:

1. If etches or surface scratches are more severe, use HONEX to smooth them before polishing.
2. If the shine does not appear as desired, repeat the above steps again using a heavier paste.
3. Do not buff the surface for more than three minutes.
4. Move the machine slowly and evenly, doing small areas at a time.
5. Protect all adjacent surfaces.
6. Always wear safety goggles.
7. Corners and angled areas can be worked by hand using the inside piece of a white pad.

Stain Removal

Proper stone maintenance practices that are performed daily will help prevent staining problems. The two best methods of stain prevention are to treat the stone with STONE SPRAY-N-SEAL® and to immediately pick up spills before they are absorbed into the stone.

The objective of an impregnator/penetrating sealer is to prevent liquids from absorbing through the stone surface. However, if spills set for a long period of time the stone may still absorb the liquid, even with a sealer. Natural stone is porous by nature. Stone stains very easily because its pores will absorb like a sponge. The older a stain gets, the more difficult it is to remove.

One question that is often asked is how are stains removed from stone? The only safe way to remove a stain is to reabsorb it out of the stone. Since the stain was absorbed through the pores, it must be reabsorbed through the pores. The natural absorption process must be reversed.

In order for a stain to be removed, the type of stain must be identified. Different types of stains have various removal processes. See Stone Care International's website for more information on appropriate removal methods. There are five common types of stains:

1. Organic: Coffee, tea, tobacco, food, cosmetics, and plant food.
2. Biological: Mold, mildew, algae, and fungus.
3. Metal: Rust, iron, bronze, copper, etc.
4. Ink: Pen and magic marker.
5. Oil Based: Tar, grease, cooking oil, skin and hair oil.

To determine the type of stain you must ask the correct questions and be aware of the following:

1. What is the color and pattern of the stain?
2. What sat near the stain previously?
3. Are there plumbing pipes or air ducts near the stain?
4. Was there a plant near the stain?
5. Is the stain associated with a certain location?
6. How old is the stain?

Once the stain is recognized, an appropriate stain removal method must be designed. Knowing the absorption level and chemical sensitivity of the stone will help determine proper techniques. If the stain cannot be identified, then a test patch with different methods should be examined. The process that works the best should be used for the main application.

To remove the stain, an absorbing poultice must be used. A poulticing material can be anything that absorbs from a cotton ball, to a paper towel, or even a cotton shirt. In most cases, an absorbing powder poultice is used to extract a stain.

In the poulticing process, the stone will absorb the chemical from the poultice, then the chemical loosens the stain, and the poultice reabsorbs the stain from the stone. During this process, it is important to begin with the gentlest method first. First try and remove the stain with Stone Care International's PLAIN POULTICE POWDER mixed with MARBALEX. If the stain still remains, then begin the poulticing process.

Common Poultice Method:

1. Wet the stained area with distilled water. This will isolate the stain and intensify the removal process. (Do not use hot water and do not apply if the air temperature is below 32 degrees.)
2. If a powder is used, blend the powder and the chemical or water to a thick paste consistency like peanut butter. SCI's Ready To Use Poultice Powders only need to be mixed with water. Apply with a wood spatula.
3. Apply a layer of about 1/4" thick to the stained area. *DO NOT SPILL THE POULTICE ON THE UNSTAINED AREA*
4. Cover the poultice with plastic food wrap and tape the edges down with an easy to remove adhesive. This traps the moisture and prevents the poultice from drying to quickly.
5. Be sure that the poultice is completely dry before removing the wrap. Proper drying time is 24-48 hours. If the poultice is removed early, the stain may not be removed. *THE DRYING OF THE POULTICE IS WHAT REMOVES THE STAIN*
6. When dry, take the wrap off and remove the dry poultice with a wooden spatula. The poultice should now be hard. Rinse the area with MARBAMIST and wipe off with a clean soft cloth.
7. If the stain reappears, repeat the process again. It may take a few applications for complete removal, especially for older stains and polished stone. (Polished stone has smaller pores, Therefore, stain removal may require an extra application.)
8. Etching may occur from the chemicals. To correct, polish with an SCI POLISHING POWDER or MARBACREAM. If a haze appears around the cleaned area, remove it with MARBAMIST. If this does not work, the surrounding areas may be dirty and need to be deep cleaned with Stone Quest.
9. Dispose of used poultice according to the MSDS Sheet.
10. Seal with STONE SPRAY-N-SEAL® Penetrating Sealer.

Caution:

1. Always wear safety goggles and gloves when mixing chemicals together.
2. Mix chemicals in a well ventilated area.
3. If the stains are very large in size or are serious, consult with a SCI representative for further direction.
4. Do not reapply used poultice powders.
5. Never mix more than one chemical together in the same poultice.

Preventative Maintenance

Penetrating sealers, also know as impregnators, protect the interior of the stone by penetrating through the surface and bonding to the inside of the stone. They act as a repellent to prevent contaminants from absorbing into the stone.

The most important part of stone is the interior. A penetrating sealer should be applied to protect the interior of the stone. Mineral surfaces are very porous and act like a sponge in the presence of moisture and fluids. Without it, liquids can be absorbed into the stone thus causing corrosion, staining, and discoloring.

Advantages:
• Penetrating Sealer will increase the coefficient of friction thus creating a more slip resistant surface.
• Allows the stone to breath and release water vapor transmission which prevents erosion.
• Does not yellow.
• Prevents the growth of organic staining (mold, mildew).
• Stone Spray-N-Seal™ is an excellent grout release because it prevents adhesion and penetration to the stone.

Application Procedures

Granite and Similar Surfaces:

1. Clean surface from any grit or debris.
2. Remove all topical coatings with STONE STRIPPER.
3. Rinse the surface with MARBAMIST.
4. The surface must be dry for twelve hours before application.
5. Apply the STONE SPRAY-N-SEAL® using a clean terry cloth towel.
6. After five minutes, wipe off the excess with a soft, white terry towel.

Grout:

1. Remove all grit and debris from the surface.
2. Remove all topical coatings with STONE STRIPPER.
3. Deep clean the pores using STONE QUEST with a BETA BRUSH.
4. Lightly rinse the surface with MARBALEX.
5. Grout must be dry for twelve hours before application.
6. Dab or brush STONE SPRAY-N-SEAL® onto the grout and let it dry.
7. After five minutes, remove any excess that remains on the surrounding surface.

Grout Release:

1. Install the stone with the proper setting materials.
2. Remove all grit and debris from the surface.
3. Remove all topical coatings with STONE STRIPPER.
4. Lightly rinse the surface with MARBALEX.
5. Apply STONE SPRAY-N-SEAL® to the stone following the SCI application procedures.
6. Apply grout to the joints.
7. Wipe off remaining residue with MARBALEX using a mop or sponge application.

Observations:

1. If the sealer is absorbed within five minutes apply a second coat at least one hour later.
2. If the sealer is not completely absorbed after five minutes, wipe off excess with a clean dry terry cloth towel or an all white bonnet pad. (No more coats should be applied.)
3. If excess dries on the top surface, wipe off with more sealer, rinse with MARBALEX, and buff the floor with an all white bonnet pad.

Precautions and Recommendations:

1. All stains and moisture must be removed prior to application.
2. If the sealer dries on the surface, remove with a mineral spirit.
3. The surface must be completely dry because the sealer will not absorb into moisture.
4. Never use cotton cutend mops because they release cotton oil into the sealer.
5. Do not soak the surface, apply thin coats.
6. Be sure that there is proper ventilation.
7. If a topical coating does not exist on the surface prior to applying the Stone Spray-N-Seal™, stripping is not necessary.
8. Remove solvent based coatings with a solvent based stripper.
9. New buckets are essential because previously used buckets have chemical residues that may contaminate the sealer.
10. Always have MSDS sheets available on the job site.
11. Color of tile may darken a shade.
12. Turn off below surface heat ducts to let sealer adhere to the natural stone temperate.
13. Keep away from heat and sparks. No smoking is permitted during application.
14. Area must be dry for 48 hours after application.
15. Use with adequate ventilation.
16. Keep out of reach of children.
17. The user must determine the suitability of the product for their intended use.