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Natural stone countertops can add beauty to the kitchen of your house. With proper care and regular maintenance, stone counters can be kept looking new and appealing. Sealing is a process that helps to maintain the beauty of the stone.

What is the work of sealers?

Stone countertops if properly sealed can be protected from stains and wear and tear. With the process of sealing the surface of the stone forms the protective layer. This prevents moisture and other contaminant from getting deep through the natural stone and thus doesn’t allow the stone to get damaged. Stones generally have pores due to which acids and water can percolate through it and cause the structural integrity and color of the stone to be damaged. This means, that the sealers on marble countertop and granite countertop makes it hard to form stains. Sealers also do not enable water to go through the stone and thus help in preventing the weakening of the toughness and durability of it.

Is it really essential to seal the stone countertops?

However, you can even do without sealing the stones and yet maintain the gorgeous and splendid look of it. Granite and marble are generally tough stones due to which sealers are not so essential for these stones. Actually maintenance and care of these natural stones is not hard at all. In fact, maintaining the granite kitchen countertops are the easiest affair. The only thing that is needed is to clean these stone surfaces regularly with lukewarm water and detergent or mild soap. This little effort of yours can make your stone look bright and attractive. These stones are durable and long lasting by nature. So, it is not essential to seal off the granite stone countertops and marble stone countertops.

So, is sealing useless?

Sealing is not really useless. Sealing actually protects the stone from wear, tear and stains. So, when you are applying sealers to hard stones you are making those stone slabs much tougher. With this, you can be sure of your countertop material to last longer. Apart from this, the reason for sealing the stone is to get peace of mind. When you know that your stone slabs have been sealed, you can simply be assured of their appearance to be preserved and the investment to be protected. Sealing the stones can also make your stone countertops maintenance much easier because with sealing stains can be kept out and be removed from the surfaces very easily.

What is the final word on sealing…?

Sealing is a good option for the stones but it isn’t a necessity. You just need to clean the stone countertops regularly to maintain its splendid look. In fact, sealing granite countertop is not at all required if you can maintain it regularly. However, if your financial conditions afford you to seal the stone countertops, then sealing them regularly is a great option. With sealing being done you can be sure that the stone slabs will last for a long period of time.

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Granite surfaces can be found in several modern homes and offices. It is the toughness and elegance of granite that have attracted people for ages. If you have granite surface in your house then provide proper maintenance to it for saving it from stains and damages. You should know that tile sealant plays an important role in the process of installation. Sealants applied on the granite surfaces solidifies after sometimes and checks penetration of water, smoke, fire, dust and air inside tile surface. Applying proper sealant can increase life of tiles.

Sealing granite countertops and surfaces at the time of installation is not all. It should be re-sealed at regular intervals so that it can prevent stains and damages for years. You should re-seal the surface if the granite tiles soaks water from the surface. To seal the granite tiles, you need to purchase sealer from local hardware store and follow some simple steps. You should purchase the sealant that is best for the job.

Before applying the sealant remove everything from the countertop. Clean the surface of the tile with a cloth. Stains or any dust particles should not remain on the tile surface. Trace of oil, water, dust or air on the surface can affect your tile. Therefore, remove them properly.

After cleaning the surface, you need to spread stone cleaner on granite tiles. Let the solution to remain on the surface of the countertop for thirty seconds. This cleaner would soak stains and help them to be removed easily. Then, get the surface cleaned with sponge. Dry the surface before applying sealant.

Get the sealant spread on granite countertops with brush or fresh cloth. To make it work accurately, leave it for four minutes. Once the sealants dries up, apply another sealant layer on granite countertop. Repeat this process some time. The last thing that you need to do, is get the tiles dried for sometime. Once the surface dries up, they can carry out the regular kitchen works.

With the help of these simple tips, you can easily have a kitchen countertop made up of granite for your entire lifetime. Sealing and re-sealing is necessary for all natural stones. There are different types of natural stones that people use for home decoration. Slate, limestone, granite and marble are the commonly used natural stones for purpose of building. The sealing process of each natural stones differs highly from the other.

Natural stones are made of crystals which interlock them together. Striations and colors of the stones come from actual minerals present in them. The spaces between the crystals are extremely important. Lesser the space between crystals, less porous is the stone. Sealing process of the natural stones depends on the constitution of a stone. So, a homeowner who wants to retain the elegance of their house should be careful about the sealing of the stones. He should use the best sealant for the stone. Appropriate sealing process and use of appropriate sealant can increase the life of the natural stone surfaces.

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How often have you felt that it was becoming humanely impossible to clear away all the soot, oil stains and dirt from the walls? They look ugly and moreover you spend hours cleaning, wiping and moping without any satisfactory results. Things would have been different, if you had a granite countertop. They are easy to clean and keeping them stain-free is relatively easy, only if you know the right methods. There are a few specific guidelines about cleaning the granite. Are you keen to know more about granite cleaning methods? Wondering how you can easily but efficiently clean the granite surface? Then read on as we share a few tips with you…

Before you do anything else, you should always think of protecting the granite surface. You can follow a few simple rules and even teach your children those rules in order to keep the surface clean. You should always use coasters under cans, bottles and glasses and pads for the hot pots and warm dishes. This ensures that the surface does not come in direct contact with the heat. If there is a spill, you should clean it immediately, so that the stone does not retain the stains. As for the granite floors, it is better to use the pads for avoiding etching.

If you have a granite floor, you can simply put a rug near the door which will protect the surface. You should keep the granite countertop as clean as possible. Make sure that it is cleaned daily. You can wipe away all the dirt with warm water and a soft cloth. If there are water spots, you can use the soft cloth to wipe them. Make sure that after water is used on granite surface you pat it dry with a soft cloth as else water stains are likely. There are a number of granite cleaners available in the market. You can use them to clean the granite surface. The mild granite cleaner will be good for the surface. The solution should not contain any harmful chemicals which can discolor the countertops.

There are natural granite cleaners available in the market. They are not only good for the granite, but they are mild enough for human health. Although they are mild, they will be strong enough to keep the granite countertop clean. You can use the granite sealer which is most effective in protecting the surface. If you want to apply the sealer, you should consult a professional. During the installation process, generally the granites are sealed so that the stain does not penetrate in deeper levels. You can ask the manufacturer, how often the floor or the countertop should be sealed.

If you follow the guidelines carefully, you can be assured of at least one thing. Without any fail, you will notice that the granite tops look clean and shiny. They look absolutely amazing. With a few tips, it is possible to keep the granite as good as new. Take good care of the granite tops so that they do not look shabby or worn out even after years!

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Granite countertops have an aura of extreme elegance and sophistication apart from looking innately exquisite and classy. The charm of granite is rivalled by few other stones and it is a remarkably resilient material that can do wonders for your home decor and offer it an embellished look. The material has the power to give your interiors a complete face-lift coupled with a durable disposition. Though granite countertops require minimal care and maintenance due to their no-fuss and enduring nature, there are a few handy tips that will help you keep you countertops sparkling clean.

Use a specially devised stone cleaner to cleanse your countertops and utilize hot water for power-packed speedy clean ups. Avoid excessive usage of dish soap and harsh cleaning agents as they are known to corrode the countertop sparkle. It will help to use a mild ph balanced cleaning liquid. Generic cleaners may help you save money initially but you’ll end up spending a lot more for maintaining your countertops in the long run. Hence it is best to avoid common cleaners when scrubbing your granite countertops. Before cleaning the countertops with a cleaning agent, wipe off any liquid spilled on the tops with a sponge. Avoid keeping hot pots and pans on the surface. This practice will avoid staining and abating the value of your countertops over a period of time.

To protect your countertop surface from scratches use cutting boards and as far as possible get into the habit of utilizing coasters under cups, bottles and cans to avoid any damage to the surface. It will keep your countertops protected and as new as ever without any signs of a wear out or repulsive scratches. Use a mop to clean the countertop rather than a vacuum cleaner. The latter has a high tendency to get the surface scratched or worn out.

Take care to ensure that acidic foods don’t come in contact with your surface very often. Foods like lemon and vinegar are known to scrape the granite surface. Although granite as a stone is extraordinarily durable it isn’t totally immune to damage. A lot of people who upgrade to granite commit the fallacy of taking the virtues of the stone for granted and are of the belief that it is completely impermeable. That really depends on the way you handle it and the stone does require care and attention for it to last long and retain its sheen.

Granite countertops can bring a lot of warmth to your kitchen in addition to a rich and colourful look. Small albeit important maintenance tips as part of your daily routine will go a long way to protect the durability and lustre of your tabletops.

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Marble is natural stone that can add a touch of class to your house and enhance your home decor. It differs from other stones because it is very porous. It is gorgeous and its stature and luxurious design cannot be compared with any other artificial or natural stone.

The concept of putting marble in the kitchen or bathroom is not a very good idea. This is because marble stains easily. Hence if you use marble in those places make sure that you take proper care of it. Marble can be best used for table tops, powder baths, tub surrounds, floor tile, marble shower and stone fireplace surroundings. Proper cleaning of marble tiles is simple. Read on as we give you some great tips on marble maintenance…

In order to make your marble tiles sparkle always, make it sure to keep it away from everyday’s dirt and dust. The marble tiles should be cleaned by sweeping the floor. Use a vacuum cleaner or a soft bristled broom to pick the loose dirt. If doing this becomes a problem for everyday, then it should be done at least thrice a week.

Once you have removed the loose dirt from the floor it needs to be mopped. You can best maintain the marble tiles by using a soft cloth and cleaning it with lukewarm water. The marble tiles should be wiped occasionally with non-abrasive and milder industrial detergents. It must be wiped dry thoroughly after cleansing.

A light wax coat can be applied to get the maximum protection. However, this choice is an optional one because marble would not gain and would involve additional cost.

Marble tends to fade away with passage of time. This doesn’t detract much from its elegant beauty. The luster of faded marble tiles can be repaired effectively by specialty cleaning agents like tin dioxide. If utilized in combination with electric floor polish or manual polish or vacuum cleaner, it freshens up the marble’s lost shine.

It is possible to keep the marble tiles in good condition with proper care. It should be cleaned properly with conventional, gentle cleaning products. Most of the stains can be eased out with hydrogen peroxide. Polishing the marble tiles can also keep it looking new.

However, marble cannot withstand harsh cleaning mediums especially materials like acids and heavy detergents. Marble has a slightly unstable chemical mixture. Calcium carbonate is the main ingredient of marble. So, it is important to keep in mind that it dramatically and immediately reacts with acid resulting in scarring and pitting. Substances like juice, coffee and wine can easily etch, stain or dull the polish easily even if it has been sealed.

It is important to be aware of loose dirt, which can easily be brought in with people walking all over the floor. For example, if friends and family have been walking in mud or dirt, you should inform them to remove their sandals and shoes before stepping on your marble tiles. Dirt, sand and other debris on shoe’s bottom is abrasive to the marble tiles. It scratches the marble and unless it is immediately removed can cause harm to your floor surface.

Marble definitely can accentuate the décor of your house. So make sure that you maintain it to ensure that the beauty of your house stays unmatched.

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