Translating Stone Care (2)

In a bid to help you to understand our technical terms and stone care jargon, we are pleased to provide a natural stone translation service. In part two we move on to some of the most common problems that we’re called out to solve.

Dulling

Polished natural stone including marble, travertine and limestone, will over time lose its shine. Although proper cleaning and maintenance will slow this process, it is always inevitable. This is especially obvious with the softer stones such as marble.

We’re often asked how long the polished look will last and this really depends on the use of the area. Heavy footfall will mean that the stone will dull more quickly and we often see traffic lines appear across highly polished floor over time. We offer a range of services from grinding and re-polishing to deep cleaning and sealing that can help return your natural stone to its former beauty. 

Etching

This is caused by acid exposure to stones containing calcium carbonate (marble, limestone and travertine). Acid doesn’t refer just to cleaning products, a lot of foods, beverages and condiments are acidic, as are bathroom cosmetics. Etch marks cannot be cleaned away with wiping or scrubbing your polished natural stone.

They may look like stains, but they are actually ‘acid burns’ which are particularly noticeable on polished stone. If the marks are large or unsightly then it may be worth requesting a survey and quote to remove and re-polish the area to restore the stunning surface of your stone.

Water marks, rings or streaks

This is often seen in bathrooms when water has been left to run down a shower wall or on worktops where a wet glass has been left on a surface. Tap water isn’t pure, and so it’s PH is never exactly neutral. Prolonged exposure of even the weakest of acids will damage the polished natural stone surface. This is often combined with the effects of hard water.

Once the water has evaporated, minerals are left behind which can leave unsightly and hard to remove build ups. This type of damage can be removed using our specialist grinding tool and diamond abrasives. This will remove the mark and polish the surface to its original or desired level of shine.