Some Common Myths and Realities about Granite Countertops You Must Know

If you are planning to purchase stone counter tops, it is good to know common myths and misconceptions about granite countertops. These myths are spread either by people who try to sell granite or who try to sell the competing products by disapproving granite. Myths also originated when people simplified the complex matters of granite and generalizations came up that are sometimes true but not all the time.

The following are most common myths about granite stone:

Granite is heat resistant, so it is perfect to place hot pot on granite counter tops

Granite is quite resistant to high temperatures but excessive heat can discolor or damage the granite sealers. Rapid heating can generate internal stress and causes cracks at the weak spot. A natural fissure or flaw may occur because of the excess heat of the pot. This can be eliminated by using a trivet with feet.

Granite counter tops needed to be sealed once or twice in a year

This is a generalized statement about granite counter tops. Many stones are sold commercially in the name of granite. Some stones are inherently resistant to stain without applying sealers. Actually on applying sealers theses stones can cause problems. Some stones sold as granite are very porous that their shortcomings cannot be set right by even using the best sealers.  So the answer is sealing frequency depends on the type of stone. Only a specialist stone restoration service provider like The Marble Man can decide on the sealing requirements.

Granite is second to diamond in hardness- Nothing but diamond can scratch granite

Granite is a scratch resistant material. But it is not scratch proof. Many substances are harder than granite. The hardness of the minerals is rated by Mohs scale. Soft minerals like talc are rated 1 and diamond is rated at 10 in Mohs scale. Most of the commercial granites are rated at 7 because of their high quartz content.  On misusing, the abrasive substances in some cleaning products can cause tiny scratches or dull spots on the granite surface. Natural stone should be cleaned with neutral pH solutions and non abrasive products. See The Marble Man’s guidance on stone cleaning products.

Absolute Black granite is the best counter top

Better quality stones are sold as Absolute Black Granite and they are outstanding performers. But be alert that some stones sold as Absolute Black granite are not genuine. Originally the Absolute Black granites were quarried in Sweden and South Africa. Some companies sell natural stones with low quality that may be dyed to black or they may have excessive flaws or they have not been polished to a glossy finish. A stone cannot be considered as Absolute Black granite just by its market name. To test black granites, pour some acetone on the stone and wipe the surface with a rag. If the rag shows grey or Black discoloration then the stone is treated with dye or wax and cannot be used for kitchen countertops.    

The Marble Man is a leading Australian stone polishing and sealing specialist Company who can provide you professional and effective stone care solutions. They are specialised in large and small marble and all natural stone restoration jobs. For more information, visit The Marble Man website or call their stone restoration team on 1300 627 626.   

Know Some of the Potential Damages to Natural Stone Surfaces, Their Causes and Remedies

Granite, Marble limestone and other valuable decorative stones are highly durable and last a life time. However, if they are not properly cared for or installed correctly, it’ll affect their beauty and durability.  

Following are the most common issues with natural stone surfaces that may occur in your floor tiles, kitchen counter tops, vanity tops and other stone surfaces:

• LOSS OF LUSTRE:  High polish in the marble and granite gets lost due to wear of the stone surface by dirt and sand that are tracked by the shoes. They act like sandpaper on the stone surface and wear the polish off. This can be restored by stone repair and restoration professionals like The Marble Man.
• ETCHING: It is caused by spilling of liquids that contain acids, resulting in white spots formation on the stone surface. As granite is acid resistant, it will rarely etch, but marble and other stone surfaces are prone to etching.  Use cleaners that do not contain acids to avoid etching. Deep or large etching requires professional stone restoration services.  
• STAINS: If the stones are not properly sealed, stains can occur due to spilling of food, drinks, oil, and ink etc. Mostly they can be removed but tough stains need professional stone care services. Permanent stains can also occur but not often.
• EFFLORESCENCE: This is the white powdery residue which appears on stone installations where the presence of water is high. It is formed when water carrying the mineral salt inside the stone structure reaches the surface and gets evaporated, leaving the salt on the stone surface.  Remove extra moisture or water presence, buff the stone and leave it to dry. Seal the stone after all the efflorescence have gone.
•  SPALL, PITT AND FLAKE: Like efflorescence, mineral salts are the cause of this deformation. Instead of depositing salt on the surface, it deposits salt below the stone surface, and puts pressure on the stone making it to flake, pit and spall.
• YELLOWING: There are several reasons for a stone to turn yellow.  Embedded grime and dirt, waxes and other coatings may be the cause. Oxidation of the iron in the stone also causes yellowing of the stone. Only professional stone restoration specialists can set right this problem perfectly.
• LIPPAGE OR UNEVEN TILES: Lippage occurs when the edge of a tile is in higher level than that of the next one due to poor installation. The restoration professionals ground the tiles to flatten the floor.
• CRACKS AND CHIPS: Cracks and chips can occur because of poor installation and due to fall of heavy objects on the vulnerable corners. This can be restored by The Marble Man professionals using epoxy or color matched polyester.

Stone Restoration

Generally speaking, it is the process of restoring the worn out stone to its newly installed state. Stone restoration is a delicate process that can be done perfectly only by well experienced stone restoration company like The Marble Man.  It involves removal of any damages, scratches, cracks etc. from the stone surface using various processes such as stone grinding, honing, polishing and sealing as per the type of damage.   

The Marble Man is Australia's leading Marble, Granite, Travertine and other stone bench top and tiles restoration specialist. The team of professionals will provide you 5 star stone restoration services at affordable price. Call now: 1300 627 626.

Regular Cleaning and Maintenance Can Keep Your Carrara Marble in Pristine Condition

When you come to the world of marble, you can identify that Carrara is in the top order! It is available in various shades such as white, grey etc.. It suits to any type of décor and its color variances are the epitome for the marble. Carrara needs special care – because it’s light in color, any lapse in maintenance will be easily visible.

How to carry out the regular maintenance on Carrara Marble?

• Clean the marble with cleaners specifically for marble- take advice from stone restoration specialists. Avoid using soap and abrasive on the marble.  
• Seal the marble at least two to four times every year with a quality marble sealant. The regular application of sealant prevents the stone from absorbing moisture and spills prolonging its life and beauty. When you are using the sealant for the Carrara marble in your kitchen counter tops ensure the product is safe for food production areas. You can do the sealing with the support  of Marble restoration professionals like The Marble Man.
•  Marble Polishing has to be done as needed that removes rough texture called etching. It needs proper equipment and products. Contact reliable marble polishing and stone restoration specialists to do the work.

It is also advisable to hire a stone professional like The Marble Man to repair any cracks or deep etching on the marble surface. They can smooth it by polishing and they apply sealant to make it resistant to etching. DO not repair the cracks or etching on your own as it may further damage the surface.

How to handle stains on Carrara Marble? 

You can try the following methods after getting proper advice and guidelines from The Marble Man stone care specialists:

• You can remove ink stains using household bleach. Apply the bleach with the clean cloth until the stain get removed and then rinse with clean water and dry it with soft cloth. The food stains can be removed by applying hydrogen peroxide.
• Get rid of water spot rings by buffing the stone lightly with steel wool. Take care to buff only the water spot area and not more than that.
• Kill mildew or mould with diluted ammonia by mixing half cup of ammonia with one gallon of water. Remove oil based stains with dish washing detergent. After removing the stains always clean the Carrara Marble with clean water and dry it buffing with clean soft cloth. 

Regular maintenance will keep your Carrara Marble counter top shiny and enhance its life span. Call The Marble Man for regular countertop Maintenance at an affordable rate. Their well experienced team of stone specialists can carry out all sorts of marble repair, marble countertop polishing, stone maintenance, natural stone restoration etc. For more information, call The Marble Man on 1300 627 626 for a free quote.  

Tips on How to Maintain Your Granite Countertop Correctly

Granite is an amazing stone for your home and it is formed from the magma of volcanoes. It ranges in forms and colours to become a prized possession for your home. When you are buying granite for your home, it is very important for you to care for it correctly. 

Let us look at some advantages and disadvantages of this natural stone:

Granite –Advantages

Granite has always been really amazing additions to a home. They are unique and often are considered to be great pieces of art. There are so many colors for you to choose from. In fact, the homeowner has so many options available. The stone can fit inside any design or décor scheme. Moreover, the granite stone is also very durable and has the ability to resist great heat. Granite is ideal for your kitchen as you can use it for rolling out cookies, kneading dough and other kitchen cooking tasks that need a cool countertop for getting the best results.

Granite –Disadvantages

As such there are very little disadvantages of granite but you should take care of it regularly. There is a common misconception that granite does not need maintenance. This is not true. In fact, it does. If you do not take care of stains immediately, they have the tendency to set in. They can be very hard to remove and you would have to remove them fast. Granite countertops are also vulnerable to cracking if you do not install them properly.

Basic Cleaning & Easy Maintenance Tips for Granite

When you have a granite countertop at home, there are basic cleaning tips that you should follow. Always remove dust with the help of a microfiber cloth. For daily spills, ensure you wipe the granite countertop fully with water. You should use a damp cloth if you are using a stone cleaner to wipe the countertop. Never use cleaning solutions that have harsh chemicals as they will cause damage to the surface. Ensure you look after your granite countertop with seasonal maintenance. Sealing is very important. Inspect the areas and ensure there are no seams or signs of cracking. Also check for scratches and stains. Contact professionals only for repairs. If you delay repairing, you may have to replace the whole granite countertop and this is really expensive.

Call The Marble Man for Regular Granite Countertop Maintenance at Affordable Prices

If you are looking for regular granite sealing and maintenance in Sydney | Canberra | Newcastle | Central Coast | Brisbane | Gold Coast | Sunshine Coast, call The Marble Man. The team of professionals here will check your granite countertop and provide you with affordable sealing, restoration and maintenance services. To contact them, please visit website or call them on 1300-627-626.

Why Does a White Marble Surface Change to Yellow?

It is a common problem that white marble gradually changes to yellow colour when not maintained properly. Although flooding is the common cause for the marble to turn yellow, there are also several other reasons for this change. Natural Stone Restoration specialists like The Marble Man from Gold Coast can rectify the damage after finding the appropriate cause for the colour change.

Possible causes of marble colour change:

Not doing regular maintenance: When the marble is not maintained regularly, the finely polished surface gets scratched and gets worn out. This causes the marble surface to become pitted, rough and scratched, making it to attract all the dirt and debris. As marble flooring is porous, improper maintenance and improper cleaning can cause the pores in the white marble to collect dirt and discolour the marble to yellow and even to brown colour also. Substandard cleaning products, dirty mop, infrequent cleaning are the most causes of yellowing.

How to cure: The stone cleaning product should be alkaline as the acidic cleaners make the stone dull. Apply the appropriate cleaner and scrub with a soft brush. Then rinse the floor thoroughly. Repeat the procedure till all the imbedded dirt is completely removed. Even after so many repetitions if the marble remains dull then consult a Stone professional like ‘The Marble Man’ for stone repair and stone maintenance.

    

Wax Coating Build-up: Marble flooring should not be coated with acrylics, waxes urethane and many other coatings. The poor quality of these irrelevant coatings can cause the white marble to turn yellow. When these materials are done multiple coatings, the layer becomes quite soft allowing the dirt and debris to get embedded in the layer of the coatings. So these coatings should be frequently stripped but they are often neglected.

Recrystallization is a process to polish the marble floors. When the marble floors are polished in the moisture condition it will turn the white marble to yellow colour.

Method to Cure: To remove this yellow colour on the white marble, it has to be stripped well with commercial wax stripper. It is wise to do this stripping with the help of stone restoration professional. When you do it yourself, there is possibility of the abrasive pads to scratch the marble surface. If the marble is re-crystallized, it is necessary to remove the crystallized layer with the help of the experienced professionals by polishing and then honing.

             

Yellow due to Iron Staining: The white marble contains naturally the deposits of iron. When the iron becomes oxidized due to exposure of water, household bleach and acid cleaners, it will discolour the polished white marble stone. So it is highly recommended not to use white marble for showers. The main cause for the change of white marble to yellow or brown is iron oxidation. Like the rusting of metal, when the stone gets exposed to air and water, the white marble discolours to yellow or brown. If this colour change is left unattended it is difficult to reverse and may lead to tile replacement.

The change of white marble to yellow colour is a common problem. The new installations should be well sealed with good quality sealer or impregnator which will prevent the oxidation of the iron by not exposing to moisture. Marble floor Restoration to their original beauty and shine can be done professionally by the expert team of ‘The Marble Man’. It may be yellowing due to oxidation or improper maintenance or water staining or abrasion or scratching, the expertise of The Marble Man will restore your white marble to its original white shine and beauty. Call now: 1300 627 626.

Simple Procedures to Remove Different Stains on Natural Stone Surfaces

Most people are having the biggest fear of maintaining the natural stone. Like any other type of counter tops made of materials like wood, natural stone also requires same level of maintenance and care.

Granite counter tops are comparatively strong and resilient to stains. As a preventive measure immediately wipe off the spills on the counter top. Do not leave the spills overnight. They are prone to stain by oil or acidic materials so blot these spills soon. The following tips can help you to remove different type of stains on the natural stone counter tops: 

• Spills and stains: Use a paper towel to blot the spill immediately. Wiping will spread the stain. Flush with mild soap and plain water several times. Dry the area using soft cloth. Repeat it till all traces of spilled liquid is removed. 
• Stain Removal: First of all identify the type of stain.  If you do not know the cause for the stain, play detective and identify. Is the stain near a plant, whether any cosmetics used, any food service area, what colour, shape and pattern? You may also take a snap shot of the stain and send it to The Marble Man who’ll advise you what action is needed. 
• Surface stains can be easily removed using appropriate cleaning product or chemicals. Deep seated stubborn stains require poultice or professional stone restoration service. We shall see how to deal with different stains using appropriate household chemicals or by preparing and applying a poultice.   

Types of Stain and cleaning procedures

• Oil based stain- It may be caused by grease, milk, cosmetics and cooking oil:. Use soft cleanser liquid with bleach OR mineral spirits OR ammonia OR acetone. 
• Organic stains- It may be caused by coffee, paper, food, urine, tobacco, fruit, bark, bird droppings. It may be pinkish brown. If happened outdoors, mostly it’ll get removed by sun and rain. If indoors, use 12% hydrogen peroxide and few drops of ammonia. 
• Metal: Metal stains can be removed with a poultice. Deep seated stains of rust are extremely difficult to remove and needs professional service. 
• Biological stain: Algae, moss, fungi, lichens and mildew cause this stain for which use diluted ammonia Or Hydrogen peroxide Or bleach. Do not mix ammonia with bleach as this creates a lethal and toxic gas emission. 
• Ink stain: It may be caused by ink, magic marker or any pen. Clean with acetone or lacquer thinner for dark coloured stones; use hydrogen peroxide or bleach for light coloured stone. 
• Paint: Small amount of stain with paints can be removed by carefully scrapping with razor blade or using lacquer thinner. Heavy paint stains can be removed with heavy liquid stripper available in paint / hardware stores. Follow the manufacturer directions; do the work in ventilated area with rubber gloves. Acrylic paints or latex will not cause any stains; only oil based paints, putty, linseed oil and sealants cause stains. 
• Water spots and rings: This is caused by accumulation of water on the surface and should be attempted by stone restoration experts like The Marble Man who service the QLD and NSW regions.  
• Etch Marks: They are caused by spilling acidic materials on the stone surface. Contact stone care specialists in the Gold Coast, Sydney, Newcastle etc such as The Marble Man for efficiently removing etch marks.  

The well experienced team of professionals at The Marble Man can do all types of stone repair, stone maintenance, stone countertop repair, natural stone restoration etc. Call them now on 1300 627 626.