Some Common Misconceptions about Marble Countertops

Since the days of ancient Romans, marble has been used as countertops. It is a design option that has no age, and continues to attract people of all types and ages due to its versatility, beauty, durability & functionality. However, there are certain misconceptions and myths about marble countertops that need to be addressed.          

Some of the popular myths about marble countertop are as follows:

Marble needs great maintenance: Every type of stone countertop requires some common sense maintenance on a routine basis. It goes well for the Marble countertop also. Like any other type of stone countertops, marble will also get damaged on abusing it. If you consider your marble countertop with due importance, professionally seal it after installation, then your maintenance will be very minimum- little more than a routine wiping after finishing all the work and reminding the people not to place the red hot pans directly on the countertop.

Marble is a very costly stone: Marble is not cheap. But the cost of marble varies greatly with the type of marble. Some marble types are rare and very expensive. Other types of marbles are abundant and less expensive. Marble countertops add real value to your home and if they are cared properly, they add value for decades thus serving even your great grandchildren as they did for you so grandly.

Marble looks great but it is not very tough: One myth about marble that circulates is ‘Marble is a look but do not touch type of material’. The marble stone functions excellent for cosmetic purposes like decorating or lining the walls of palaces and cathedrals but cannot put to work. This is the hardest to accept or understand of the marble myths as marble stone has been used for floors in heavy traffic areas for centuries. If it is capable of withstanding such traffic for so many years why cannot we use it as countertop as well? Yes it can be- even brilliantly.

Marble is easily prone to Staining and scratching: Contrary to this popular belief, marble is really a dense tough stone and cannot get stained easily. Sealing the marble countertops properly will reduce getting stains. If something get spilled and threatening to leave the marble surface, you can neutralize it adding a mixture of baking soda and water. Leave it overnight and then clean. Certain acidic substances like lime juice and vinegar may change the surface dull and etch the spilled areas, but if it is attended immediately it will not be an issue at all.

Marble counter tops are Unhygienic: Microscopic living beings are everywhere. Marble is not susceptible to undesirable bacteria than any other surface. If you are much concerned about this issue, you can make a point of cleaning your countertop with anti-bacterial soap during the normal cleaning.

Do not let misconceptions and rumours prevent you from considering marble as your favourite countertop.  Marble can imbue your bath and kitchen with prestigious look and ageless style, and it’s versatile enough to complete any home decorating motif. They get damaged and lose their beauty due to lack of maintenance and improper use. 

Contact The Marble Man for all your stone countertop issues and they’ll provide convenient and affordable marble restoration and other stone repair works. They service Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Newcastle and Central Coast. You can visit The Marble Man website or dial 1300 627 626 for a FREE quote on all your stone restoration needs.

Keep Your Shower Tile and Grout Looking New by Professional Cleaning and Sealing of Tile & Grout

There is no doubt that everybody wants to have the best way to maintain tile and grout in the shower area and avoid costly repairs in the future. 

Grout is made with the property of water repellence so that it should remain in good condition for years. In a simple way to say, your grout should appear bright and shiny forever. However that is not found in most of the houses. Even with the best practice of tile and grout cleaning, mildewing and yellowing still persist. Why it happens so?

Grout experiences lot of wear: When we consider a home of 3 people showering at least once in a day then for 365 days the shower is used 1095 times in a year.  Only if your car stays outdoors your shower can get sunny days in between to get dried.

This heavy use creates a need to maintain your tile and grout professionally to keep them clean, sealed and look new. 

Unfortunately, the cleaning products that are sold in the market today to clean the tile and grout are harsh chemicals that quickly fix the problem. But they wear down your grout’s repellence in a course of time and change the grout to be water absorbing one with chalk like consistency. Therefore discolouring and mildew happens and stains the grout permanently. The only way left is to totally regrout which is an expensive option.

Another culprit for the stained grout is the local water supply which contains rust. If your house water supplied is rust filled then the whole house water filters have to be considered.  

Sealing: Professional sealing brings back the water repellence in the grout which has been lost over time. Moreover, the grout which is sealed becomes more stain resistant. High quality sealers such as the ones used by The Marble Man do not alter the surface appearance or colour of the stone tiles and grout. So it is recommended to seal the grout and tiles at least once or twice in a year according to your shower usage.

It is highly recommended to have annual professional maintenance of your shower tile and grout to keep your shower appears fresh and new. Marble, granite and other natural stone floor tiles need professional cleaning. There are fine pores on the surface of the stone which require cleaning with stronger cleaners and specialty scrubbing machines. Most people hesitate to call professional stone cleaners thinking it’s costly, but it is negligible when compared to the cost of rip out and replacing new shower when it goes bad. 

Contact The Marble Man today on 1300 627 626 to clean your tile and grout hassle free and excellently.  They offer expert and affordable stone restoration services on the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Newcastle and Central Coast. You can avail their stone care services not only for cleaning but also to seal the tile and grout, if needed, making your daily maintenance easy.

Three Simple Rules for Proper Care & Maintenance of Granite Countertops

Granite is a natural countertop material, one of the hardest natural substances available which can last for decades. It can withstand few knife slips where other material surfaces could get scratched. However, there is hesitation among some homeowners about installing a granite countertop in the bathroom. They fear that the upkeep and maintenance of granite bathroom countertops are costly and involve tedious processes. 

The following facts about granite countertops and their maintenance procedures will alleviate some of your major concerns:

Seal your Granite Bathroom Countertop:
People who take care to seal their granite bathroom countertops on time are sure to enjoy stain free living for a long time- and remember it won’t cost you too much. Your granite countertop should be sealed every year, but if it is done too often, it can lead to milky appearance. 

You can do two tests to determine whether it’s time to seal your granite bathroom countertop.

• Take a small quantity of paint thinner and keep it on a small corner area of the countertop. Watch the surface carefully. If the surface begins to darken in colour, then you have to protect the countertop against oil based stains.
• Place a wet paper towel piece in a small area of the surface of the countertop. Leave the paper towel on the spot for a few minutes. If the area gets darkened then you have to seal it against water based stains. Obviously this is very important inside the bathroom.

Before applying the sealer, be sure to neatly clean the granite bathroom countertop with a high quality granite cleaner. This will ensure applying the sealer effectively.

Properly clean your granite bathroom countertop:

It is crucial to use the right type of cleaners or the countertop will lose its lustre finish.  The obvious cleaners to be avoided are bleach, ammonia, lemon and other acidic cleaners.  All you need is just a mild soap and some water. Make sure to keep dry cloth around to clean the spills then and there on your granite bathroom countertop. This will keep it out of stains. Stain will not happen if there is good sealant but it is better to safeguard than getting stained.  

Prevent damages to the countertop:

It is true that granite countertop is highly resistant to heat. Why to test it unnecessarily?  Be sure not to place curling irons or hot items directly on the surface of the countertop. Leave your hairdryer off while leaving it. Enough heat could damage anything on earth, even granite.

Hang all the items with sharp edges as they can damage the surface over a period of time. Keep a pad around always if you are setting something sharp on it in the same spot daily to avoid any damage to the countertop.

The above mentioned facts and tips are not too complicated and easy to follow. You can keep your granite bathroom countertop looking great by regularly sealing it with the help of a stone restoration specialist.  Some sealants may claim to last for two to three years, but always consult stone care professionals like The Marble Man to be on the safer side. This way you can have granite bathroom countertops in perfect condition without worrying about its care & maintenance.

If you are intending to carry out any natural stone restoration process, then contact ‘The Marble Man’, a leading natural stone polishing and sealing specialist Company in Australia. The professionals in ‘The Marble Man’ are specialists in polishing, sealing and repairing all type of stone surfaces such as Marble, Granite, Travertine etc.  For further information about polishing, sealing and repair works contact The Marble Man stone restoration team on 1300 627 626 or visit their Website.