How to Select the Ideal Natural Stone for Your Home

Different types of natural stones, having unique qualities, are readily available these days. Due to these extra options, we often make mistakes in choosing the correct type of stones for the purpose they are expected to serve. Every natural stone has its own advantages and disadvantages and therefore, cannot preferably be used for any and every purpose. 

Moreover, we tend to finalize a stone only by seeing a sample. For maximum satisfaction, it is advised that you should examine either the entire slab or a considerable number of tiles out of those to be used. To get the best value for your money, you must consult an experienced stone craftsman or any stone installation company and The Marble Man reigns supreme in this field. They are also the most sought after natural stone restorers in the QLD and NSW regions. 

When should I choose granite? 

Granite, as a building material, has proved its durability since ages. Due to its heat and stain resistant capabilities, granite can be used for both interior and exterior applications, preferably in flooring, paving, buildings, bridges, countertops and stair treads. Granite is easy to clean and harbours no bacteria. It possesses a natural appearance and a long-lasting value.  

Why should I choose marble? 

Marble mainly consists of calcite and is typically white in color. Marble, being resistant to erosion and fire, has been widely used in building monuments since time immemorial. Apart from this, marble gives a spectacular feel and can be used for beautiful interior decoration. Now-a-days marble is used for both residential and commercial purpose in flooring, roofing, wall-cladding as well as in sculptures. Even if a stain gets imprinted on any such flooring, you can get the marble floor restoration done by The Marble Man. 

Use of travertine 

The Marble Man also specializes in travertine which is generally used for flooring, furniture, fire place surrounds, wall cladding etc. However, it should be used once proper precaution is taken as it is not as durable as granite or marble. 

Coming to stone benchtops, its most common type is Caesar stone and Quantum Quartz. Caesar stone is not porous and hence requires less maintenance to retain its new and glossy look. It can stand brief exposure to heat but cannot tolerate strong chemicals or cleaning agents. However, Quantum quartz is resistant to heat, chemicals and acids and hence are easy to maintain. 

Before buying natural stone for our home or work place, it is essential that we determine its suitability and this requires professional expertise. The Marble Man, Australia’s leading natural stone restoration company, offers world class services in stone repair and stone maintenance. So, before beautifying your home and workplace, take their help and get the best value for your money. 

More Stone Restoration Tips and Usage Ideas for Marble, Onyx, Travertine and Limestone

Marble, Onyx, Traventine and Limestone are beautiful natural stones. They provide unique colors and patterns to make your home more appealing. The chemical composition of all these stones is more or less the same and their maintenance is easy. They should be cared for in the same manner to enhance their looks and lifespan. Let us take a closer look at these natural stone varieties-

Marble, travertine and limestone are very sturdy and durable. They can be used in fireplaces, floors and bathrooms. Onyx however should be only used in areas of the premises where the traffic is low. When you are using all these natural stones, it is very important for you to use discretion on where to place them in your premises. These stones are susceptible to etching due to acids. The chemical composition of acid will eat away at the stone. You will be able to identify this when you find the appearance of dull spots on the surface of the stone. However, when you use a honed or a textured surface, this can be effectively minimized.

If you accidently spill anything on the surface of these stones, ensure you wipe them off instantly. The nature of marble stones have always signified elegance and the patina that this beautiful stone makes tells the stories of meals and moments that you have enjoyed with loved ones.

When you have installed these stones in your home, you should immediately ask Stone Restoration experts to find out their sealing processes. If these stones are used in countertops, it is important for you to clean them daily. All the spills should be cleaned immediately. Most liquids have an acid component and if you do not clean the spill on spot, the etching of the stone takes place. When you have countertops made of these natural stones, ensure you place all cooking and hot items on placemats.

These stones should always be well sealed. Any stone surface that is well sealed will always be resistant to stains. In case, stains do occur, there is nothing to worry about. There are powder and liquid stain removers you can use for wiping them off. In case, you do not know which one to use, you may ask specialists like The Marble Man in Gold Coast to guide you. They provide all stone restoration works servicing Sydney | Canberra | Newcastle | Central Coast | Brisbane | Gold Coast | and Sunshine Coast.

Therefore, if you wish to maintain the shine and sheen of these beautiful natural stones, it is very important for you to call in experts like The Marble Man to seal and polish marble, granite and other natural stone surfaces. This will enhance the durability of these stones along with the life span. To contact these passionate and dedicated Stone Restoration professionals for your natural stone benchtop, floors etc., please visit their Website or Call now on 1300 627 626.

Different Methods of Stone Restoration and Their Implementation

The biggest disadvantage of using natural stone for exterior and interior purposes is that it loses its shine and vitality due to prolonged or continuous use.  Despite this risk, we always prefer installing natural stone because upon installation it adds to the beauty and splendor of our homes and workplaces, primarily because of its shine and polish.  Therefore, loss of shine reduces the value and glory of a stone and at the same time demands immediate and expert attention.

There are mainly four basic methods of creating shine on natural stone surfaces, namely buffing with polishing powder and compound, diamond grinding, crystallization and applying barrier coatings. Different stone types require different methods for restoration of shine and at times application of more than one method may be necessary.

Polishing powder and compound are fine grains of aluminum or tin-oxide abrasive powder which are buffed on the surface of the stone to create the shine. Often this process is also augmented by adding oxalic acid to create a reaction similar to crystallization. This process has several advantages such as it gives a natural appearance with high sheen, produces a relatively durable finish, compounds used do not etch the floor and this method is applied periodically and not daily or weekly. However, this process of stone repair is a bit messy and requires additional cleanup work. It also requires sophisticated equipment such as floor machine mop bucket, etc. and if it is not handled by a skilled professional, it might affect the surface.

Grinding with diamond abrasives involves grinding the stone surface with different grits of industrial grade diamonds that are generally in three to four inch diameter discs. The process continues with even finer grits of diamond unless the shine and luster is achieved.  Diamond grinding is the most durable method offering a long-lasting finish. This process also removes all scratches and works very well on marble and granite. Nevertheless, this method is not free from disadvantages. The method is costly, requires a preliminary restoration of floor and its effectiveness vary with the types of stones.

Coating involves waxing the surface to produce an artificial shine.  It makes use a liquid or semi-liquid form of wax or urethane which is applied on the surface with a sprayer. This method is not recommended for porous stones.  This method involves less expense and provides good slip resistance.  But it doesn't provide a natural appearance, dulls very fast, requires daily buffing and creates a mess and damages the stone.

Finally, crystallization involves a process whereby a chemical called fluorosilicate is sprayed over the surface and buffed subsequently to form glass like crystals on the surface.  This process is very durable and gives a natural shine to the stone. It can also be used with ease and do not create any mess. It even removes fine and heavy scratches. However, this method may cause discoloration or yellowing of the stone. It requires periodic stripping and has limited effects on granite.

Methods of restoring natural stones are manifold. It only requires a proper choice of the processes and skilled professionals to implement it. The Marble Man, Australia’s finest natural stone restoration company specialises in stone maintenance and restoration works. For any matter related to natural stone restoration or marble floor restoration, call their experts right now on 1300 627 626.