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. 

All You Need To Know About Travertine Stone Restoration

The process of stone restoration involves restoring the damaged natural stone to the state in which it was installed or varying the surface of the stone to give it a desired finish. Stone repair and restoration demands expert knowledge and skill on the part of the restorer, and therefore can only be done by a professional stone restoration company. The Marble Man, Australia’s top natural stone restoration company, specializes in repair and restoration of the most prevalently used stones namely, marble, granite and travertine.

Travertine, as we already know, is not as glossy and shiny as marble or granite but has wide applications ranging from exterior wall covering to interior flooring, garden paths, paving patios as well as urban furnishing. In the previous articles, we came to know about the problems and difficulties associated with use of travertine. Today, we shall learn about how to clean and maintain travertine to ensure long-lasting protection.

Travertine cleaning should be a part of the yearly maintenance program. Cleaning travertine requires special tools, chemicals, sealers, and protectants to prevent scratching, etching, and permanent staining.If the restoration professional you have hired, does not possess the right implement, chemical and expertise, you will never get what you pay for. So, be very careful before you hire a stone restoration professional. Another common mistake with travertine is the use of generic sealer which leaves behind a sticky residue. Sealer for travertine must be chosen on the basis of the type of stone surface to be sealed.

Travertine has unquestionably become more and more popular in the past few years. With that popularity there have been corresponding problems. Just like marble and granite, travertine is also subject to etching. Acid spills or abrasive chemicals create small scratches and dull spots on the stone surface. It is therefore recommended that travertine surface should be cleaned with neutral cleaners using soft cleaning cloth. 

Travertine polishing is another important area to be learnt about. There are various methods of travertine polishing, but not all of them can be relied upon. Diamond polishing is the most preferred method of polishing using diamond abrasives which leaves behind a highly polished and clear surface. In case of travertine, crystallization is one of the most detrimental procedures of polishing and will cost you havoc in the long run. 

Travertine should be routinely sealed. Travertine absorbs dirt, filth and other contaminants which might damage the surface particularly when it is not regularly cleaned and maintained. Therefore, right after installation or polishing, the travertine surface must be sealed with proper sealer to make it looking shinny, vibrant and alive.

If you want to get your stone cleaned, polished or restored, it’s time for you to hire The Marble Man professionals. If you experience any problem related to your stone surface and want it to go through a proper stone maintenance process, you may seek the expert guidance of The Marble Man, the most specialized stone and marble floor restoration Company in Australia.

Give Your Home a Luxurious Look with Travertine Tiles

Travertine, a type of limestone, though not as glossy and shiny as marble or granite, has wide applications ranging from exterior wall covering to interior flooring, garden paths, paving patios as well as urban furnishing. It is generally characterized by pitted holes and troughs in its surface. It is available in a variety of colors ranging from grey to coral-red. The Marble Man, Australia’s best natural stone restoration company, also specializes in installation, repair and restoration of travertine.

Problems Associated with Travertine and Their Possible Solutions

• The use of travertine in kitchens and heavily used bathrooms is not a very good idea since it gets easily etched by acids, juices as well as acid-based cleaning chemicals. Therefore, only alkaline and neutral cleaners are used to clean travertine surfaces. However, in case of polished travertine, alkaline products can damage the glossy and shiny finish of the surface, due to which use of neutral detergent is recommended.
• Travertine absorbs oil and other liquids, thus gets stained more easily than marble. Travertine can be used for countertops but that won’t be a prudent choice as it is usually affected by scratches, etches and stains. Travertine is an excellent choice for floorings and smaller spaces since it makes small spaces look spacious and airy.
• Moreover travertine possesses a vacuolar structure. That is throughout its structure it has cavities which easily accumulate dust and dirt, thus damaging the stone. So, as a usual practice travertine is plastered so as to prevent grave damage while cleaning.

Maintenance of Travertine

There are varieties of stone finishes for travertine namely polished, honed, brushed and tumbled. The harder types of travertine give a highly polished glossy finish, though the most commonly used type is the honed one.

• Travertine is one of the most porous natural stones available and the best way to protect them from stains is to treat the travertine surface with a sealer.
• Another widely used method of protecting travertine surfaces is waxing. Traditional polish wax is generally recommended for home flooring whereas for public installations, self-shining wax such as metalized wax shall be used.
• Since travertine gets stained and etched easily, placing beverage glasses on travertine surfaces should be avoided as it leave rings. Wipe up acid spill immediately with wet cloth. However if surface is already etched, polishing may be required.
• Poultice is also a highly recommended solution for stained travertine surfaces, when normal cleaning procedure may not help. A paste is created by combining recommended stone cleaner and baking powder which is applied over the stain. It slowly draws the stain out and can be later removed by warm water.

Travertine is a popular choice among real estate agents because of the luxurious look and feel it offers. If you wish to incorporate travertine in your home, hire The Marble Man for installation, suggestions regarding protection of the stones from stain and etches, and its routine maintenance.