DaVinci Stone Restoration

The most important thing for anyone who has natural stone in their home is to have a basic knowledge of stone and its maintenance requirements.  Most people either do not know about the stone in their homes or they are given the wrong advice about how to maintain it.  When given proper direction it is both easy and inexpensive to keep your natural stone surfaces looking their best.  Below is a list of some of the basic guidelines for natural stone maintenance:

Do not use any acidic or alkaline cleaners to clean polished or honed natural stone.   Household products such as vinegar, bleach, ammonia or the popular bathroom cleaners should not be used.   If a spill occurs blot it up immediately and clean with a neutral ph cleaner.  This is a cleaner which is neither acidic nor alkaline.      Using abrasive materials or aggressive cleaners will only make matters worse.  Keeping your natural stone properly sealed and cleaning it properly is the best protection

One of the most misunderstood areas of natural stone is the difference between stains and etch marks in the surface.  Etch marks are clear or white in appearance, and look like water marks or rings in the stone.  With marble, limestone and travertine only honing and polishing will remove these marks.  Stains are darker than the groundmass of the stone.  If an area of your marble, granite or limestone is darker than the rest of the slab or tile it is stained.  Oils are the most common culprit.  Stains can usually be removed with cleaning solutions and/or poultices designed to draw the stain out of the stone's surface.  It is possible to have stains and etch marks at the same time.  If, for example, wine or tea is spilled on a marble or limestone countertop.  The acidic nature of these liquids (tannins) will etch the surface.  Etching is a term used to describe a liquid which eats into the surface of the marble, limestone or travertine surface.  Granite is not prone to the same damage due to its nature being the opposite of the afforementioned stones.  To learn more about the differences between the different stones go to the "Know Your Stone" page.