Taking Good Care Of Your Stone Tile Investment
- August 30, 2014
- Stone and Tile Tips
Stone tiles have a touch in them that makes them standout in your garden or even on your kitchen floors and walls. The roughness of these tiles makes them attract attention whilst their different colours add to their stylishness. These materials are so delightful to the eyes and bring a feeling of pleasantry to anyone who has it at home. However, you can only make those emotions linger in you forever if you know how to take good care of these pieces.
Have them sealed
Stones are porous and it is for this reason that they can break easily with a hard object falling on them. In order to free stone tiles from scratch or break, you can always consider having them sealed. Sealants will protect them from any unexpected breakage later on. It is good to note however that some manufacturers already have ready-made sealed stone tiles in their selections. When this happens, sealing will no longer be much of a problem for you. Basically, you can check if the tiles are sealed though. Simply put a few drops of water on the surface. If dark spots form, it means that sealing will be needed.
Clean them
Cleaning is a must to make these materials last longer. Stone tiles, like any other form of tiles, need special cleaning products. You cannot just use the usual cleaning products that have alkaline and acids. These ones will damage and cause etching on the surface. Disinfecting wipes are not even recommended for cleaning stone surfaces since they will damage the surface. Do not use scouring pads too because this will result to scratches on that porous surface. You can actually look for stone compatible pH-balanced cleaners. These ones are ideal for removing dirt and grime over stone tiles and all other stone surfaces.
Reseal whenever necessary
Sealing has been mentioned as part of taking good care of your stone tiles. Resealing is also a crucial component to make these materials last longer. The question is how often should you reseal your stone tiles? The answer is it actually depends on your usage of the surface. Ideally, though, resealing is done once in every two years. However, if your stone tiles are exposed to wear and tear factors, resealing must be done as soon as you notice cracks or stains building up on the surface.
If you want your stone tiles to last longer in your possession, you should follow the tips mentioned above. Since stone surfaces vary in terms of strength and durability, it is best to check what type will work best for your particular application. Remember to use only recommended products to keep the surface clean. Otherwise, your stones will crack and break before you know it.