Professional Natural Stone Sealing
You have made an investment in one of nature’s most beautiful products and it’s important to know how to care for your material. Oftentimes, we are asked if natural stone should be sealed. The answer to this question is easy, YES! Although some contractors will tell you that it is not imperative to seal stone, it is a good idea to do so. This article will explain why sealing natural stone is important, how to pick the appropriate cleaners and sealers, and also answer some common questions.
To determine what type of sealer you will need, first you need to identify the type of stone you have and to understand it’s composition. Limestone and sandstone are both sedimentary rock which make them a porous stone. Travertine is a type of limestone and generally has naturally occurring voids on the surface created by water elements and pressure over time. Some customers choose to fill these natural voids while others leave them unfilled.
The next key factor in determining which sealer to choose is to consider the application of the stone. A vertical application, like the walls of your home or a door or window surround, may not have as many opportunities to stain as a horizontal application like a tile or travertine floor. Stone on the exterior of your home should still be sealed to assist in repelling water and other precipitants. Natural stone absorbs moisture and is constantly expanding and contracting depending upon the amount of moisture absorbed. Over time, this expansion and contraction puts stress on the mortar joints and could result in abnormal cracking or shifting of the joints and/or stone. In addition, sealing the stone on your home will aid in the resistance to efflorescence and staining from irrigation systems. For an application such as a tile or travertine floor, sealing is important because generally these areas are high traffic areas and the potential to experience spills and stains is relatively high.
Before natural stone is sealed, it is highly recommended to clean your stone. Because of its porosity and rapid absorption, experts do recommend using a cleaner specifically formulated for natural stone. Picking the correct cleaner is key to minimizing the risk of damage to your stone.
Clean Master Carpet Cleaning has years of experience cleaning and sealing natural stone.
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